2 nov 2017
The UK’s House of Lords debated whether Hamas should remain a designated terrorist organization yesterday afternoon, with several prominent figures advocating for the issue to be reconsidered.
According to the Palestine Chronicle, a question raised by Lord Raymond Hylton, a cross bencher and peer who has met with Hamas officials in both besieged Gaza and the occupied West Bank, pointed out that in light of the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, the situation of the group had changed significantly since it was first listed as a terror group.
“Would delisting not help all sides to be rather less intransigent than they have been up to now? Would it not build confidence among all Palestinians and help support their new Government of Unity?” he queried.
The request was once again echoed by Lord Frank Judd, who argued that a distinction should be made between the military and political wings of Hamas, Palestine Chronicle added.
“Is it not important to recognize in political terms that Hamas is a pluralist organization? Is it not vital to strengthen the more moderate elements within Hamas, particularly at this time of reconciliation between the PLO and Hamas?”
The issue of the recognition of Palestine was also briefly addressed, with Baroness Lindsey Northover, a Liberal Democrat politician, calling for the British Government to recognize the state of Palestine 100 years after the Balfour Declaration.
In an article published by The Sun daily on Wednesday, UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson reportedly refused to reveal whether or not Britain is holding secretive talks with Hamas.
During the final weeks of the election race, the Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Hamas to be removed from Britain’s list of banned terror groups, according to the Telegraph.
As the centennial anniversary of the Balfour Declaration approaches this month, pro-Palestinian activists have asked Britain to apologize for its role in the creation of Israel, which led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. The request has been denied by senior British officials, and UK Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to celebrate the anniversary with pride.
According to the Palestine Chronicle, a question raised by Lord Raymond Hylton, a cross bencher and peer who has met with Hamas officials in both besieged Gaza and the occupied West Bank, pointed out that in light of the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, the situation of the group had changed significantly since it was first listed as a terror group.
“Would delisting not help all sides to be rather less intransigent than they have been up to now? Would it not build confidence among all Palestinians and help support their new Government of Unity?” he queried.
The request was once again echoed by Lord Frank Judd, who argued that a distinction should be made between the military and political wings of Hamas, Palestine Chronicle added.
“Is it not important to recognize in political terms that Hamas is a pluralist organization? Is it not vital to strengthen the more moderate elements within Hamas, particularly at this time of reconciliation between the PLO and Hamas?”
The issue of the recognition of Palestine was also briefly addressed, with Baroness Lindsey Northover, a Liberal Democrat politician, calling for the British Government to recognize the state of Palestine 100 years after the Balfour Declaration.
In an article published by The Sun daily on Wednesday, UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson reportedly refused to reveal whether or not Britain is holding secretive talks with Hamas.
During the final weeks of the election race, the Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Hamas to be removed from Britain’s list of banned terror groups, according to the Telegraph.
As the centennial anniversary of the Balfour Declaration approaches this month, pro-Palestinian activists have asked Britain to apologize for its role in the creation of Israel, which led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. The request has been denied by senior British officials, and UK Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to celebrate the anniversary with pride.
On the centenary of the Balfour Declaration the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) has launched its latest publication titled "Giving Away Other People’s Land, The Making of the Balfour Declaration".
The report provides an in-depth analysis of the motivations and dynamics that culminated in the creation of the Balfour Declaration.
With the 1917 Balfour Declaration, Palestine became the victim of European colonialism, as Britain promised to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine where the indigenous Palestinians amounted to over ninety percent of the total population.
The research is based primarily on archival documents from the National Archives in Kew Gardens, London. The report opens with objections to the Zionist project to settle in Palestine, strongly advocated by anti-Zionist British Jews.
Contrary to the mainstream view that Britain had benevolent motivations in drafting the Declaration, evidence in the archives proves that British government ministers used political Zionism to advance their own imperial ambitions.
The report also explores the accusation that the British ruling elite were anti-Semitic and thus driven by an age-long ambition to expel their Jewish communities.
The study also argues that both the British government and the Zionist movement used Orientalist ideology to justify the dispossession of Palestinians from their lands.
This publication is of relevance to academics, students, policy makers and activists interested in the history and politics of British imperialism, settler colonialism, Zionism, Israel and the question of Palestine.
The report provides an in-depth analysis of the motivations and dynamics that culminated in the creation of the Balfour Declaration.
