"Over a century late it might be argued. The formalities had been due to kick off at 11am outside what had been known as the Palestinian Mission to the UK but there was a problem: too many VIPs. There were MPs by the dozen, around 60 ambassadors, a smattering of moderately famous faces. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, and John Swinney, the first minister of Scotland, were among those present."
"All took their places in a pen in front of the two-storey post-war building in Hammersmith, west London, sealed off by metal barriers from a large contingent of TV cameras and microphones as well as a couple of hundred members of the public waving flags. The Palestinian cause has not always attracted such support and the swell of enthusiasm was causing a few logistical difficulties. Could we move back to allow the speakers out, an official asked, just a few steps."
"The Arabic song Mawtini (My Homeland), the unofficial national anthem for Palestine from the 1930s until the early 1970s, had been playing in the background but now the ambassador began his address, flanked by Swinney and Hamish Falconer, the minister of state for the Middle East and north Africa. Good morning, he said to a whoop from the crowd. Good, beautiful morning. We are gathered today i"
Britain formally recognised the Palestinian state with a flag-raising at the Palestinian Mission in Hammersmith, now the UK's newest embassy. The ceremony was scheduled for 11am but began around 11.15am because of a crowded VIP turnout. Dozens of MPs, about 60 ambassadors, ministers including Wes Streeting and John Swinney, and public supporters attended. Metal barriers separated officials and media from a couple of hundred members of the public waving flags. The Arabic song Mawtini played as Palestinian ambassador Husam Zomlot walked down a ramp and began his address, with logistical crowding briefly delaying formalities.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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