The
resolution's sponsors include two Jewish senators, California Democrat
Dianne Feinstein and New Jersey Democrat Frank Lautenberg, said the
Israeli daily.
"Over
the past several months, I have become increasingly concerned that the
chances of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East are becoming
more remote and another generation of Israelis and Palestinians may be
condemned to a life of conflict and devastation," the New York
weekly Forward quoted Feinstein as saying.
"It
is critical that President Bush and Israeli and Palestinian leaders
not let this happen. This is why I believe that every effort to
achieve a peace agreement between Israelis and the Palestinians should
be encouraged."
A
press release issued by Feinstein's office said the resolution
"applauds the courage and vision of Israelis and Palestinians who
are working together to conceive pragmatic, serious plans for
achieving peace."
It
calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to "capitalize on the
opportunity offered by these peace initiatives" and urges Bush
"to encourage and embrace all serious efforts to move away from
violent military stalemate toward achieving Israeli-Palestinian
peace."
According
to an article to be published in the upcoming issue of Congressional
Quarterly, the two overtures also enjoy the backing of several
Republican lawmakers, including Senators John McCain and Lincoln
Chafee.
Meanwhile
in the House of Representatives, California Democrat Lois Capps and
New York Republican Amo Houghton are circulating a "Dear
Colleague" letter urging members to co-sponsor a similar
resolution.
Unconfirmed
reports circulated the will of Secretary of State Colin Powell to
officially meet Beilin and Abed Rabbo, though a date has not yet been
set, said the Israeli daily.
Israeli
opposition politicians and prominent Palestinians will on Monday,
December 1, launch the Geneva initiative despite outright opposition
from the Israeli government and lukewarm support from the Palestinian
leadership, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Several
hundred politicians, business people and celebrities from both sides
are due to attend the launch, along with former U.S. president Jimmy
Carter, one of the driving forces behind of the 1978 Camp David
Accords.
The
sponsors say that after two years of secret talks with Swiss backing
they have come up with a complement to the ailing international
roadmap their governments regard as the blueprint for peace
negotiations.
"The
fact is for once in more than three years there is a new option that
has been put on the table," Ghaith Al Omari, one of the
Palestinians taking part in the launch said.
