Palestinian People’s Party calls on Britain to assume responsibility for Balfour Declaration

The party argued that Britain’s responsibility cannot be discharged through expressions of regret or recognition of the State of Palestine, but requires concrete action to uphold Palestinian rights and bring an end to the occupation.

In its statement, the PPP recalled that the Balfour Declaration, issued by the British government on 2 November 1917, supported the establishment in Palestine of a “national home for the Jewish people” while referring to the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish population. The party regards the declaration as a foundational moment in the process that led to the dispossession of the Palestinian people and the denial of their national rights.

The party stressed that Britain’s subsequent role in Palestine and the consequences of its colonial policies impose an ongoing responsibility. It maintained that Britain's recognition of the State of Palestine does not, in itself, settle this historical responsibility or compensate for the policies and actions that followed the declaration.

The PPP called on the British government to move beyond symbolic gestures and take practical measures, including action to end the Israeli occupation and settlement expansion, halt attacks against Palestinians and ensure accountability for those responsible for crimes against the Palestinian people.

Palestinian rights and national unity

The statement reaffirmed the PPP’s support for the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital. It also reiterated the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194.

The party linked these demands to the need for stronger Palestinian national unity and coordinated political, legal and diplomatic action. It warned against efforts to undermine or liquidate the Palestinian national cause and called for a unified approach to defending Palestinian rights.