October 4, 2002	Friday	Rajab 26, 1423

TEHRAN, Oct 3: Iran called on the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to discuss moves by the United States toward recognition of Jerusalem (Al Quds) as the capital of Israel, the Iranian news network Khabar reported on Thursday.

“The US has misused the current crisis over Iraq but should know that recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is an insult to the whole Islamic world,” Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi was quoted by the state-run television network IRIB as saying.

On Monday, US President George Bush signed legislation that included a clause encouraging the administration to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Al Quds, in effect granting US diplomatic recognition of Al Quds as the Israeli capital.

Al Quds is a holy site for over one billion Muslims worldwide, ranking in importance only behind Makkah and Madina.

In a telephone discussion with Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa, Kharrazi said the Al Quds Commission of the OIC should tackle the issue and clarify the consequences to the Islamic world.

Iranian government spokesman Abdullah Ramezanzadeh on Wednesday also condemned the US decision as a provocative move that could lead to widespread hatred within the Islamic world.

Iranian Defence Minister Ali Shamkani had on Tuesday said the move was another sign of US hegemonic policies in the Middle East and one-sided support for Israel.

Iran does not recognize the state of Israel and supports the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state with Al Quds as its capital.

ARAFAT’S APPEAL: Yasser Arafat called on Christians on Thursday to join Muslims in rejecting a US congressional demand that Al Quds be recognized as Israel’s capital.

“No one can touch Jerusalem,” the Palestinian leader said in a meeting with representatives of the Palestinian Christian community, with which he has close ties, at his wrecked headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

“I call on Muslim and Christian nations to act against any decision attacking (the status) of Jerusalem,” Arafat also told reporters after the meeting.

Arafat on Wednesday added his voice to Arab criticism of the US congressional move, calling it a “disaster.”—dpa/AFP