Thirty-five senators signed a resolution calling for greater U.S. involvement in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.
The nonbinding bipartisan resolution, initiated by U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), had languished for months until a recent lobbying blitz led by dovish pro-Israel groups rekindled interest. It calls for President Bush to name a top-level envoy to the talks and to urge the sides to negotiate a two-state solution.
Bush has resisted naming such an envoy, but in recent months he has made peace talks a priority and has called for a peace conference in November, an intensification that might have eased the way for senators to sign on to the Lugar-Feinstein resolution.
Backing the resolution are Americans for Peace Now, the Israel Policy Forum and Brit Tzedek v’Shalom.
