WASHINGTON, May 3 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The U.S. Congress was set Thursday to express its formal support and solidarity with Israel in the Middle East conflict, while acknowledging - but ultimately ignoring - reservations expressed by the White House. 

Despite U.S. President George W. Bush’s administration's misgivings, led by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, that the measures could interfere with Middle East peacekeeping efforts, the lower House of Representatives was expected to take up the resolution supporting Israel's own "war on terrorism" Thursday afternoon, while the upper house also was preparing to pass its own version of the bill, said Senate leader, Democrat Tom Daschle. 

Neither of the two resolutions is binding on Bush, as they do not have the force of law, though they are significant inasmuch as they are seen to represent most lawmakers' opinions about the bloody, 19-month conflict. 

The original lower house bill, sponsored by archconservative Tom DeLay, the number three House Republican, and Democrat Tom Lantos, top Democrat on the International Relations Committee, was withdrawn under pressure from the White House last week for fear of anger from Arab nations. 

However, the House bill remains a strongly worded endorsement of Israel and condemnation of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, and is expected to win overwhelming support, news agencies reported.

Congressional leaders met late Wednesday, May 1, with White House officials to smooth over language in the lower house bill, a congressional source said, though top lawmakers suggested the White House would not oppose the resolution. 

The House bill dropped language stating that Arafat coordinated terrorism, and backed humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people, but equated Palestinian resistance, which Israel and the U.S. label “terrorism,” to that of the attacks against the U.S. on September 11. 

"Whereas the United States and Israel are now engaged in a common struggle against terrorism and are on the front lines of a conflict thrust upon them against their will ... be it resolved that the House of Representatives... remains committed to Israel's right to self-defense and supports additional United States assistance to help Israel defend itself," the final text of the bill reads. 

The bill, introduced in the Senate by former vice presidential candidate, Democrat Joe Lieberman, one of 10 Jewish members of the 100-seat Senate, is similar in nature, but milder in tone, and expresses support for Israel as a "front-line state in the war against terrorism." 

With an annual U.S. commitment nearing three billion dollars, Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid. 

Lawmakers, with their eyes on the November mid-term elections that could reorient the leanings of both chambers of Congress, traditionally court the Jewish vote, and have been impatiently biding their time these last weeks, awaiting the chance to show their clear support of Israel. 

But mindful of the reticence expressed by the White House, which only recently engaged in the contentious Middle East and expressed concerns that blatant support for Israel could stifle mediation efforts, the bills were purposely held from the floor. 

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer on Wednesday stopped short of urging House and Senate leaders to delay the votes, saying Bush "understands that Congress has the right to express itself" and promising to "work closely with the House and the Senate," news agencies reported.

Concerning the timing of the bill, Fleischer said, "Certainly the timing is much better," citing a deal that lifted the Israeli siege of Arafat's compound in Ramallah and other developments.

In the wake of Israel's pullback from Palestinian-controlled areas, the recent visit to the region by Powell and a week before an anticipated Washington visit by hardline Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, "the time has come" for the Senate to act, Daschle said. 

On White House opinion on the resolutions, Daschle commented, "I think it's accurate to say, based on reports I read this morning, that the administration does not oppose this resolution." 

"I think it is important for us to express our solidarity with Israel," the Senate majority leader added. 

Other House members, however, did display some even-handedness, as exemplified by House Minority leader Richard Gephardt, a Missouri Democrat, while staunchly supporting Israel, said the United States "will work with all parties - Arabs, Jews and others in the region to try to contain and reduce and get rid of the violence." 

News agencies quoted a spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, who said, "This should come as no surprise. The House is certainly pro-Israel."