CLEVELAND -- In Cleveland Thursday, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich called for a cease-fire for the conflict in the Middle East.

Kucinich drafted a resolution and, in part, it urges President George W. Bush to appeal to all sides in the current crisis and demand an immediate end to the violence.

Local Jewish and Arab leaders agreed with the congressman's idea.

"We believe that the United States, it's the most powerful country on earth, and it certainly can be a force of good in the region," said Julia Shearson of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We've done it before, we've brought peace between warring parties. We know our country has the moral authority to do that."

Kucinich said garnering support for the resolution is just a short-term goal. He said the long-term goal is a long-term settlement.