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E Glaubach: Address to the Jerusalem Peace and Security Forum
Written by Professor Eliezer Glaubach, President of the Jerusalem Peace and Security Forum
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Distinguished guests and the very honored delegation of the great nation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
You are highly welcome in Jerusalem, the Holy City for all the monotheistic believers in the world. Over half of humanity—Muslims, Christians, Jews, Druze and others—have spiritual relations to Jerusalem and to the Holy Land, mainly in regard to the their Holy Scriptures, in which the creation of the world and humanity is described.
We all recall that our common forefather, Abraham, was our father of faith, who established the common belief in one God, originating as a religious belief about 3,700 years ago with Judaism; continuing with Jesus, who established Christianity 2,000 years ago; and finally with the Prophet Muhammad, who established Islam about 1,400 years ago in Mecca.
There is so much in common between Azerbaijan and Israel: Both countries are located between continents, and therefore they draw interest as economic and political crossroads. Although, alongside these benefits, surely I don’t need to tell you, dear guests, about the problems that your country goes through because of its specific location, as does Israel.
As you are well aware, the Middle East region, unfortunately, has been continually troubled by wars and bloodshed; Israel has suffered from this since the day it was established.
Between Israel and Palestine—the two nations in the Holy Land—there is an ongoing conflict that has lasted over 100 years: The Palestinians wish to establish a Palestinian state in the Holy Land, alongside the Israeli state, and to have their capital city in Jerusalem. Tangible solutions have been proposed to bring that conflict to an end, but although the desire and need to have a peace treaty are so strong, it has not been established yet, mainly because of the internal political problems that exist within both nations.
Dear guests, dear family, we are so proud and happy to have all of you with us here today. Each one of you represents the good part of humanity—the peace-building part of the world.
The Republic of Azerbaijan is a modern state and has the distinction of being the first Muslim-majority democratic and secular republic.It was also the first Muslim-majority country to have theaters, opera performances and modern universities.Although 95 percent of the population of Azerbaijan is Muslim, the state ensures religious freedom for all.
Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 158 countries; it is one of the Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS) and, as a member of the United Nations, Azerbaijan was elected to membership in the newly established Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly.
In conclusion, allow me, as a Jew who lives in Jerusalem and a veteran Ambassador for Peace on behalf of the Universal Peace Federation, to declare clearly and truly that we regard each one of you Azerbaijan brothers and sisters present here today on holy Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, as a profound messenger of peace to the Holy Land, to both the Israelis and the Palestinians and to the whole of humanity, with the hope to create together One Family Under God.
May God bless you.
Eliezer Glaubach