WASHINGTON, D.C. - US President George Bush on Wednesday angered the Arab and Muslim world and supporters for a Middle East peace when he signed into legislation a bill that requires the administration to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The bill, according to a staffer who works on the Hill, "Looks as though it was written by the Israeli Knesset for Israel."
"Essentially, the bill came into being because the US needed the money to pay their U.N. dues. They also needed to solidify votes on the Hill for the Iraq resolution," another congressional source on the Hill, who requested anonymity, told Arab News yesterday.
But the portions of the bill that has angered so many were tacked on after Congress had signed off on it, the source said.
"The Jerusalem Provision and the Lebanon Aid Restriction was also in the bill, along with several other provisions — all of which are not favorable to bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Arab world," the source added.
Here in Washington, no mention was made of the signing of this bill in yesterday’s newspapers.
The bill, according to a staffer who works on the Hill, "Looks as though it was written by the Israeli Knesset for Israel."
"Essentially, the bill came into being because the US needed the money to pay their U.N. dues. They also needed to solidify votes on the Hill for the Iraq resolution," another congressional source on the Hill, who requested anonymity, told Arab News yesterday.
But the portions of the bill that has angered so many were tacked on after Congress had signed off on it, the source said.
"The Jerusalem Provision and the Lebanon Aid Restriction was also in the bill, along with several other provisions — all of which are not favorable to bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Arab world," the source added.
Here in Washington, no mention was made of the signing of this bill in yesterday’s newspapers.