With the 1917 Balfour Declaration, Palestine became the victim of European colonialism, as Britain promised to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine where the indigenous Palestinians amounted to over ninety percent of the total population.
The research is based primarily on archival documents from the National Archives in Kew Gardens, London. The report opens with objections to the Zionist project to settle in Palestine, strongly advocated by anti-Zionist British Jews.
Contrary to the mainstream view that Britain had benevolent motivations in drafting the Declaration, evidence in the archives proves that British government ministers used political Zionism to advance their own imperial ambitions.
The report also explores the accusation that the British ruling elite were anti-Semitic and thus driven by an age-long ambition to expel their Jewish communities.
The study also argues that both the British government and the Zionist movement used Orientalist ideology to justify the dispossession of Palestinians from their lands.
This publication is of relevance to academics, students, policy makers and activists interested in the history and politics of British imperialism, settler colonialism, Zionism, Israel and the question of Palestine.
1 nov 2017
The British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, published an article in the Telegraph on Monday, that he claimed to have written in the same room Balfour used a century ago to prepare the Balfour letter.
In his letter, Johnson defended Balfour declaration and praised the UK’s role in paving the way for the creation of Israel and Balfour's predecessor’s role in backing the establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine, describing it as an "incontestable moral goal: to provide a persecuted people with a safe and secure homeland."
He added, "I am proud of Britain's part in creating Israel;" adding that Balfour declaration was "indispensable to the creation of a great nation."
At the end of the article, Johnson warned that one of the key pillars of Balfour declaration is that the rights of non-Jewish communities shall be protected, which he said "has not been fully realized."
Johnson also said that the idea of two sovereign states for Israelis and Palestinians remains the only viable solution for peace and that London remained committed to a two-state solution.
He added that the borders of the two states should be as they were before the Six Day war in 1967, with Jerusalem as a "shared capital" and "equal land swaps to reflect the national, security, and religious interest of the Jewish and Palestinian peoples."
He also said, "A century on, Britain will give whatever possible support in order to close the ring and complete the unfinished business of the Balfour declaration.”
Johnson stressed the need to ensure the security of Israelis and prevent any terrorist threats against Israel, according to his article. He also called for respecting the sovereignty of the Palestinians and guaranteeing their freedom of movement.
The British Foreign Secretary referred to the United Nations resolution 1515 as the only just solution to the Palestinian refugees cause and their right to return to their homeland.
In his letter, Johnson defended Balfour declaration and praised the UK’s role in paving the way for the creation of Israel and Balfour's predecessor’s role in backing the establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine, describing it as an "incontestable moral goal: to provide a persecuted people with a safe and secure homeland."
He added, "I am proud of Britain's part in creating Israel;" adding that Balfour declaration was "indispensable to the creation of a great nation."
At the end of the article, Johnson warned that one of the key pillars of Balfour declaration is that the rights of non-Jewish communities shall be protected, which he said "has not been fully realized."
Johnson also said that the idea of two sovereign states for Israelis and Palestinians remains the only viable solution for peace and that London remained committed to a two-state solution.
He added that the borders of the two states should be as they were before the Six Day war in 1967, with Jerusalem as a "shared capital" and "equal land swaps to reflect the national, security, and religious interest of the Jewish and Palestinian peoples."
He also said, "A century on, Britain will give whatever possible support in order to close the ring and complete the unfinished business of the Balfour declaration.”
Johnson stressed the need to ensure the security of Israelis and prevent any terrorist threats against Israel, according to his article. He also called for respecting the sovereignty of the Palestinians and guaranteeing their freedom of movement.
The British Foreign Secretary referred to the United Nations resolution 1515 as the only just solution to the Palestinian refugees cause and their right to return to their homeland.
31 oct 2017
Many analysts and politicians believe that the British government's announcement of its intention to celebrate the Balfour Declaration constitutes a denial of the Palestinian rights, from which Palestinians were stripped of, as a result of this unjust Declaration and constitutes insistence on this crime committed by the British Mandate government in Palestine in 1917.
Zaher al-Shashtari, an official in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, PFLP, said: “Britain, which is responsible for the disastrous Declaration, is still going on with its arrogance and hostility towards the Palestinian people, by declaring that it will celebrate this occasion, and by having a credit in establishing the Zionist entity.”
Al-Shashtari said during an interview with the PIC, and in response to this step, Palestinians should take further steps locally and internationally.
