Britain’s responsibility is indeed great
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It is well-known to any researcher examining the various stages of what has befallen the Palestinian people, even before the Nakba of 1948, that the historical responsibility resting on the shoulders of the “Great” British Empire is indeed great. This is not a matter of mere rhetoric, but a documented reality. However, before delving deeper into this aspect, it is crucial to pause and reflect on the current situation, considering several events that have captured the attention of observers over the past few weeks.
One such event was a report published on BBC Arabic last Sunday regarding the resignation of Mark Smith, a British Foreign Office official, in protest against UK arms sales to Israel. According to the report, Smith stated in his resignation letter that his colleagues witness clear, undeniable examples of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza every day. Smith also added that senior officials of the Israeli government and army have expressed an explicit intent toward genocide and that Israeli soldiers have recorded videos showing deliberate acts of burning, destruction and looting civilian property.
In this context, it is notable that Foreign Secretary David Lammy, within the first few weeks of taking office, did not hesitate to twice confront the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, directing criticism with an angry tone of reprimand. History will document such a stance by Lammy, just as it has recorded similar stances by several British officials in the past, including former Foreign Office minister David Mellor’s outrage when confronting an occupation officer on the soil of Gaza during the First Intifada in 1988. Mellor shouted at the officer, saying that Israel’s treatment of protesters resisting the occupation of their land was a “slap” to human values.
Recalling Britain’s great historical responsibility is not merely about dwelling on the past, which continues to have a significant, direct impact on the region as a whole. The point is not to insist on holding the current generation of officials accountable for their predecessors’ actions, but to emphasize the necessity of revisiting Britain’s past mistakes in Palestine.
Many countries have acknowledged their wrongdoings, issued apologies and, in some cases, provided financial compensation.
Bakir Oweida
This was illustrated in a British document published by journalist Amer Sultan on the BBC on Feb. 25, 2023, which included a conversation from May 1977 between the late Saudi King Khalid and then-British Foreign Secretary David Owen, who acknowledged that mistakes had been made, noting that “the sons cannot forever bear the responsibility for the mistakes of the fathers.” To this, King Khalid responded: “I am not holding you responsible for the past, but I hope for its rectification.”
Indeed, it is not shameful for nations to undertake reviews that correct the mistakes of the past. Many countries around the world have acknowledged their wrongdoings, issued apologies and, in some cases, provided financial compensation to those affected. London is required to have the courage to undertake such a review of its past policies in Palestine and take a stronger stance against Israeli extremism. The question remains: When will it act?
- Bakir Oweida is a Palestinian journalist who pursued a professional career in journalism in Libya in 1968, where he worked at Al-Haqiqa newspaper in Benghazi, then Al-Balagh and Al-Jihad in Tripoli. He has written for several Arab publications in Britain since 1978. He worked at Al-Arab newspaper, Al-Thadamun magazine and the international Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. He has also worked as a consultant at the online newspaper Elaph. This article first appeared in Asharq Al-Awsat.
