Atone for injustice against Palestinians, Dr M tells the British

THE British people must atone for the injustice against the Palestinians and the horrors they suffered by ensuring that their Parliament adopts a declaration of peace and justice in Palestine, and that the international community fulfils its basic principles, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed said yesterday.
He added that it was in London in 1917 that this atrocious injustice was first conceived.
Therefore, it was only right and proper that the Balfour Declaration be replaced with another declaration of intent, to be called the London Declaration For Peace And Justice In Palestine.
"If justice must be done or seen to be done at the very least, the British Parliament, representing the entire British people, must confront this injustice as the Germans and Germany were made to confront the injustice and crimes committed against the Jews in World War 2," he said at a forum for Palestine in London.
The forum, aimed at galvanising world opinion to condemn the invasion of Gaza by Israel and moving the international community to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, was opened by Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
It is the second leg of a series of roadshows organised by the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War (KLFCW) with support from the Foreign Ministry and the Malaysian High Commission in London.
Other speakers include veteran anti-war campaigner Tony Benn and Rabbi Aharon Cohen, a prominent leader of Neturei Karta, which is an international body of Jews united against Zionism.
Dr Mahathir quoted what he called the "infamous letter", now commonly referred to as the Balfour Declaration, and said "several facts have been expressly admitted by the then British cabinet".
These include the fact that the entire land was known and recognised as Palestine, and it was the British cabinet then that approved the concept of a "national home" for the Jewish people and not the non-Jewish communities, which were not consulted.
"It was an ill-thought out decision, for the British government must know that taking people's land to give to other people is wrong, very wrong. They must know it would lead to violence," he said.
"You may want to remind yourself that as a country with 'one people' (Jews), the trouble that it caused was horrendous. Ever since the country with 'one people' was created, there has been endless violence, conflicts and wars, including the destruction of the World Trade Centre in New York and acts of terrorism."
Dr Mahathir, however, paid tribute to Jews who have condemned Zionism and the creation of Israel.
He also urged leaders of the Muslim community to acquaint themselves with such forthright leaders, citing the works of Rabbi Cohen.
"When I read the words of Rabbi Cohen, my faith in humanity in ensuring that justice for the Palestinians will not only be done, but will be seen to be done, is reinforced."
An exhibition on the genocide in Gaza was also held in conjunction with the forum.

photo courtesy of kelabchedet.com