A Palestinian senior official said that President Arafat hopes to see the British PM Tony Blair make a "Historical Declaration" for the sake of the establishment of the Palestinian state during his scheduled visit to Gaza today. Chief of the PNA Cabinet Ahmad Abdul Rahman said Arafat hopes to see Blair going further than what he announced in their recent meeting in London about his support to the establishment of a sustainable Palestinian state and see him issue a historical declaration or promise that places Palestinians and Israelis on equal grounds. Abdul Rahman said that such a declaration could rectify the historical mistake that was committed by the British Empire, in reference to the British Balfour Declaration in 1917 about a Jewish state on the land of Palestine. He added that a declaration by Blair along this direction would affirm the right of Palestinian for the establishment of a state and for self-determination and independence. Meanwhile, Amman called once again for the establishment of a Palestinian state as soon as possible. Spokesperson to the Jordanian government Saleh Qallab said Jordan is working and following up under the leadership of King Abdallah II for the need of establishing a Palestinian state as soon as possible.

Published: Al Hayat al-Jadida Newspaper - November 1, 2001.