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CAIRO — Israel's ongoing onslaught on the sealed off Gaza Strip, marketed to the world as a response to Palestinian rocket-firing, has been planned six months ago and is Israel's version of America's "shock and awe" campaign against Iraq, Haaretz reported on Sunday, December 28.

Terrorists, as well as some politicians, ignore the fact that good cannot be achieved through acts of evil. We can't support a just cause by killing innocent people. We can't force freedom on people. We can't protect ourselves from injustice by inflicting injustice upon others. Wise people must stand up for justice even if that is against their personal interests or against their own brethren. Muslims are instructed with these words of wisdom: "O you who believe! stand out firmly for Allah (God), as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve from justice. Be just, that is closer to piety, and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do." (Quran 5:8)

1. Fasting the Day of 'Arafat, Sunday 12/7/2008 and Join the Muslim community Iftar at 4:15pm at the ICUC,
2. Eid prayer on Monday 12/8/2008 at 7:30AM at the ICUC, followed by a breakfast.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/19/08) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned threatening rhetoric and racial slurs contained in a new video by Ayman al-Zawahri and said Al-Qaida's second-in-command does not speak for Muslims in this country or worldwide.

The latest talks focus on how to foster religious harmony [EPA]

Senior Vatican and Muslim scholars have opened their first Catholic-Muslim Forum to improve relations between the world's two largest faiths.

The three-day meeting beginning on Tuesday comes two years after Pope Benedict angered the Muslim world with a speech that many felt implied that Islam was violent and irrational.

In response, 138 Muslim scholars invited Christian churches to a new dialogue to foster mutual respect through a better understanding of each other's beliefs.

In their manifesto, "A Common Word", the Muslims argued that both faiths shared the core principles of love of God and neighbour.

The talks focus on what this means for the religions and how it can foster harmony between them.

The meeting, including an audience with Pope Benedict, is the group's third conference with Christians after talks with Protestants and Anglicans in the United States over the last few months.