UK PM Theresa May has said she will celebrate the centenary of the Balfour declaration, which paved the way for the creation of Israel, with “pride” next week.
After welcoming the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to London, May and Netanyahu will dine together at an exclusive event to celebrate the sinful promise made in 1917 that the British Government would use its “best endeavours” to facilitate the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, will not be attending the high-profile event but the party’s Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry will be taking his place.
Speaking in the Commons, May added: “We are proud of the role that we played in the creation of state of Israel and we will certainly mark the centenary with pride.
“I am also pleased that good trade relations and other relations that we have with Israel we are building on and enhancing.
“We must also be conscious of the sensitivities that some people do have about the Balfour declaration and we recognise that there is more work to be done. We remain committed to the two state solution in relation to Israel and the Palestinians.”
Some 5m Palestinians of varying descent live as displaced refugees living by and large in poverty across the Middle East as a consequence of the UK Balfour declaration.
In addition, 2.5m live in torturous conditions within the occupied West Bank and more than 2m people live in the largest open prison camp on the planet in Gaza with no basic rights, no citizenship and no hope of a lasting future.
Yet, the UK prime minister says she is proud.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=3382