He added, “There must be a popular Palestinian demand of boycotting the UK and addressing all international and legal institutions including the International Criminal Court for the historic injustice that has been inflicted on the Palestinian people because of this terrible Declaration. As for the Palestinian Authority and the PLO, they should carry out their duty and ask the Arab League to take action against Britain.”
In the same context, Nasr Abu Jaish, an official in the Palestinian People’s Party, stressed that “The shameful Balfour Declaration has caused damage to our people, including imprisonment, killings, settlements and displacement of our people,” calling on the British government to recognize the state of Palestine and apologize to the Palestinian people.
He told the PIC, “The British Prime Minister is the one who killed the children of Palestine, and her statement that she wants to celebrate this Declaration is against freedom and human justice.
“All the Palestinian people should engage in the days of anger and rejection of this notorious Declaration,” he emphasized.
Abu Jaish called on the Palestinian people, in the occupied homeland and in the diaspora, to send letters of protest to the British embassies asking them to apologize to our people.
Kamal Alawneh, a media and political analyst, said that the British plan to celebrate the centenary of the Balfour Declaration “demonstrates that Britain is adamant in its hostile position against the Arab and Muslim people in general and the Palestinian people in particular”, describing such stance as abhorrently racist.”
He added: “The British government’s decision to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration indicates that the British evil policy has not changed and is persistent in supporting the Israeli oppression against the Palestinian people, which constitutes a blatant attack on Palestinian people and human rights. Britain occupies the top list of global terrorism, in the past and present and perhaps in the future, for its crime against the Palestinian people by depriving them of their simplest national and political rights.”
British Prime Minister Theresa May has recently said that the UK would celebrate the Balfour Declaration, saying she is proud of Britain’s role in establishing Israel.
“We are proud of our role in the establishment of the State of Israel,” she said.
She expressed her satisfaction with her country’s relations with Israel, and for enhancing these relations in the fields of trade and other fields.
Zaher al-Shashtari, an official in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, PFLP, said: “Britain, which is responsible for the disastrous Declaration, is still going on with its arrogance and hostility towards the Palestinian people, by declaring that it will celebrate this occasion, and by having a credit in establishing the Zionist entity.”
Al-Shashtari said during an interview with the PIC, and in response to this step, Palestinians should take further steps locally and internationally.
He added, “There must be a popular Palestinian demand of boycotting the UK and addressing all international and legal institutions including the International Criminal Court for the historic injustice that has been inflicted on the Palestinian people because of this terrible Declaration. As for the Palestinian Authority and the PLO, they should carry out their duty and ask the Arab League to take action against Britain.”
In the same context, Nasr Abu Jaish, an official in the Palestinian People’s Party, stressed that “The shameful Balfour Declaration has caused damage to our people, including imprisonment, killings, settlements and displacement of our people,” calling on the British government to recognize the state of Palestine and apologize to the Palestinian people.
He told the PIC, “The British Prime Minister is the one who killed the children of Palestine, and her statement that she wants to celebrate this Declaration is against freedom and human justice.
“All the Palestinian people should engage in the days of anger and rejection of this notorious Declaration,” he emphasized.
Abu Jaish called on the Palestinian people, in the occupied homeland and in the diaspora, to send letters of protest to the British embassies asking them to apologize to our people.
Kamal Alawneh, a media and political analyst, said that the British plan to celebrate the centenary of the Balfour Declaration “demonstrates that Britain is adamant in its hostile position against the Arab and Muslim people in general and the Palestinian people in particular”, describing such stance as abhorrently racist.”
He added: “The British government’s decision to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration indicates that the British evil policy has not changed and is persistent in supporting the Israeli oppression against the Palestinian people, which constitutes a blatant attack on Palestinian people and human rights. Britain occupies the top list of global terrorism, in the past and present and perhaps in the future, for its crime against the Palestinian people by depriving them of their simplest national and political rights.”
British Prime Minister Theresa May has recently said that the UK would celebrate the Balfour Declaration, saying she is proud of Britain’s role in establishing Israel.
“We are proud of our role in the establishment of the State of Israel,” she said.
She expressed her satisfaction with her country’s relations with Israel, and for enhancing these relations in the fields of trade and other fields.
30 oct 2017
A top parliamentary member of the UK Labour Party has said that “the most important way” for the UK to mark the 100th anniversary of Balfour Declaration is to “recognize Palestine.”
