QUOTE OF THE
WEEK:
U.S. EMBASSY IN JERUSALEM CREEPS FORWARD
MER - Washington - 27 Sept:
While all the political dancing is taking place about another small
Israeli "redeployment" -- quite possibly the last as the Bantustan-status of
Palestinian "population centers" along with the system of settlements and
"by-pass" roads is being solidly established -- other major historic moves are
underway.
Already, for some time now, the U.S. has given Jerusalem de facto
recognition as Israel's capital. In the past few years a plot of land has been chosen for
the new U.S. Jerusalem Embassy and the Congress has allocated funds for its construction.
Within a few years, when the moment is politically ripe, the deed is likely to be done.
The following letter was recently written by the Chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jesse Helms, about this matter to Kaare Kristiansen,
Past President of the Norwegian Parliament and now Chairman of an International Committee
concerning Jerusalem. It should be taken seriously. And the scenario may go something like
this:
* Arafat's "declares" Statehood but in reality little
changes for the Palestinians -- they remain on Israeli created, surrounded and divided
Reservations despite Arafat's bombast that this is the long-sought "Statehood".
* The Israelis claim this is the end of the Oslo agreement and
hunker down for endless future new "negotiations" while settlements continue,
especially throughout the crucial Jerusalem area.
* The U.S. Congress, Helms in the lead, mandates construction of the
Jerusalem Embassy.
* Arafat's choices are few -- after all he now gets his money, guns
and checkpoints from the Americans, the Israelis, and those Europeans still willing to
involve themselves in these matters.
* Most of the world sighs -- confused, exhausted, preoccupied with
so much else -- thinking that at least the Palestinians have their "State" and
there's not much that can be done now about Jerusalem anyway.
* And the Pope prepares, primarily with the Israelis, to come to the
Holy Land for the dawn of the new millenium.
Senator Jesse Helms
Senate of the United States
Washington, D.C.
Kaare Kristiansen
International Chairman
"Embassy 3000" Campaign
Oslo, Norway
Dear Mr. Kristiansen,
I will be honored to be designated a signatory to the "Embassy
3000" campaign. The U.S. Congress has many times reaffirmed its view that the united
City of Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel. Last year, for the first time,
the Congress successfully mandated that the United States Embassy to Israel be moved from
Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. I expect to see a U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem up and running by the
year 2000.
Israel is the only nation in the world that has been denied the
right to choose its own capital. This second class citizenship among nations must end. I
look forward to working with you, and with my colleagues in the Congress, to encourage all
nations to move their embassies to Jerusalem, and to recognize that Holy City as Israel's
rightful capital.
Sincerely,
Jesse Helms
