Although disturbing, congressmen seemed resigned to acceptance: "There is nothing any congressman can do, unless if they introduce new legislation, and it just wouldn’t move. We were hit completely unaware about this, and we had about four hours to analyze it before the vote, they threw everything but the kitchen sink in this."

The new legislation, passed last week, calls on the administration to start immediately the process of moving the embassy to Jerusalem and adds three mandatory provisions that will significantly change the way the United States treats the city.

A provision to stockpile more US weapons in Israel was added to the bill, specifying that "not more than $100,000,000 may be made available for stockpiles in the State of Israel."

At the same time, the bill introduces harsh new restrictions against the Palestinians, including naming the PLO as a "foreign terrorist organization" and "downgrading the status of the PLO office" in Washington.

It also prohibits the State Department from issuing any visas to "PLO and Palestinian Authority Officials."

And finally, the bill prohibits any US assistance to the West Bank and Gaza. (arab news service)

Article reprinted courtesy of Arab News: http://www.arabnews.com