Thousands of Palestinian supporters have marched through central London to demand that Britain make amends for the Balfour Declaration, the historic document that led to theft of Palestine and the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.
The protest on Saturday, which was organised by Friends of Al Aqsa, Stop the War, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others, came 100 years after Britain laid the foundations of the Zionist regime and paved the way for the dispossession of the Palestinian people.
But Theresa May’s government has rolled out the red carpet to Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu in the past few days, and stubbornly insists that it is proud of the Balfour Declaration and stands steadfastly behind Israel.
Around 20 Zionists tried to impede the demonstration’s advance from the US Embassy to Parliament Square. They shouted obscenities at the pro-Palestinians, who were far greater in number. But the Zionists couldn’t prevent a clear message being delivered – that Britain should apologise for the Balfour Declaration, recognize a Palestinian state and completely change its policy of supporting Israel.
One Palestinian man said: “This is not the time to celebrate, celebrating adds insult to the injury especially when we are talking about a very live issue, when the conflict continues, when Palestinian suffering goes on day by day … This is about accountability. I want to see action on the ground that forces Israel to stop being in charge and controlling the day to day lives of the Palestinian people.”
A British woman said: “It makes me really ashamed and angry that we can treat another country like that. It’s incredible that one country gave another country that was lived in by the Palestinians to another group.”
Another British woman added: “Basically there should be sanctions just like in South Africa because it’s an Apartheid state.”
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One hundred years after Britain promised Jews a land that was not theirs to give away, millions of Palestinians languish in refugee camps or live in exile all over the world. This is the true legacy of the Balfour Declaration, many would say to Britain’s lasting shame.