In an interview published Monday, with the Middle East Eye news site, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry said the UK should not celebrate the declaration, which pledged Britain’s support for a Jewish national home, as there is not yet a Palestinian state.
“I don’t think we celebrate the Balfour Declaration but I think we have to mark it because I think it was a turning point in the history of that area and I think probably the most important way of marking it is to recognize Palestine,” said Thornberry, according to Days of Palestine.
“The British government have said they will do {so}, it’s just a question of when the time is right and it seems to me this is the time.
“We need to have two states, two viable states, two viable secure safe states. We must not forget that in the end that is the only solution,” she added. “We should measure everything we do against that.”
Thornberry issued harsh criticism against Israel’s settlement policies in the occupied West Bank, saying that the Israeli government has “lost its way” and is undermining a two-state solution.
“What are they now doing? Are they heading for a one-state [reality]? It seems, on the face of it, that they may be,” she said.
She is set to attend a dinner in London, this week, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in celebrating the centennial of the Balfour Declaration, and said she would also go to a separate event with Palestinians, to mark the anniversary.
The Labour MP was asked by party leader Jeremy Corbyn to attend the dinner in his stead after he decided not to attend the event.
In an interview published Monday, with the Middle East Eye news site, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry said the UK should not celebrate the declaration, which pledged Britain’s support for a Jewish national home, as there is not yet a Palestinian state.
“I don’t think we celebrate the Balfour Declaration but I think we have to mark it because I think it was a turning point in the history of that area and I think probably the most important way of marking it is to recognize Palestine,” said Thornberry, according to Days of Palestine.
“The British government have said they will do {so}, it’s just a question of when the time is right and it seems to me this is the time.
“We need to have two states, two viable states, two viable secure safe states. We must not forget that in the end that is the only solution,” she added. “We should measure everything we do against that.”
Thornberry issued harsh criticism against Israel’s settlement policies in the occupied West Bank, saying that the Israeli government has “lost its way” and is undermining a two-state solution.
“What are they now doing? Are they heading for a one-state [reality]? It seems, on the face of it, that they may be,” she said.
She is set to attend a dinner in London, this week, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in celebrating the centennial of the Balfour Declaration, and said she would also go to a separate event with Palestinians, to mark the anniversary.
The Labour MP was asked by party leader Jeremy Corbyn to attend the dinner in his stead after he decided not to attend the event.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) along with Jewish settlers assaulted a UK solidarity delegation who came on foot from Britain to occupied Palestinian territories in order to mark the 100th anniversary of Balfour Declaration on November 02.
IOF soldiers banned foreign solidarity activists from accessing al-Shuhada Street and other closed areas.
The UK delegation consisted of 60 activists who walked from the UK to Occupied Jerusalem in a journey that lasted for 135 days. The delegation was received by al-Khalil organizations which offered the delegation a tour in the city.
The settlers also assaulted al-Khalil Assistant Governor Nidal al-Jaabari. Meanwhile, IOF troops detained al-Khalil Governor Consultant Mahdi Mereb for a few hours upon the request of settlers who ousted the local and foreign activists.
IOF soldiers banned foreign solidarity activists from accessing al-Shuhada Street and other closed areas.
The UK delegation consisted of 60 activists who walked from the UK to Occupied Jerusalem in a journey that lasted for 135 days. The delegation was received by al-Khalil organizations which offered the delegation a tour in the city.
The settlers also assaulted al-Khalil Assistant Governor Nidal al-Jaabari. Meanwhile, IOF troops detained al-Khalil Governor Consultant Mahdi Mereb for a few hours upon the request of settlers who ousted the local and foreign activists.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah demanded on Sunday that United Kingdom bear responsibility and apologize for Balfour Declaration which granted the Jews a national homeland in Palestine.
In a speech he delivered during the inauguration ceremony of a group of governmental schools in Nablus city, Hamdallah called on the UK to correct its mistake rather than celebrate it.
He urged the international community to end the historic tyranny practiced against the Palestinians on the 100th anniversary of the ill-famed Balfour promise, which coincides on November 02.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May said earlier that she would celebrate the 100th anniversary of Balfour Declaration, which is a promise made by the British government to the Zionist Movement stipulating the establishment of a national homeland for Jews over Palestinian territories.
In a speech he delivered during the inauguration ceremony of a group of governmental schools in Nablus city, Hamdallah called on the UK to correct its mistake rather than celebrate it.
He urged the international community to end the historic tyranny practiced against the Palestinians on the 100th anniversary of the ill-famed Balfour promise, which coincides on November 02.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May said earlier that she would celebrate the 100th anniversary of Balfour Declaration, which is a promise made by the British government to the Zionist Movement stipulating the establishment of a national homeland for Jews over Palestinian territories.
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights said that the Balfour declaration has no legal or political basis, calling on Britain to redress its historic mistake, which “displaced the Palestinian people, led to continued shedding of their blood and violated their right to their land.”
“Though it sounds British, the promise (Balfour declaration) was supported by many countries at the time,” Isam Younis, director of the center, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC).
Younis held the international community legally and morally responsible for the Palestinian people’s displacement and everything they have been suffering since the Nakba (catastrophe).
He emphasized that Britain and the international community insists on ignoring the Palestinian people’s rights and refusing to revoke the illegal Balfour declaration.
“Obviously, Britain still insists on not correcting the historic mistake it had committed against the Palestinians and this is apparent from the remarks of its politicians, who reflect the level of rudeness they have descended to towards the rightful owners of the land,” he added.
“Though it sounds British, the promise (Balfour declaration) was supported by many countries at the time,” Isam Younis, director of the center, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC).
Younis held the international community legally and morally responsible for the Palestinian people’s displacement and everything they have been suffering since the Nakba (catastrophe).
He emphasized that Britain and the international community insists on ignoring the Palestinian people’s rights and refusing to revoke the illegal Balfour declaration.
“Obviously, Britain still insists on not correcting the historic mistake it had committed against the Palestinians and this is apparent from the remarks of its politicians, who reflect the level of rudeness they have descended to towards the rightful owners of the land,” he added.
28 oct 2017
Leader of UK Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn has declined an invitation from pro-Israel lobby to attend a Balfour Declaration centenary gala dinner, next month, in London.
Corbyn announced, according to Days of Palestine, that he would decline an invitation celebrating the hundred-year anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
The Balfour Declaration – which was a promise by the British Foreign Secretary in 1917 to establish a homeland for the Jews in Palestine – led directly to the creation of the Zionist regime in 1948 and the dispossession of the Palestinian people.
Chair of the Jewish Leadership Council in Britain Jonathan Goldstein called Corbyn’s decision not to attend the event “deeply unfortunate.”
“I do think it will not have been amiss for Mr Corbyn to understand that the Jewish community will have taken great heart and great comfort for seeing him attend such an event because it recognises the right of Israel to exist,” he said.
Goldstein added that Corbyn had also not attended a reception for Labour Friends of Israel at the party conference in October.
Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas tweeted Corbyn’s announcement, adding that Britain should formally apologise and compensate Palestinians for the Balfour Declaration.
The UK government refused to issue an apology in April, this year, saying it had helped to establish a “homeland for the Jewish people in the land to which they had such strong historical and religious ties was the right and moral thing to do, particularly against the background of centuries of persecution.”
Protests will take place across Britain, next month, as Theresa May and her Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, celebrate the centenary.
Corbyn announced, according to Days of Palestine, that he would decline an invitation celebrating the hundred-year anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
The Balfour Declaration – which was a promise by the British Foreign Secretary in 1917 to establish a homeland for the Jews in Palestine – led directly to the creation of the Zionist regime in 1948 and the dispossession of the Palestinian people.
Chair of the Jewish Leadership Council in Britain Jonathan Goldstein called Corbyn’s decision not to attend the event “deeply unfortunate.”
“I do think it will not have been amiss for Mr Corbyn to understand that the Jewish community will have taken great heart and great comfort for seeing him attend such an event because it recognises the right of Israel to exist,” he said.
Goldstein added that Corbyn had also not attended a reception for Labour Friends of Israel at the party conference in October.
Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas tweeted Corbyn’s announcement, adding that Britain should formally apologise and compensate Palestinians for the Balfour Declaration.
The UK government refused to issue an apology in April, this year, saying it had helped to establish a “homeland for the Jewish people in the land to which they had such strong historical and religious ties was the right and moral thing to do, particularly against the background of centuries of persecution.”
Protests will take place across Britain, next month, as Theresa May and her Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, celebrate the centenary.
