By Cam McGrath
CAIRO, Oct 6 2002 (IPS)

Egyptian women gathered in downtown Cairo recently to condemn United States President George Bush’s signing of legislation that calls for his administration to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Some two dozen women wearing Palestinian chequered kiffeyehs, scarves and umbrellas huddled in a light drizzle outside the American Embassy. A larger group was kept from attending the scheduled rally by security officers and eight truckloads of black-clad riot police.

"Palestine is Arab! Jerusalem is also Arab!" they shouted to U.S. embassy staff watching from outside their front gate.

Jointly organised by local women’s non governmental organisations, the 90-minute rally brought together women from all walks of life, from housewives to parliamentarians. Their ranks included members of the Arab Woman’s Alliance (AWA), Arab Lawyers Syndicate, Press Syndicate and People’s Committee for Solidarity with the Palestinian Intifada (PCSPI).

"We represent all political wings, religions and professions," said one demonstrator, who did not give her name. "We all have one aim – to express our support for the Palestinian people."

Following a round of sloganeering, several women stepped forward to accuse U.S. President George Bush of caving in to the Jewish lobby.

Last Monday Bush signed the Foreign Relations Authorisation Act for 2003, a congressional bill that allocates four billion U.S. dollars for running the State Department in return for official recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Political analysts say the pro-Israeli Congress pressured Bush into signing the bill by threatening to withhold the funds needed to implement his administration’s foreign policy.

"We condemn this action from the U.S. Congress; for it is a shame that the American people accept that the Zionist lobby controls their foreign policy," the women said in a protest letter addressed to Bush.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman assured demonstrators that Washington’s policy on Jerusalem had not changed and dismissed rumours that the U.S. planned to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He stressed that the status clause in the congressional bill was advisory – not mandatory – and Bush indicated after the signing ceremony that he would not implement it.

A State Department official wrote off the incident as a misunderstanding, explaining that the Congress cannot dictate how the President carries out foreign policy; it can only make recommendations.

”We’re going to consider, I’m sure, the advice of our Congress, as we always do. And we’re going to continue with the policy the President lays down for us, which is that our policy on Jerusalem has not changed,” State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a briefing. He added that the Bush Administration considers the status of Jerusalem to be an issue that must be negotiated by the Israelis and Palestinians.

Egyptians are not letting Bush off the hook so easy.

”That Bush’s post-signing statement stressed the status quo of the US policy towards Jerusalem, is nothing but a masquerade," Samir Rageb, board chairman of the state newspaper The Egyptian Gazette, ranted in his daily editorial. "[Bush] should have raised his protests prior to the signing of ‘the provision’, not after the ceremony was concluded."

Israel captured the eastern part of Jerusalem in the 1967 War and under successive governments declared the whole city as "the eternal undivided capital of Israel." Despite sustained pressure by Congress, U.S. administrations have refrained from officially recognising the claim so as not to offend Arabs, who consider East Jerusalem as occupied territory and the rightful capital of a future Palestinian state.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher expressed deep regret over the decision, explaining that Arabs perceive it as an undeserved reward to Israel.

”Egypt had expected the Congress and the American administration to apply pressure on Israel to implement the international legitimacy resolutions and not to be awarded by such a bill,” he told reporters.

While diplomats claim they were surprised by the decision, most Egyptians say they expected it.

”The U.S. always rewards Israel for doing its dirty work,” says taxi driver Atef Hegazy. ”The decision was made, and Bush will implement it the next time Israel attacks [Palestinian leader Yasser] Arafat. Who does he think he’s fooling?”

Excerpt:

By Cam McGrath
CAIRO, Oct 6 2002 (IPS)

Egyptian women gathered in downtown Cairo recently to condemn United States President George Bush’s signing of legislation that calls for his administration to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Some two dozen women wearing Palestinian chequered kiffeyehs, scarves and umbrellas huddled in a light drizzle outside the American Embassy. A larger group was kept from attending the scheduled rally by security officers and eight truckloads of black-clad riot police.

“Palestine is Arab! Jerusalem is also Arab!” they shouted to U.S. embassy staff watching from outside their front gate.

Jointly organised by local women’s non governmental organisations, the 90-minute rally brought together women from all walks of life, from housewives to parliamentarians. Their ranks included members of the Arab Woman’s Alliance (AWA), Arab Lawyers Syndicate, Press Syndicate and People’s Committee for Solidarity with the Palestinian Intifada (PCSPI).

“We represent all political wings, religions and professions,” said one demonstrator, who did not give her name.

“We all have one aim – to express our support for the Palestinian people.”

Following a round of sloganeering, several women stepped forward to accuse U.S. President George Bush of caving in to the Jewish lobby.

Last Monday Bush signed the Foreign Relations Authorisation Act for 2003, a congressional bill that allocates four billion U.S. dollars for running the State Department in return for official recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Political analysts say the pro-Israeli Congress pressured Bush into signing the bill by threatening to withhold the funds needed to implement his administration’s foreign policy.

“We condemn this action from the U.S. Congress; for it is a shame that the American people accept that the Zionist lobby controls their foreign policy,” the women said in a protest letter addressed to Bush.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman assured demonstrators that Washington’s policy on Jerusalem had not changed and dismissed rumours that the U.S. planned to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He stressed that the status clause in the congressional bill was advisory – not mandatory – and Bush indicated after the signing ceremony that he would not implement it.

A State Department official wrote off the incident as a misunderstanding, explaining that the Congress cannot dictate how the President carries out foreign policy; it can only make recommendations.

“We’re going to consider, I’m sure, the advice of our Congress, as we always do. And we’re going to continue with the policy the President lays down for us, which is that our policy on Jerusalem has not changed,” State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a briefing. He added that the Bush Administration considers the status of Jerusalem to be an issue that must be negotiated by the Israelis and Palestinians.

Egyptians are not letting Bush off the hook so easy.

“That Bush’s post-signing statement stressed the status quo of the US policy towards Jerusalem, is nothing but a masquerade,” Samir Rageb, board chairman of the state newspaper The Egyptian Gazette, ranted in his daily editorial. “[Bush] should have raised his protests prior to the signing of ‘the provision’, not after the ceremony was concluded.”

Israel captured the eastern part of Jerusalem in the 1967 War and under successive governments declared the whole city as “the eternal undivided capital of Israel.” Despite sustained pressure by Congress, U.S. administrations have refrained from officially recognising the claim so as not to offend Arabs, who consider East Jerusalem as occupied territory and the rightful capital of a future Palestinian state.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher expressed deep regret over the decision, explaining that Arabs perceive it as an undeserved reward to Israel.

“Egypt had expected the Congress and the American administration to apply pressure on Israel to implement the international legitimacy resolutions and not to be awarded by such a bill,” he told reporters.

While diplomats claim they were surprised by the decision, most Egyptians say they expected it.

“The U.S. always rewards Israel for doing its dirty work,” says taxi driver Atef Hegazy. “The decision was made, and Bush will implement it the next time Israel attacks [Palestinian leader Yasser] Arafat. Who does he think he’s fooling?”

Excerpt: