Three LGBT religious associations will visit Israel and Palestine
A unique and a world first. From November 6 to 13, the associations Beit Haverim (gay and lesbian Jewish group in France), David & Jonathan (Christian homosexual movement) and HM2F (homosexual Muslims in France) are organizing a trip to Israel and Palestine. Presented as a world first, this trip is aimed, according to organizers "to meet and talk with representatives of three religions and talk and express our solidarity with the LGBT movement community leaders, the Israeli and Palestinian."
DIALOGUE IN SPIRITUALITY" Fifty people will participate in this trip, which will lead the participants of Jerusalem in Israel in Ramallah in the West Bank but also in Tel Aviv, Dead Sea, Jaffa or Abu Gosh, an Arab village near Jerusalem . For Franck’s Beit Haverim, "the objective is not political, it is a spirituality and dialogue with local LGBT organizations."
During the stay, visiting tourist spots alternate with meetings with political figures, representatives of LGBT Israelis and Palestinians.
Lotfi, of HM2F described this as "the forefront of this challenge to the dogma that creates discrimination against LGBT people." For Elizabeth, D & J, "spirituality is an effective way to participate in this dialogue. But we are not religious organizations, we must be accountable to no religion. "
SPONSORSHIP Bertrand Delanoë This trip is sponsored by the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe. During the press conference held Friday morning, Pierre Schapira, the International Relations, European Affairs and Francophonie highlighted the particular context of this trip like no other and welcomed the action: "You innovate and all forms of dialogue are good to take. " He also found that Israeli society was quite open about these questions: "My counterpart for mayor of Jerusalem is openly gay."
The mayor of the tenth district, Remi Feraud, also this this morning emphasized the importance of this trip by "the will [of associations] to go look for experience and to interact with both companies to lift taboos." "You will provide another view of this region, less caricature and more optimistic." Beit Haverim Franck said the trip was fully funded, "We have sought any form of public or private subsidies for this trip in order to achieve independently."