With violence in the Middle East raging in the foreground, it is hard to imagine enduring peace on the horizon. Many think it all but impossible, yet some long-time peacemakers assert a way through this region's age-old conflict exists, a resolution based on mutual respect and understanding. Rabbi Menachem Froman is one of those people.

Recently profiled in the New York Times (December 5, 2008), and interviewed by the Global Oneness Project in the West Bank Israeli settlement of Tekoa last summer, Rabbi Froman approaches the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with a larger perspective, believing at its core it's an issue of East and West and therefore a reflection of one larger conflict of global concern.

Froman argues that as the nature of the conflict is religious, spiritual leaders have an important role to play in the peace-making process. According to Froman, if we can recognize that both Muslims and Westerners have valuable things to offer, then peace will follow.

"Muslims must understand that Western civilization is not all dark. And the West must learn that Islam is not synonymous with terrorism."

Watch Rabbi Froman's complete interview here.

Image copyright by Rina Castelnuovo for The New York Times