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BOB ABERNETHY, anchor: President Bush is scheduled to travel to the Middle East this coming week to encourage Israel and the Palestinians to negotiate a way to peace.
The president will meet with the new Palestinian Prime Minister, Mamoud Abbas, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss the roadmap or blueprint for peace. Among the key provisions are a freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank, establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005, and an end to the violence by both sides. The plan has generated protests in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Meanwhile, Christian leaders in the Holy Land urged Palestinian officials not to make Islam the official religion of a future Palestinian state. It was a rare public criticism by the clerics, who are also Palestinian. Today, Christians make up only a tiny percentage of Palestinians in the Holy Land.
Now, a look at the Middle East: at diplomacy there and American politics. As President Bush heads for a meeting next Wednesday with the prime ministers of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, what are the messages coming to him from the U.S. religious communities? We explore that with Jeff Sheler, religion writer for U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT. Jeff, welcome. Walk us through, if you would, the perspectives of American Christians and American Jews?
JEFF SHELER (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT): Well, the message from America's religious community to the President on the peace plan is really a very mixed one. Let's talk about the Christian community first. Mainline Protestant leaders have been among the most vocal in support of the road map to peace. They feel that this is probably the best chance that we have available in order to obtain a peaceful and just solution to the crisis in the Middle East. Roman Catholic bishops have not issued a statement specifically on this plan, but their position would certainly be in support of a negotiated settlement of this type. When we talk about Evangelical Protestants, we are talking about a very different position and this is an important constituency of President Bush. Evangelical leaders, or at least a segment of them, have spoken out very strongly against the road map to peace. They see it as a potential disaster. Generally they are opposed to anything that would amount to land for peace. But it's important to note that the National Association of Evangelicals, which is a much broader and a more moderate umbrella organization, has been conspicuously silent on the peace plan.
ABERNETHY: And what about American Jews? Are they divided too?
Mr. SHELER: They are divided and that is significant and rare, particularly in matters involving Israel's security. Orthodox Jewish leaders have spoken out against the plan. So have certain major organizations -- mainstream organizations. But not all of them.
The president will meet with the new Palestinian Prime Minister, Mamoud Abbas, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss the roadmap or blueprint for peace. Among the key provisions are a freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank, establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005, and an end to the violence by both sides. The plan has generated protests in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Meanwhile, Christian leaders in the Holy Land urged Palestinian officials not to make Islam the official religion of a future Palestinian state. It was a rare public criticism by the clerics, who are also Palestinian. Today, Christians make up only a tiny percentage of Palestinians in the Holy Land.
Now, a look at the Middle East: at diplomacy there and American politics. As President Bush heads for a meeting next Wednesday with the prime ministers of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, what are the messages coming to him from the U.S. religious communities? We explore that with Jeff Sheler, religion writer for U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT. Jeff, welcome. Walk us through, if you would, the perspectives of American Christians and American Jews?
JEFF SHELER (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT): Well, the message from America's religious community to the President on the peace plan is really a very mixed one. Let's talk about the Christian community first. Mainline Protestant leaders have been among the most vocal in support of the road map to peace. They feel that this is probably the best chance that we have available in order to obtain a peaceful and just solution to the crisis in the Middle East. Roman Catholic bishops have not issued a statement specifically on this plan, but their position would certainly be in support of a negotiated settlement of this type. When we talk about Evangelical Protestants, we are talking about a very different position and this is an important constituency of President Bush. Evangelical leaders, or at least a segment of them, have spoken out very strongly against the road map to peace. They see it as a potential disaster. Generally they are opposed to anything that would amount to land for peace. But it's important to note that the National Association of Evangelicals, which is a much broader and a more moderate umbrella organization, has been conspicuously silent on the peace plan.ABERNETHY: And what about American Jews? Are they divided too?
Mr. SHELER: They are divided and that is significant and rare, particularly in matters involving Israel's security. Orthodox Jewish leaders have spoken out against the plan. So have certain major organizations -- mainstream organizations. But not all of them.
Mr. SHELER: I think it does, because we are talking about a division among mainstream Jewish organizations. The Jewish peace movement would certainly predictably be for the road map. But, the support is coming from other organizations as well. So, I think that the influence is divided. 
