AMMAN: Efforts are underway in Jordan and Egypt to persuade authorities to change the names of the streets in both countries where American embassies are located, in response to US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Ismail Bustanji a member of Amman’s city council, said he has prepared a resolution to the council to change Al-Umwayeen Street to Al-Quds Arabiya (Jerusalem is Arab) Street.
“We’re doing this because we want the world, and especially those working in or visiting the US Embassy, to know that for us Jerusalem is an Arab city,” he told Arab News.
Egyptian political activist Khaled Dawoud told Arab News that he has passed the idea to various political parties, and is sure they will draft a resolution to similarly change the name of Qasra Al-Dubara Street in Cairo.
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem Palestinian protesters barred a Bahraini delegation visiting Israel from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque.
They said the visit was not coordinated with any Palestinian side, thus constituting normalization of relations with Israel.
The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative calls on Israel to withdraw from all Arab territory occupied in 1967, and an agreed to solution to the Palestinian refugee problem, in return for Arab countries normalizing ties with Israel.
The 22-member Arab League and 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have adopted the peace plan.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian was arrested after stabbing an Israeli security officer in West Jerusalem on Sunday. The injury was not said to be life-threatening.
Protests against the US decision have evolved in the last few days to include new songs, social media campaigns, street demonstrations worldwide, and calls to boycott American products and services.
There was a one-hour strike in Amman’s Jabal Hussein business district, and Jordanian lawyers and judges agreed to a one-hour suspension of legal proceedings in the main courthouses to protest the US move.
Mazen Rushedat, head of the Jordanian Bar Association, has urged the government to approach the International Court of Justice.
He told protesting lawyers that US President Donald Trump has unified Arabs, but that Arab governments still dealing with America as a peace sponsor must re-evaluate their position.