Palestinian Top Cleric Blasts Britain's Move to Honor Balfour Declaration Anniversary
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Grand mufti of Quds (Jerusalem) criticized Britain's decision to hold the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in London and called it "a political shamelessness."
Muhammad Ahmad Hussein said in an exclusive interview with Tasnim that Britain is continuing its support for the violation of the Palestinians’ rights and their displacement by commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
The people of Palestine will not accept the denial of their rights by Britain, he added.
The cleric noted that “Balfour Declaration is in fact a crime against the Palestinian nation” which resulted in the occupation of Palestine and great sufferings of Palestinian nation.
The British prime minister has said a week ago that she will celebrate the centenary of the Balfour declaration, which paved the way for the creation of Israel, with “pride”.
Many British people and politicians showed negative reaction to the UK government support for the Balfour Declaration.
Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the British opposition Labor party and a staunch advocate for Palestinian rights, has declined an invitation to attend a dinner commemorating the Balfour Declaration.
In the meantime, a group of British activists have spent six months walking from the UK to Palestine to apologize for the Balfour Declaration, which helped pave the way for occupying the Palestinian lands by Zionist occupiers.
On November 2, 1917, Balfour, Britain’s then foreign secretary, sent a 67-word communique to the Zionist leader Rothschild. The short note, which would be forever known as the Balfour Declaration, stated the UK’s support for “a national home for the Jewish people” and paved the way for the creation of Israel.
