NEW YORK- The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has criticized President Bush’s assertion that U.S. national security will be harmed if he implements the U.S. law requiring the relocation of the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act of 1995 required that the embassy be moved to Jerusalem and that the U.S. recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capitol.

During the 2000 election campaign, Mr. Bush pledged that if elected, he would “begin the process” of moving the embassy to Jerusalem on his “first day in office.” Although nearly four years have passed, there is no evidence that he has begun that “process.”

Moreover, President Bush has repeatedly invoked the “national security” clause of that law, which enables him to postpone implementing the law if moving the embassy would endanger U.S. national security. This week, he again invoked that clause. The administration has never explained exactly how the moving of the embassy would harm national security.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said:

“The failure to recognize Jerusalem is a violation of U.S. law and a blatant surrender to Arab terrorist threats. At a time when America is engaged in a life-or-death struggle with terrorists worldwide, it is especially important to implement U.S. law on Jerusalem and thereby send a message to terrorists everywhere that America will not capitulate to their blackmail. It is President Bush’s refusal to move the embassy which could undermine national security because it encourages terrorists to believe that threats and violence will force the U.S. to change its policies.”