A group of Palestinians is demanding an apology from Britain as part of a landmark legal bid for reparations from the UK. In a campaign called Britain Owes Palestine, lawyers argue that the roots of the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict lie in Britain.
A 400-page-long legal petition is said to include proof of alleged violations of international law during the period of British rule during the first half of the last century. In their petition, the group allege historical evidence from 1917 to 1948 shows Britain unlawfully repressed the Palestinian people. They also claim Britain was mostly to blame for the breakup of Palestine, which is now divided between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The British Mandate for Palestine from 1920 to 1948 saw Britain granted authority by the League of Nations to govern the territory, which had been part of the Ottoman Empire.
The Mandate included a commitment from Britain to establish a “national home for the Jewish people”, as detailed in the Balfour Declaration.
Britain Owes Palestine is demanding acknowledgement of alleged historic wrongdoing on Britain’s part, an apology and reparations for creating a “century of oppression”, according to the Mirror, which first reported on the petition.
Copies of the document were sent to Downing Street, the Foreign Office, the Attorney General and Ministry of Defence.
If the Government doesn’t respond, then it risks being taken to court.
The lead petitioner, Munib Al-Masri, 91, was shot in the leg by British soldiers aged 13.
He said: “The current crisis in Palestine was ‘Made in Britain’ through a catalogue of neglect and abuse of the Palestinian people. Together we have suffered more than a century of oppression.”
The businessman and philanthropist joins 13 others in bringing the bid. All of them lived through the alleged violations.
Mr Al-Masri said Britain can only play its part in building a just peace in the region today if it acknowledges its defining role in the horrors of the past.
He said an apology would be a just start to what Palestinians expect from the British Government.
The UK has suggested it intends to recognise a Palestinian state later this month and Israeli president Isaac Herzog is due to visit Britain this coming week.
The Government has been approached for comment.