Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud AbbasReuters

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, the Palestinian Authority presidency in Ramallah on Wednesday issued a statement reiterating its demand that the British government apologize to the "Palestinian people" and recognize the state of "Palestine".

Britain is accused by the Palestinian Authority (PA) of promising the Jewish people a national homeland at the expense of Palestinian Arabs, a move that they claim caused the disasters that have plagued them since then.

In addition to a public apology and recognition of the state of "Palestine," the PA also demanded that Britain compensate it on the political, material and moral levels and that it bear responsibility for the implications of the Balfour Declaration.

The statement also expressed support for protests around the world against the Balfour Declaration and Britain's policy of marking the historic event.

The November 2, 1917, Balfour Declaration was sent by then-British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour and proclaimed Britain’s support for the establishment of a Jewish national home in then-Palestine.

PA organizations have for months been waging a campaign aimed at forcing Britain to apologize for the document.

The British government in April rejected the demand to apologize for the Declaration, saying, “The Balfour Declaration is an historic statement for which HMG (Her Majesty’s Government) does not intend to apologize. We are proud of our role in creating the State of Israel. The task now is to encourage moves towards peace.”

On Sunday, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he was proud of the Balfour Declaration and of the role Britain played in creating the state of Israel.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday evening left for Britain where he will attend an event marking the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Balfour Declaration.