THE marching feet and praying voices of tens of thousands of world religious leaders in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Israel – for an end to the age-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict – will echo in the sombre hills of Mount Airy, St Andrew, Jamaica at a candle light prayer vigil on Sunday afternoon.

Governor-general Sir Howard Cooke will lead a group of Jamaicans who were recently appointed ambassadors for peace, in staging the vigil at the Langley Heritage Site above Golden Spring, where an infamous slave dungeon is being restored as a spiritual meeting place for all religions.

Among the other Jamaicans who have joined thousands across the globe in being appointed ambassadors for peace by the Inter-Religious and International Federation For World Peace are: Howard Hamilton, the public defender; Senator Anthony Johnson; Merle Brown, former permanent secretary; Alhaj Mohammad Islam, head of the Islamic community; Rev Bevis Byfield, longstanding member of the United Church; Diane Wynter, widow of the late Hector Wynter; Enid Bennett, retired politician; Sonny Bradshaw, musician, Myrna Hague, singer; Horace Matthews, social activist; Dr Lucille Buchanan, former head of the Adoption Board; Ralston McKenzie, broadcaster; Dr Carmen Bowen-Wright, former head of public health, Kingston and St Andrew, Rev Earl Morgan, pastor of the Barbican Baptist Church and Desmond Allen, journalist.

Saying it was convinced that only a religious solution could bring healing and peace to the Israelis and Palestinians, after all else had failed to end the internecine conflict, the Inter-Religious and International Peace Council organised the Middle East Peace Initiative, an historic pilgrimage of global religious leaders and ambassadors for peace from many fields to the Holy Lands. The pilgrimage will culminate on December 22 in an international peace march in Jerusalem, and a rally for peace in Tel Aviv.

“In Biblical times, Joshua led the Israelites on a march around the city of Jericho, bringing down the walls. In modern times, Gandhi’s march to the sea grew from hundreds to thousands, overcoming scepticism and derision, and sparked a movement that touched the conscience of the world, leading to Indian independence,” the World Peace Council said.

It added: “In 1963 when an American president refused to consider civil rights legislation, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr marched on Washington, DC with hundreds of thousands of freedom-loving Americans of many races, shared a dream, and changed the course of American history.”

Jamaica’s Bevis Byfield, a member of the local organising committee for the prayer vigil said “even though the Middle East is many, many miles away, we are on this earth together, and what affects one area, surely will affect the other”.

“If we wish to call ourselves God’s people, then we need to come together in prayer and unity and call upon Him and His power to lead and guide us on the path toward true peace and brotherhood both abroad and right here at home,” said Byfield.

People of all faiths and the general public are being encouraged to attend the vigil which has also received sponsorship from Masjid As-Salaam. Christian, Muslim and Jewish representatives will speak and there will also be a video presentation on HIV/AIDS, a project of the peace ambassadors.

Transportation is being provided for members of the public, leaving from 24 Dunrobin Avenue at 2:30 pm and Manor Park, True Value at 3:00 pm.