By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Maulana Jameel Ilyasi, president of All India Imam Organisation is again in Israel. A visit to Israel by his son and others last August earned wide condemnation from Indian Muslim organizations.
In Jerusalem, Maulana Ilyasi declared his desire to be a bridge of reconciliation between Israel and the Muslim world, according to a press release issued by American Jewish Committee (AJC), his host in Israel.
“I am coming with the message of peace and goodwill from Indian Muslims who believe in the Indian tradition of resolving issues through dialogue and peaceful means,” Maulana Ilyasi said.
Ilyasi will meet with Israel’s President Shimon Peres, the Chief Rabbis of Israel, leading Palestinian Sheikhs and Israeli Muslim leaders. He will be accompanied by Rabbi David Rosen, AJC’s international director of Interreligious Affairs, and Priya Tandon, AJC’s representative in India.
“This visit is of great strategic importance for Israel and the Jewish people and we hope it promotes our outreach to the wider Muslim world as well,” said Rabbi Rosen.
Last year visit of some Indian Muslims to Israel was also organized by AJC. Maulana Ilaysi pulled out of that delegation at the last minute when news was released by Urdu daily Hindustan Express. That delegation consisted of Umair Ilyasi, son of Jameel Ilyasi; Aziz Burney, editor of Urdu daily Rashtriya Sahara; Khwaja Iftikhar, one of the members of Vajpayee Himayat Committee. Maulana Abdul Wahid Chishti of Ajmer Dargah and Shaikh Manzoor of UNI were also part of this delegation.
On his arrival in Israel the Maulana expressed his conviction that after visiting the Holy Land in person, he will be able to more effectively advance the goal of reconciliation and peace.