Arafat Signs Law on Jerusalem as Future Capital

October 5, 2002

RAMALLAH, West Bank - President Yasser Arafat signed a law on Saturday formally declaring portions of Jerusalem to be the capital of a future independent Palestinian state, according to Ahmed Korei,. speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).

The problem: Israel regards the entire city of Jerusalem as its indivisible capital.

"President Arafat signed the 'Jerusalem The Capital' law on Saturday, October 5 stipulating that Jerusalem is the capital of a future independent state and the center of the legislative, judicial and executive authorities," stated Korei.

The PLC presented this to Arafat 2 years ago. Arafat decided to sign the law, in response to the new U.S. legislation which President Bush signed this week requiring the government to stipulate on documents that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Arafat called the President Bush’s legislation a "catastrophe," and Palestinians and Arabs saw it as a biased move backing Israel's claims to the city. It is not clear what difference, if any, the signing of the law would have on Palestinian Authority transactions or documents.

Arafat often speaks of the Palestinians' determination to make Arab East Jerusalem the capital of a future independent state.

SOURCE:

Reuter's News Service