Progressive Jewish Group Pushes for Just Settlement of Middle East Conflicts

Interview with Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun magazine, conducted by Scott Harris

Since Israel launched their offensive against the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon July 12, the death toll, according to Mohammad Khalifeh, the country's health minister, has reached 925 people confirmed dead and 75 missing and presumed killed. He said most of the victims were civilians and around a third were children under the age of 13. Israel has lost 94 people, mostly soldiers, in the conflict which is now entering its fifth week.

A cease-fire resolution put forward by the United States and France at the U.N. was rejected by the Lebanese government and foreign ministers representing 20 Arab states. Lebanon's prime minister Fouad Siniora criticized the proposal that would allow Israeli troops to remain in southern Lebanon until a multi-national force can be deployed there. Instead he offered to send 15,000 Lebanese troops to the region if Israel withdraws, a plan supported by two Hezbollah ministers. Israel dismissed the overture and said if diplomatic efforts fail, its ground offensive inside Lebanon would be broadened to stop Hezbollah from firing missiles into northern Israel.

Amid the violence in the Middle East, a U.S.-based progressive Jewish magazine has placed advertisements in influential U.S. newspapers calling for the international community to foster a new comprehensive approach to resolving long-standing conflicts in the Middle East. Between the Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun, who explains his group's vision for how a sustainable and just peace can be achieved.

Contact Tikkun by calling (510) 644-1200 or visit their website at www.tikkun.org

Related links:

United for Peace and Justice at www.unitedforpeace.org

U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation at www.endtheoccupation.org

Institute for Policy Studies at www.ips.org

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