Angry at 1917 UK policies, Palestinians attack British consul

by Daniel Siryoti, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

Sir Vincent Fean visiting Birzeit university to "engage in an open dialogue," attacked by students who kick him and hurl rocks at his vehicle • They say their chief grievance was Britain's support for a Jewish homeland in what was then British-ruled Palestine in a letter known as the "Balfour Declaration," issued in 1917.

Long memory: British consul Sir Vincent Fean enters his car after being accosted by students, who said they were angry about the 1917 Balfour Declaration. | Photo credit: Reuters

Dozens of Palestinian students swarmed around a senior British diplomat on Tuesday, leaping on his vehicle and trying to attack him in a display of rage over a British policy and a century-old promise to Jews.

The outburst forced the British consul general, Sir Vincent Fean, to cancel a speech at a Birzeit University near Ramallah.

Fean was not hurt, although an Associated Press photographer saw one student kicking him in the shins.

Student activists said they were protesting decades of British policy toward Palestinians.

They said their chief grievance was Britain's support for a Jewish homeland in what was then British-ruled Palestine in a letter known as the "Balfour Declaration," issued in 1917.

"We asked the university to cancel his visit because Britain is the cause of the Palestinian traged

y," said Taha Afghani, student leader of the Palestinian Fatah group, one of several political factions that organized the protest. Fatah is headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Fean was returning to his vehicle after meeting with Birzeit University officials when the incident erupted.

The administration decided to cancel Fean's lecture after dozens of students, some waving Palestinian flags and signs, gathered outside the office.

Fean emerged, surrounded by security and university staff, and was escorted to his car. Shouting students tried to approach him. Fean was quickly pushed into his waiting vehicle, and some students began kicking the car. Student leader Afghani said they also hurled rocks at the vehicle.

"Get out of Birzeit!" they yelled in English. "Occupation is your shame!" they shouted, in reference to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.

In a statement, the British Foreign Office said that Fean had hoped "to engage in an open dialogue" about Britain's policies in the Middle East. "Sadly, such a dialogue was not possible on this occasion." As consul-general in Jerusalem, Fean serves as Britain's envoy to the Palestinians.

Birzeit University condemned Tuesday's incident in a statement.

"We believe it would have been much more useful if the students had a dialogue with the guest and expressed their political views in a peaceful way," it said.

An official in Abbas' office told Israel Hayom that the incident at the university caused embarrassment to the PA. The official said that Abbas saw the matter in a grave light and intended to speak personally with Fean and invite him to visit again.

Daniel Siryoti, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

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