UK ‘owes us support’ say Palestinians

BRITAIN should “compensate” Palestinians for facilitating the creation of Israel, potentially by supporting their bid for UN recognition, a Palestinian Authority spokesman said yesterday.

President Mahmoud Abbas is pondering whether to seek “non-member observer state” status for Palestine in the United Nations General Assembly.

“We always hope Britain will try to compensate for the Balfour Declaration by being more forthcoming and supportive regarding our basic rights such as independence and statehood,” said Ghassan Khatib, a PA spokesman.

In 1917, the British government opted to favour the establishment in Palestine of a “national home for the Jewish people” and allowed Jewish migration to the area.

Mr Khatib voiced disappointment over Britain’s announcement on Wednesday that it would abstain in security council voting on the Palestinian application for full UN membership.

According to reports, the Palestinians have started work on a fall-back plan to seek observer status through the General Assembly, where there is a pro-Palestinian majority. Such an upgrade could give the Palestinians access to organisations such as the International Criminal Court.

Last night, the UN’s cultural agency Unesco, which opted to give Palestine membership last month, announced it would not take on any new projects this year after the US withdrew funding.