Ms.fathia-benatsou

For the future of our children, it is time to build peace and to unite against racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. I do not believe in proclamations trumpeting the clash of civilizations between East and West. I prefer to believe in peace among civilizations. Throughout their long history, Jews and Muslims have often had close ties and there were numerous examples of cooperation among them in intellectual, philosophical and humanistic spheres. Jewish and Muslim intellectuals had the same sources of inspiration based on tolerance and respect for other cultures.

In Europe, by uniting our efforts for peace, we have put an end to centuries of clashes that led us to the horrors of the Holocaust and to the brink of collapse of our civilization. Building peace means first of all a willingness to look at, and respect, the history of others to extinguish flames of further strife.

I know of Muslims who support the Palestinians and at the same time recognize the suffering of Jews during the Holocaust, because no one can remain indifferent to such suffering, to the brutal murder of children, women and men during the Second World War. Building peace also means injecting more generosity, more solidarity and more compassion into relationships among human beings and among peoples.

The Holocaust was undoubtedly one of the greatest human catastrophes of our times. Indeed, the Holocaust is one common history that belongs to all humanity.  In a world where hundreds of millions of women, men and children remain without any hope for their future, we nourish the seeds of misunderstanding and confrontation. Hence the urgent need to try to understand each other, in order to have greater respect for one another. At a time when peoples are coming into closer contact with each other to an unprecedented degree, humanity, in all its glorious diversity, must become more open to dialogue among cultures and civilizations.

Let me tell you all that I have confidence in peace; confidence because our history teaches us that misfortune is never inevitable; confidence because humanity has always been able to overcome all hardships and obstacles; and confidence because human beings always give the best of themselves when confronted with what seems insurmountable.

For the future of our children, it is time to build peace in the greatest respect for all cultures.