28 December 2010 - 20:30

The British government announces plans to upgrade the status of the Palestinians' diplomatic representation in London.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The move would confer an automatic right to future Palestinian representatives to call on the Foreign Secretary after their first arrival in the country, British media reported.

However, it would have no practical impact on the day-to-day work of the Palestinian representative in London - currently Professor Manuel Hassassian. But it would probably allow the delegation to call itself a "mission".

The British move would not, however, confer an equivalent right that ambassadors of actual states enjoy, namely the authority to present credentials to the Queen.

Last week, Ecuador became the latest of a series of Latin American countries - including Brazil and Argentina - to recognize the statehood of Palestine within the borders that existed before the 1967 Six Day War.

Israeli regime is not happy with such moves that come in the wake of the United States' decision earlier this month to abandon efforts to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to renew a moratorium on settlement-building in return for resuming direct negotiations between the two sides.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas insisted that he would not take part in such talks without a settlement freeze.

The British government has no intention of following the Latin American example. Its decision with regards to the Palestinian diplomatic presence comes after similar moves by France, Spain and Portugal since the summer.

In July, the US upgraded the status of the Palestinian representation in Washington - though only up to "general delegation" level, which has long prevailed in most European countries, including Britain.

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