Palestine says it will sue Britain over its Balfour Declaration 100 years ago, a top official said on Wednesday, adding the planning was underway but may take some time.
British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour promised Jewish community leaders in a letter dated Nov. 2, 1917 a homeland for the Jews in Palestine, provoking protests by its Palestinian Arab residents.
Meanwhile, Palestine’s Foreign Minister Riyad Malki on Monday said the Palestinian Authority had decided as the 100 year anniversary for the declaration approaches to sue Britain over it.
He announced the decision during a speech he presented on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas at an Arab summit meeting in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Malki said in an interview that he threw “a bomb” during the summit to see how the Arab countries and world would react to it.
“We threw a bomb and are waiting to see reactions’’, he said, explaining the Palestinian Authority had not started yet any steps in the direction but was studying all options.
Malki said what prompted the Palestinians to sue Britain was the news that British officials were preparing to hold celebrations on that occasion totally disregarding its negative impact on the Palestinian people.
He said the process may take a while but the Palestinian Authority was “serious” in taking Britain to court for its action. (dpa/NAN)
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