AMMAN, March 11 (IslamOnline) - Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb on Sunday lashed out at U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement in which the American official reiterated his country's intention to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem.
Abul Ragheb, responding to comments by lawmakers during their regular session, said such statement could instigate more tension and urged the U.S. administration to reconsider its stand on such issue.
"Raising this issue at this time is a violation to international legitimacy as much as it is abuse to the [stalled] peace process," the premier told the 80-member Chamber.
"We totally reject these statements... which will lead to more tension and complications to an already complicated issue," Abul Ragheb added.
The premier reiterated Jordan's stand that advocates the "establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."
The Prime Minister's statement is the first reaction by a Jordanian official to Powell's comments, which were made Wednesday during a session in the International Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The U.S. official told congressmen that President George W. Bush is committed to moving the U.S. embassy to occupied Jerusalem.
But Powell did not say whether there is an immediate plan to transfer the embassy from its current place to the holy city.
The Palestine National Authority wants East Jerusalem, which was occupied during the 1967 Arab-Israel War, to be the future capital of a would-be Palestinian state. U.N. resolution 242, passed by the U.N.'s General Assembly following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, considers the holy city a part of the occupied lands Israel seized during the war and calls for Israel's pull out from the city.
During Sunday's session, deputies strongly criticized Powell's statements and considered them a "challenge" to Arab and Muslim sentiments.
Deputy Khalil Atiyah urged Arabs and Muslims to boycott U.S.-made products as a reaction to Powell's statement.
MP Abdul Majeed Al Aqtash said the U.S. Secretary's statement sends a clear "message" to the upcoming Arab summit, scheduled to be held in Amman on March 27th.
"This biased and rejected statements should be met with tough reactions from Arab officials," Aqtash told his colleagues.
Deputy Mohammad Bani Hani urged the House to send a letter to Arab leaders requesting a strong stand against U.S. and Israel, especially following the election of Ariel Sharon as Israel's new Prime Minister.
"Arab peoples want [a] tough stand against Powell's statements and not to be frightened by such comments," Bani said.
"What we are looking for is the establishment of theUnited Arab States which will be able to face all challenges Arabs are encountering," he added.
