LONDON The Zionist lobby was reported Friday to have expressed "disquiet" over British Foreign Office Minister Peter Hain for backing the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.
"We know that Mr. Hain is a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause, but it is incumbent upon him as a foreign minister to remain impartial," the Director General of the Board of Jewish Deputies in the UK, Neville Nagler was quoted saying.
According to the Jewish Chronicle, Israeli officials also privately termed Hain's support for last Sunday's Palestinian demonstration in central London as "odd and regrettable." In response, the Foreign Office minister was said to have written to Nagler, saying a just solution to the plight of the Palestinian refugees was "at the heart of the search for peace." In an interview with the Muslim news, to be published next week, Hain said that there had been a "historic injustice" done to the Palestinian refugees.
He acknowledged that he had supported Palestinian rights for "30 years" and said the plight of the refugees was "very, very serious" and had to be addressed.
Last Sunday's demonstration in support of Palestinians' right of return included five Labour MPs sponsoring the event. In a message, Hain expressed his sorrow at being unable to attend but conveyed his "best wishes" to the rally.
(IRNA)