PLC Speaker Ahmad Qrei' told al-Ayyam newspaper that President Yasser Arafat signed and ratified the Law of Al-Quds which considers
Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the state of Palestine. He pointed out that the PLC would discuss in a special session today in Ramallah the
Law of Secretariat of Al-Quds which is expected to be ratified by the PLC in the first reading today. The PLC decided to hold a special session
today to discuss the developments in light of the US Congress decision to consider Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel and which was
signed by US President Bush and which caused anger in several Arab and Islamic capitals. Qrei' added that the PLC will discuss all matters
pertaining to the US Congress decision. Qrei' revealed that President Arafat had delayed signing of the Law of Al-Quds, which was ratified by
the PLC, until after the end of the negotiations, but after the very provocative decision of the US Congress, he signed the Law, which stipulates
that Al-Quds is the capital of the state of Palestine and the Headquarters of all the executive, legislative and judiciary institutions of the state
and that the capital will have a Secretariat and other steps. The PLC Speaker stressed that the US Congress decision did not leave any room for
delaying the signing of the Law of Al-Quds. He said: The Israelis started the battle of Jerusalem through annexation and Judaization and
through setting up walls and fences and settlements and the Americans completed this by ratifying the recent decision which considers
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He added: As of today, we will start studying the Law of Al-Quds Secretariat which is presented to us to be
ratified in the first reading.
Published in Al-Ayyam newspaper - Oct. 6, 2002.
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