Note #9157 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:
06119 Feb. 22, 2006
Israeli paper raps Dalai Lama for too-nice treatment of Hamas
by Michele Chabin Religion News Service
JERUSALEM - An editorial in Israel's largest daily newspaper criticized the Dalai Lama for failing to urge Hamas forcefully enough to renounce violence and recognize Israel.
Yedioth Ahronoth said on Tuesday (Feb. 21) that the exiled spiritual leader of the Tibetan people spent a recent visit to Israel urging the country to respect Hamas' victory in recent Palestinian elections.
During his visit, the Dalai Lama spent five days meeting with religious leaders of various faiths and leading well-attended seminars.
The Yedioth editorial said it was "a bit surprising" that the Dalai Lama "called on Israel to reconcile itself to Hamas ... but failed to call on Hamas to abandon its holy war against Jews and to recognize Israel's right to exist."
During an interview with the newspaper, the Tibetan leader said Israel should "respect the fact that Hamas came to power as a result of democratic elections," and also called on Hamas to renounce violence.
However, he did not specifically address Hamas' declared intention to destroy the state of Israel and to continue its campaign of terror against Israelis.
Other Israelis were more impressed with the Dalai Lama and his message of peace.
On Sunday, Israeli Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yonah Metzger called for the creation of a "religious United Nations" to be led by the Dalai Lama and composed of religious leaders from around the world.
The idea was broached during Metzger's meeting with the Dalai Lama and Jewish and Muslim religious leaders.
"Religious leaders will get the opportunity to meet one another and discover that they have more in common than they may have realized," Metzger told reporters.
The Dalai Lama urged religious leaders not to lose heart.
"Any noble work is bound to have obstacles," he said. "We need determination to pursue justice and truth."
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