CAIRO: A US Congress resolution congratulating Israel on 40 years of the “reunification of Jerusalem was met with harsh criticism from Egypt.
In accordance with the 40th anniversary of the 1967 war which saw Israel annex the old city of Jerusalem (an annexation not recognized by the international community), the American Congress passed a resolution which “congratulates the residents of Jerusalem and the people of Israel on the 40th anniversary of the reunification of that historic city.
Additionally, the resolution called on President George W. Bush to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The Foreign Minister’s spokesman Alaa Al Hadidi released a statement Saturday describing the resolution as “unacceptable in form and content.
According to Al Hadidi it “not only contradicts international law and (UN) Security Council resolutions on Jerusalem, but also the position of the US administration itself over East Jerusalem.
There is “no room for arguing against East Jerusalem as being occupied Arab land, Al Hadidi said, asking “all parties to refrain from taking positions that further complicate the situation and that do not serve peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people.
The Congress resolution also stated that it “commends those former combatant states of the Six-Day War, Egypt and Jordan, who in subsequent years had the wisdom and courage to embrace a vision of peace and coexistence with Israel.
Israel passed a law in 1980 declaring Jerusalem to be “the unified and eternal capital of Israel. UN Security Council resolutions have often condemned Israeli actions regarding the city, and one passed in 1980 saw 13 foreign embassies moved from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told parliament last week that the Arab-Israeli conflict will not end until East Jerusalem is returned.
Forty years ago, Israel conducted a preemptive strike against Arab air forces on the ground destroying 400 planes. This was the first strike in what came to be known as the Six-Day War.
Israel wrestled the old city of Jerusalem from Jordanian hands on June 7, 1967. Arabs consider East Jerusalem to be occupied Palestinian land and want it to be the future capital of a Palestinian state.
