Israeli rabbi invited to Madrid interfaith conference by Saudi Arabia

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
An Israeli rabbi will attend this month's interfaith conference in Madrid at the invitation of Saudi Arabia. This is the first invitation of its kind. Rabbi David Rosen told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that the conference marks the first initiative of Saudi Arabia to reach out to other religions in this form. About 200 leaders have been invited to the conference. It's set for July 16 to 18. Rosen, an Israeli who heads interfaith relations for the American Jewish Committee, said he could face a danger of exploitation in a Saudi effort to improve its image, but he hoped the conference would lead to further contacts with Jews and Israeli officials. Then, he said, "I think that will be a great achievement."