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Jordanian Lawmakers Condemn Bush On Embassy Move
by Tareq Ayyoub
AMMAN, March 21 (IslamOnline) - Jordanian Deputy Lower House Speaker Khalil Atiyah on Wednesday urged Arabs and Muslims to strike U.S. interests in the region if Washington moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Atiyah urged Arab leaders, who will convene in Amman later this month, to act firmly against repeated statements coming from the U.S. to transfer their diplomatic mission to occupied Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
"I call on Arab and Muslim people to wake up from their sleep and rebel from the Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea against America and to freeze and strike its interests whenever they may be if the U.S. implemented its pledge to the criminal Sharon," the lawmaker said.
Arabs and Muslims "should boycott U.S. products," Atiyah, who was speaking during a regular session of the Lower House, said.
The deputy's statement followed comments by U.S. President George W. Bush during meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday in which the U.S. official reiterated his country's commitment to changing the location of its embassy.
But Bush also said that "concerned parties" should determine the fate of the holy city.
Bush's statement is a "provocation to Arabs and Muslims ... and should not pass without a reaction from Arab leaders to force Bush to review his attitude with them," Atiyah said.
Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb said Jordan was surprised by Bush's statements and reiterated the Kingdom's previous stand that East Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in 1967, should be the capital of the future state of Palestine.
"We are surprised by President Bush's statements and we are astonished to what is happening in the U.S. administration," the premier told the House. Abul Ragheb said Bush comments came following similar statements by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, which he later on retracted.
"Now the President is talking about this issue again and expresses his intention to transfer the embassy to Jerusalem," the premier added.
During the session, other deputies also lashed out at Bush's statement and urged Arab leaders taking part in the March 27th summit to act.
"We denounce Bush's statements and urge the Jordanian government to undertake necessary steps," deputy Mohammad Badri said.
Deputy Mohammad Oran called on Arab leaders to launch a "political uprising" and challenge what he described as anti-Arab U.S. policy.
Following the Parliament meeting, the Lower House issued a statement criticizing Bush's comments and urged Arab leaders to act firmly to the statement.
"The Parliament strongly denounce[s these] statements... which are considered as provocation to…Arab and Muslim feelings," the statement said.
During the session, deputies also called on Arab leaders to take necessary actions to support the Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, and lift U.S.-spearheaded sanctions against Iraq.
Deputy Ayid Adaylah urged Arab leaders to refrain from verbal statements and rhetoric and turn these words into deeds.
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