LONDON, April 3, 2017 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Monday called on Britain to accord the new Palestinian ambassador in London the same diplomatic status as the outgoing one.

Abbas said in an interview with the London-based Arabic daily, al-Quds al-Arabi, that the British government is trying to put obstacles and constraints regarding the new ambassador.

According to the newspaper, the British government refused to grant the incoming ambassador, Maen Eraekat, who had served at head of the Palestinian representative office to Washington, similar diplomatic status as outgoing ambassador Manual Hassassian.

“We asked the British government to deal with the new representative in the same way it dealt with the outgoing one and they should not change that or it will be understood as a malicious act and misconduct by Britain,” Abbas told the newspaper.

Asked if he thinks Britain wants to lower the diplomatic status of the Palestinian ambassador, Abbas said that the British government “wants to go back and it tries to put obstacles and constraints, but we told them we want treatment as before: you deal with the new ambassador just as you did with the former one. We are still talking and the issue is not over yet, but I do not believe it is a big problem.”

Abbas also demanded that Britain should cancel any celebrations for the 100 anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, which promised a homeland for the Jews in Palestine.

He also called on Britain to apologize to the Palestinian for the declaration due to its “catastrophic” results on the Palestinian people, describing it as an “historical mistake committed against us.”

Abbas said Britain can make up for this mistake by recognizing Palestine, warning that the Palestinians will pursue this matter at all local and international forums if Britain decides to go ahead with the celebrations.

M.N./M.K.