News Brief

American Jewish leaders offered their support to Ehud Olmert for his efforts to pursue peace.

In a conference call Tuesday with the Israeli prime minister, the Jewish leaders praised Olmert and President Bush for reviving the peace process.

“These are very difficult and complicated times, but we see an opportunity as you see an opportunity to make real progress toward peace,” said Marvin Lender, immediate past chair of the national board of the Israel Policy Forum and past president of the United Jewish Appeal. “You heard on this call the support of this group, and we can assure you that the American Jewish community supports you, as well.”

Olmert thanked the group for its concern and support.

“The visit of President Bush comes at a very good time to encourage all the parties involved to continue our efforts to reach a regional understanding to conclude an agreement,” Olmert said during the 30-minute conversation. “We will do everything we can to make serious and genuine efforts to reach an agreement toward a two-state solution, a homeland for the Jewish people and a Palestinian state for the Palestinian people.”

The call was arranged by the Israel Policy Forum, which advocates for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Participants included the forum’s president, Seymour Reich, who is a past chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; Charles Bronfman, a major philanthropist and a founder of birthright Israel; Richard Pearlstone, the chairman of the Jewish Agency board of directors; and John Ruskay, the executive vice president of UJA-Federation of New York.