October 2, 2002	Wednesday	Rajab 24, 1423

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JEDDAH, Oct 1: A US Congress bill demanding the American embassy in Israel be moved from Tel Aviv to occupied Al Quds will only heighten Muslim resentment, the Organization of the Islamic Conference warned on Tuesday.

OIC Secretary General Abdul Wahed Belqeziz voiced “particular concern because of the political and legal considerations stemming from this legislation which harm Islamic interests”.

On Monday, Bush signed into law the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for next year, but in an accompanying message made clear he would ignore provisions of the bill that would shift the US embassy in Israel to the holy city.

“This decision is in total contradiction with (UN) Security Council resolutions,” Belqeziz said in a statement in the name of the 57-member OIC.

“Such an attitude from the American administration at a time when Israel is waging an unprecedented campaign against the Palestinian people is liable to exacerbate resentment among Muslims ... and is not liable to facilitate the role of the United States as co-sponsor of the Middle East peace process,” he said.

Qatar, which holds the rotating chair of the OIC called the Congressional move “a flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions on Jerusalem (Al Quds) and a provocation against the feelings of Islamic and Arab nations”.—AFP