Manchester, UK – In a recent statement, the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the theft of two busts of Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann, from Manchester University. According to the group, this act was conducted to protest the 107th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. Manchester Police have confirmed that they were notified of the theft late on Friday night and have since launched an investigation.
The stolen busts of Chaim Weizmann, who also taught at Manchester University before becoming Israel’s president, were reportedly taken as part of a broader protest by Palestine Action. The Balfour Declaration, issued on November 2, 1917, is considered one of the early steps leading to the creation of Israel in 1948. This document, penned by British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, expressed the British government’s support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. The establishment of Israel subsequently led to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the displacement of over 760,000 Palestinians, an event known in Arabic as the “Nakba” or “Catastrophe.”
In its statement, Palestine Action denounced the United Kingdom’s role, both in the past and present, regarding Palestine. The group stated, “From the Balfour Declaration to today, the UK remains an active participant in the colonization, genocide, and occupation of Palestine.”
Reaction from Jewish Organizations
In response to the theft, the local representative Jewish council condemned the act as “outrageous.” They urged authorities to take strong action against Palestine Action, accusing the group of “targeting institutions and businesses linked to the State of Israel or perceived as having trade relations with Israel.” The council highlighted that Chaim Weizmann was not only a founding figure of Israel but also an esteemed educator at Manchester University.
Other Protests in London and Cambridge
On Saturday, Palestine Action supporters escalated their demonstrations by splashing red paint on the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM) building in London. BICOM is regarded as one of the country’s most influential pro-Israel lobbying organizations. London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed they are treating the incident as a hate crime.
In another incident, Palestine Action activists and students reportedly applied red paint to a building at Cambridge University. According to the group, this action was intended to protest the university’s connections with Israeli and UK defense companies.
Broader Impact of Palestine Action’s Protests
Palestine Action, based in the United Kingdom, has a history of protests against organizations they perceive as complicit in Israel’s actions in Palestine. Their recent acts, from the theft at Manchester University to protests in London and Cambridge, underscore the continued sensitivity surrounding the Balfour Declaration’s legacy and ongoing tensions in UK institutions connected to Israel.
As the investigation into the Manchester University theft continues, authorities are expected to address the broader implications of Palestine Action’s protests and whether further action against the group will be taken.
This article is originally published on .vosgesmatin.fr
