Abbas: “Balfour Declaration is the reason for our tragedy,” demands Britain apologize
Excerpt of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' statements at the press conference with French President Francois Hollande on Feb. 7, 2017 in Paris
...I have discussed with His Honor [French] President [Francois] Hollande the inherent dangers in the possibility of the embassy of any state being transferred to Jerusalem, as this is a violation of international law. At this opportunity, we emphasize that we view East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. We want it to be open to the faithful of all of the monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam…
Yesterday the government of Britain announced that it is inviting Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] to participate in the celebrations of the 100th [anniversary] of the issuing of the Balfour Promise (i.e., Declaration) in 1917. The Balfour Promise is the reason for our tragedy, and this is a matter which surprises [us] and to which we object. We demand that the government of Britain apologize to the Palestinian people for the destruction and expulsion that it caused our people. We also demand that it recognize the State of Palestine, in accordance with the recommendation of the British House of Commons from 2014…
I told His Honor President [Hollande] that we stand by France and support the French and international efforts to fight terror and violence, which we condemn – whatever their form and source. This is because terror has no religion, and contradicts all religious, spiritual, and human values."
UN Security Council Resolution 2334 was passed on Dec. 23, 2016, by a vote of 14-0 with one abstention.
The resolution condemned the establishment of Israeli "settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem," saying it "has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace." It demanded that Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities” in the area. The resolution further said “it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines” other than changes made through negotiations, in reference to the 1949-1967 ceasefire line between Israel and the neighboring Arab countries following Israel's 1948 War of Independence.
The resolution called “upon all States… to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.” It also called "to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as acts of provocation and destruction... and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism," and noted the obligation of "the Palestinian Authority Security Forces to maintain effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantling terrorist capabilities."
The US abstained instead of vetoing the resolution, in a breach of longstanding US policy of not allowing the UN to force conditions on Israel in place of direct negotiations. This policy change came during US President Barack Obama’s final weeks in office.
The Balfour Declaration of Nov. 2, 1917 was a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Baron Rothschild stating that “His Majesty's government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people” and is seen as the basis for later international commitments to establish the State of Israel.
...I have discussed with His Honor [French] President [Francois] Hollande the inherent dangers in the possibility of the embassy of any state being transferred to Jerusalem, as this is a violation of international law. At this opportunity, we emphasize that we view East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. We want it to be open to the faithful of all of the monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam…
Yesterday the government of Britain announced that it is inviting Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] to participate in the celebrations of the 100th [anniversary] of the issuing of the Balfour Promise (i.e., Declaration) in 1917. The Balfour Promise is the reason for our tragedy, and this is a matter which surprises [us] and to which we object. We demand that the government of Britain apologize to the Palestinian people for the destruction and expulsion that it caused our people. We also demand that it recognize the State of Palestine, in accordance with the recommendation of the British House of Commons from 2014…
I told His Honor President [Hollande] that we stand by France and support the French and international efforts to fight terror and violence, which we condemn – whatever their form and source. This is because terror has no religion, and contradicts all religious, spiritual, and human values."
UN Security Council Resolution 2334 was passed on Dec. 23, 2016, by a vote of 14-0 with one abstention.
The resolution condemned the establishment of Israeli "settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem," saying it "has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace." It demanded that Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities” in the area. The resolution further said “it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines” other than changes made through negotiations, in reference to the 1949-1967 ceasefire line between Israel and the neighboring Arab countries following Israel's 1948 War of Independence.
The resolution called “upon all States… to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.” It also called "to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as acts of provocation and destruction... and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism," and noted the obligation of "the Palestinian Authority Security Forces to maintain effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantling terrorist capabilities."
The US abstained instead of vetoing the resolution, in a breach of longstanding US policy of not allowing the UN to force conditions on Israel in place of direct negotiations. This policy change came during US President Barack Obama’s final weeks in office.
The Balfour Declaration of Nov. 2, 1917 was a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Baron Rothschild stating that “His Majesty's government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people” and is seen as the basis for later international commitments to establish the State of Israel.