Established in 2007 at the initiative of Christian Estrosi, Alpes-Maritimes Fraternité is a platform for dialogue and consultation that brings together representatives of monotheistic faiths from the Alpes-Maritimes region, as well as different political groups from the department. Convened during difficult times, Alpes-Maritimes Fraternité aims to be the expression of the fraternal relations that prevail among the communities.
One week after the start of the aerial attacks on the Gaza Strip, and at a time when a ground attack is seriously contemplated, Deputy-Mayor Christian Estrosi gathered the members of AMF last Friday to call for calm.
The different signatories of this call for peace are:
Chantal AIME, from the French Reformed Church, Doubekeur BEKRI, General Secretary of the Regional Council of the Muslim Faith PACA, Alain BELHASSEN, President of CRIF South-East, Monsignor Louis SANKALE, Bishop of Nice, Guy SELLAM, President of the Consistory of Nice, Father VATCHE, Priest and head of the Armenian Church of Nice, Christian ESTROSI, President of the Union for a Popular Movement, Rudy SALLES, President of the New Center and President of the Mediterranean Parliamentarians, Xavier GARCIA, Spokesperson for the Socialist Party, representing Patrick ALLEMAND, President.
TEXT OF THE CALL FOR PEACE
“Enough blood and tears in the Middle East”
“We express our deep concern over the escalation of violence.
We urgently call on the French authorities and all those who love peace and justice to redouble their efforts to end the suffering of the populations. We urge the international community not to take refuge in ineffective speeches and evasions and to intervene in this deadly confrontation. It is unacceptable for innocent men, women, and children to die.
Everything must be done with decision-makers around the world to prevent an even more dramatic conflagration. We call on the various religious communities and the political parties of France to work together to push back violence and hatred and to triumph peace and justice.
We commit to ensuring that the events in the Middle East, beyond the emotions, sufferings, and pains they cause, are not imported and do not undermine the continuation of efforts of fraternity, peace, and harmony undertaken in the Department through Alpes-Maritimes Fraternité.
We salute the initiative of the President of the Republic to visit the region to contribute to peace there.”
Peaceful Demonstration in Nice
Around the world, protests and calls for a ceasefire have become more urgent. In France, as in Paris, Marseille, Lille, or Toulouse, thousands of people gathered this Saturday, January 3, in Nice. The parade, intended to be peaceful by the mayor of the city, experienced no major disruptions. The city of Nice, like more than twenty cities in France, was able to demonstrate peacefully. About 4,000 people gathered.
