Members of the protest group Palestine Action defaced a 100-year-old portrait of Arthur Balfour at Trinity College, Cambridge.
The incident included activists spraying red paint on paintings and slashing them, which the group shared through images and videos on social media.
Arthur Balfour, who served as British Foreign Secretary in the early 20th century, is primarily known for: balfour declarationan official statement issued by the British government supporting the establishment of a „Jewish National Home“ in Palestine.
This document laid the foundation for the eventual creation of Israel in 1948 and is seen by many as a turning point in Jewish history.
Palestine Action said in a statement that its actions were a direct response to the legacy of the Balfour Declaration.
“Palestinian Action has spray-painted and slashed Lord Balfour's historic painting at Trinity College, Cambridge University. The Balfour Declaration, written in 1917, set the boundaries for Palestine by promising to remove land. „We have begun ethnic cleansing, something Britain never had the right to do,“ the group said. I wrote to X.
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BREAKING: Palestine Action sprays and slashes historic painting of Lord Balfour at Trinity College, Cambridge University.
The Balfour Declaration, written in 1917, began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by promising to give up land, something Britain never had such a right to do. pic.twitter.com/CGmh8GadQG
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) March 8, 2024
To date, Cambridgeshire Police have announced that no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. A spokesperson said police were currently collecting evidence and conducting an investigation after receiving an online report about the crime. Yahoo News reported.
of era of israel report:
Trinity College said: „We regret any damage caused to the portrait of Arthur James Balfour during public hours.“
It added that „police have been informed“ and said „assistance“ was being provided to affected members of the university community.
Cambridgeshire Police said in a statement that officers were „at the scene to secure evidence and progress the investigation“, adding that no arrests had been made.
Palestine Action has been participating in large-scale pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests in London in recent months in response to the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war.
The demonstrations have been heavily criticized by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Conservative Party and others, who say they are intimidating to Jews and encourage anti-Semitism.