LOC21:32
18:32 GMT
CAIRO, Nov 2 (KUNA) -- The Arab League on Monday laid the full
responsibility of illegal, political and immoral Israeli practices on the
Palestinian people, on Britain after its role in the establishment of the
Balfour Declaration on this same day in 1917.
In a letter addressed to Walter Rothschild, leader of the British Jewish
community, on November 2, 1917, then British Foreign Secretary Arthur James
Balfour wrote: "His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in
Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best
endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object."
The Arab League's Palestine and Arab occupied territories division in a
statement on the memory of the declaration formed nearly a centaury ago, said
that "the Palestinian people live under difficult conditions and suffer under
violations of their most simple of rights as a result of Israeli occupation.
"This requires our joint efforts with Britain and the international
community to enable these people to regain their national legitimate rights."
The statement furthermore stressed that the Balfour Declaration was the
major reason behind the human catastrophe that has become of the Palestinian
people and still continues to this day.
It also warned that the situation in the region would only improve if the
nation of Palestine was reestablished, with Jerusalem as its capital and the
Palestinian people receiving their full legitimate rights. This can only come
about if Israel is pressured into withdrawing from Arab lands it occupied in
1967.
The Arab League department also demanded Israeli compliance to
international treaties and conventions in regard, including the respect of the
dignity of Palestinian refugees according to legitimate international
resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. (end)
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