© Mustafa Yalçın / Anadolu AgencyPalestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends the 34th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council at the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland on February 27, 2017
"We have asked the British government to give us an answer on this subject and after 3 days of waiting we received a response from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, stating that an apology is unacceptable", Hassassian was heard saying in an interview with the Radio station "Voice of Palestine", on Tuesday.
He also stressed that the Palestinian side will continue its efforts to take legal action against Britain should the latter not apologize for the Balfour Declaration, cancel the planned celebration of its centennial and recognize Palestine as an independent state, adding that the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is ready to resort to such measures if necessary.
He then pointed out that there is a seizable number of British lawyers who follow the issue, saying "This is the only way through which we can close this file permanently." The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not yet responded to the matter.
Previously, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Britain to apologize for the Balfour Declaration in a speech that he delivered at the General Assembly of United Nations back in September 2016. The British side did not respond to his calls and decided to organise a celebration in order to mark the centennial of the creation of the Balfour Declaration and which will be held on November 2nd 2017.
Comment: Typical British arrogance. Instead of apologizing, the Brits compound their overbearing pomposity by celebrating one of the worst decisions of the past century. Have they no shame? (Rhetorical question!)