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Last update - 10:28 17/07/2008 Saudi-sponsored interfaith meet kicks off in Spain By The Associated Press Tags: Jewish World, Saudi Arabia  King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was kicking off an interfaith conference in Madrid on Wednesday - an effort to bring Muslims, Christians and Jews closer together. Spanish King Juan Carlos was also addressing the gathering - which the Saudis have billed as a strictly religious affair, with no mention of hot-button issues like the war in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iranian nuclear ambitions or rising oil prices. Advertisement Abdullah has made reaching out to other faiths a hallmark of his rule since taking over the oil-rich kingdom following the death of his half brother in 2005. He met with Pope Benedict XVI late last year, the first meeting ever between a pope and a reigning Saudi king. And in June, Abdullah held a religious conference in Mecca in which participants pledged improved relations between Islam's two main branches - Sunni and Shia. At that meeting Abdullah also rejected extremism, saying that Muslims must "present Islam's good message to the world." The three-day Madrid conference boasts a number of Jewish religious figures, including David Rosen, a prominent British-Israeli rabbi whose presence is being hailed as a sign the Saudis are serious about reaching out. Rosen, however, is not listed as an Israeli in conference literature, prompting officials in Israel to question the extent of the Saudis' commitment. Some other Jewish officials invited to the conference are more controversial, including Rabbi David Weiss, whose group, Neturei Karta, objects to the creation of Israel on the grounds that it violates Jewish religious law. At a 2006 gathering in Tehran hosted by hard-line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Weiss made headlines by saying the number of Jews said to have been killed in the Holocaust was inflated. Weiss was at one point scheduled to address this week's conference, but organizers said plans have changed. It was not immediately clear if Weiss would be attending the conference at all. Monsignor Nabil Haddad, head of the Melkite Catholic community in Jordan and a participant at the conference, told The Associated Press that any event that allows the world's main faiths to sit down together is worthwhile. "The conference provides a rare opportunity for strengthening mutual respect between the followers of the three main religions," he said. Detractors counter that the Saudis are the last people who should be hosting a meeting on religious tolerance. Wahhabism - the strain of Sunni Islam that is practiced in Saudi Arabia - is considered one of the religion's most conservative. Observers say the conference was being held in Spain partly because it would be politically unpalatable for Abdullah to allow Jewish and Christian leaders on Saudi soil. More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Farewell ambassador Even the Arab envoys came to say goodbyeto Israel's UN ambassador Dan Gillerman. A tale of two mothers Israeli documentary 'To Die in Jerusalem' earns three Emmy nominations.   1.   Why in Spain 13:25  |  Jackie 16/07/08   2.   David Rosen is NOT Irish! 13:43  |  Joe Mongewell 16/07/08   3.   Inquisition 13:44  |  Motic 16/07/08   4.   Naturei Karta? 13:48  |  Sherlock Holmes 16/07/08   5.   why not in Spain? 13:50  |  Manolo 16/07/08   6.   The mirror opposite of the Holocaust conference 14:20  |  Ronnie Wolman 16/07/08   7.   inquisition? - come on! 14:28  |  Phil 16/07/08   8.   Saudi is the crux of many problems. 14:57  |  Jean Van Daem 16/07/08   9.   Are you Irish Joe Mongewell 2? What have you DONE for Ireland? 15:31  |  James Connolly 16/07/08   10.   Saudis wasting their people. Make peace and Learn from Israel 15:35  |  Realist 16/07/08   11.   #6 Ronnie Wolman...Cold War 16:02  |  Lynn 16/07/08   12.   Theres more than meets the eye 16:11  |  sarahs child 16/07/08   13.   Hoodwinking the world 16:17  |  Afikoman 16/07/08   14.   El Andaluz...That`s why In Spain... 16:34  |  john Defur 16/07/08   15.   Jackie - Why not mecca and medina? 16:51  |  Catholic American 16/07/08   16.   Motic - The Inquisition 16:53  |  S. 16/07/08   17.   Motic - Every country 16:54  |  Historian 16/07/08   18.   WHY SPAIN? Because it is Muslim land! 17:22  |  Altaf Patel 16/07/08   19.   Spain has an historical significance 17:22  |  James L 16/07/08   20.   Saudis respecting other religions? WHAT A JOKE 17:24  |  George 16/07/08   21.   Inquisition 17:32  |  Phil 16/07/08   22.   Catholic American No 15 and Manolo No 5 17:38  |  jackie 16/07/08   23.   Phil - If... 18:16  |  Interesting 16/07/08   24.   saudi sense of humour 18:30  |  soggy liberal 16/07/08   25.   ISRAEL-SPAIN 18:46  |  Antonio 16/07/08   26.   #14, El Andaluz was more a myth than reality 18:48  |  Terry 16/07/08   27.   Very positive initiative 20:57  |  ScotGuy 16/07/08   28.   Wrong dialog 21:04  |  Tarek 16/07/08   29.   To Motic in London 21:32  |  Otto Rand 16/07/08   30.   Saudi Arabia 21:34  |  Harry 16/07/08   31.   I noticed Hindus were not invited; over a billion in the world 23:46  |  Hindu 16/07/08   32.   Saudi Arabia is the Chief Sponsor of Terrorism 00:13  |  Brod 17/07/08   33.   Inquisition # 16, 17 et co 00:47  |  Sherlock Holmes 17/07/08   34.   ronnie wolman 6 00:47  |  potobac 17/07/08   35.   Response to #18 Patel-the whole world belongs to muslims 01:52  |  Eva Raisman 17/07/08   36.   Spain is Special 04:48  |  Robert 17/07/08   37.   sherlock holmes 32 06:02  |  potobac 17/07/08   38.   Shoddy Arabia 06:08  |  Morris Valentine 17/07/08   39.   why Spain,it`s a start-it may have been an innvitation and an old 07:10  |  susanna/Shoshana 17/07/08   40.   Spain is exactly the right place for this meeting 13:33  |  Ulf 17/07/08   41.   #3 England preceded Inquisition for 170 years! 13:44  |  Ulf 17/07/08   42.   Susana #37 14:27  |  Brod 17/07/08   43.   he`ll tell his peeps he was scouting invasion routes. 19:52  |  frenz 17/07/08   44.   Christians don`t need dialogue, they need religious freedom! 20:04  |  Paul Henzen 17/07/08   45.   Hope is fine, but what about reality? 22:18  |  Ulf 17/07/08   46.   #37, Morris Valentine 03:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/07/08   47.   What is the measuring line? 05:49  |  ambassador 18/07/08   48.   Excellent first step on Saudis part 06:26  |  PK 20/07/08

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