27 oct 2017
Palestinian minister of foreign affairs Riyadh al-Maliki has threatened to take legal action against Britain over its intent to mark the centennial of the Balfour declaration, which led to the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe) and the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
In remarks to the Palestinian radio, Maliki strongly denounced the British government for its blatant insistence on celebrating the catastrophic Balfour declaration instead of responding to Palestinian demands for apology.
“The British position openly defies the opinion of its own people, the international community and Palestine, and reflects real indifference to Britain’s historical responsibility for the crime it had committed one hundred years ago,” he said.
The minister said the Palestinian Authority would study the possibility of filing lawsuits against the British government with British or European courts over the crimes it had committed against the Palestinian people.
Ignoring widespread calls for apology, UK premier Theresa May told the House of Commons last Wednesday that her country would celebrate “with pride” its role in the creation of Israel and the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Balfour declaration.
In remarks to the Palestinian radio, Maliki strongly denounced the British government for its blatant insistence on celebrating the catastrophic Balfour declaration instead of responding to Palestinian demands for apology.
“The British position openly defies the opinion of its own people, the international community and Palestine, and reflects real indifference to Britain’s historical responsibility for the crime it had committed one hundred years ago,” he said.
The minister said the Palestinian Authority would study the possibility of filing lawsuits against the British government with British or European courts over the crimes it had committed against the Palestinian people.
Ignoring widespread calls for apology, UK premier Theresa May told the House of Commons last Wednesday that her country would celebrate “with pride” its role in the creation of Israel and the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Balfour declaration.
Foreign Minister Riyad Malki criticized, on Thursday, remarks British Prime Minister Theresa May made the day before regarding the centennial of the Balfour declaration, describing them as “offensive and unacceptable.”
“Ms. May boasted about this declaration, which willfully and determinedly disregarded the existence of the Palestinian people and denied their national rights,” said Malki in a statement, WAFA reports.
“Most disturbing is the British Prime Minister’s tone of condescension,” he said. “Even when attempting to sound mindful of what she called ‘sensitivities’, Ms. May failed to acknowledge the Palestinian people and their suffering or recognize their inalienable right to self-determination, which Israel continues to deny.”
The Foreign Minister went on to say that “in line with the Balfour Declaration’s original racism and disdain for the Palestinian people, Ms. May glossed over the reality and facts and consciously chose to refrain from addressing the continued injustice that the Palestinian people suffer because of the chain of events that this declaration had set off.”
Malki said that May’s eagerness to celebrate the declaration “is a testament to the colonial, racist mentality that exacted injustice and suffering on peoples around the world. That mentality rationalized Britain’s illegitimate gifting of another people’s homeland to a third group and simultaneously disregarded the indigenous people’s national identity and rights.”
“If Prime Minister May wants to show British sensitivity to the ongoing pain and suffering of the Palestinian people, she should start out by acknowledging Britain’s culpability for this ongoing injustice and recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights. The legacy of injustice and suffering of the Balfour Declaration runs through the generations and has touched the lives of every Palestinian for the past hundred years. This is a shameful legacy; one that Britain must acknowledge and make right.”
“Ms. May boasted about this declaration, which willfully and determinedly disregarded the existence of the Palestinian people and denied their national rights,” said Malki in a statement, WAFA reports.
“Most disturbing is the British Prime Minister’s tone of condescension,” he said. “Even when attempting to sound mindful of what she called ‘sensitivities’, Ms. May failed to acknowledge the Palestinian people and their suffering or recognize their inalienable right to self-determination, which Israel continues to deny.”
The Foreign Minister went on to say that “in line with the Balfour Declaration’s original racism and disdain for the Palestinian people, Ms. May glossed over the reality and facts and consciously chose to refrain from addressing the continued injustice that the Palestinian people suffer because of the chain of events that this declaration had set off.”
Malki said that May’s eagerness to celebrate the declaration “is a testament to the colonial, racist mentality that exacted injustice and suffering on peoples around the world. That mentality rationalized Britain’s illegitimate gifting of another people’s homeland to a third group and simultaneously disregarded the indigenous people’s national identity and rights.”
“If Prime Minister May wants to show British sensitivity to the ongoing pain and suffering of the Palestinian people, she should start out by acknowledging Britain’s culpability for this ongoing injustice and recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights. The legacy of injustice and suffering of the Balfour Declaration runs through the generations and has touched the lives of every Palestinian for the past hundred years. This is a shameful legacy; one that Britain must acknowledge and make right.”
