Religious Leaders Want Renewed Role for U.S. in Mideast Peace Efforts
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Leaders of Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups want to meet with President Bush to discuss a renewed role by the United States in Mideast peace initiatives.
With a newly elected Palestinian leadership and Israel's plans to withdraw from Gaza (search), the United States should take a higher profile role, said a public appeal to the president signed by the 35 religious leaders.
They were formally announcing their appeal at a news conference Thursday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Mahmoud Abbas (search) won election Sunday as president of the Palestinian Authority, succeeding the late Yasser Arafat.
Coordinating with national religious leaders are leaders in more than a dozen cities. They include Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Hartford and New Haven, Conn., Baltimore, Charlotte and Durham, N.C., and Washington, D.C.
The leaders are asking that Bush:
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
— Appoint a special presidential envoy with a full-time commitment to the Mideast. The envoy would coordinate with the European Union, Russian Federation and the U.N. secretary-general to press for the plan signed by Israel and the Palestinians in June 2003. It has stalled, with each side blaming the other for violations of its provisions.
— Negotiate a timetable for specific steps to be taken by the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government.
— Take the lead to mobilize increased international economic aid to build up the Palestinian Authority's ability to provide security, deliver humanitarian aid and ensure services the Palestinian people.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The group of religious leaders includes representatives from the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches; leaders of the Central Conference of American Rabbis; and leaders of the Secretary-General of the Islamic Society of North America.