Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has made history by his first official visit as a senior member of British royal family to Israel and the Palestinian Territories on Monday since the British Mandate ended in 1948.
William, a 36-year-old grandson of Queen Elizabeth and second in line to the throne, has already begun a five-day tour of the Middle East where he will meet leaders on both sides of the conflict in what Kensington Palace has stressed is a “non political” trip.
During the tour he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and in times where a mere tweet can cause ripples around the globe, words have to be chosen wisely.
On Tuesday, Prince William will start his visit commemorating the millions of Jews who died during the Second World War and will lay a floral tribute at Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Centre.
“This visit by Prince William reinforces the UK government’s historic policy of turning a blind eye to gross violations of human rights when they are committed by the Israeli government,” said Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in a press release.
Considering the British royals avoid getting involved in politics, it’s surprising the Duke would visit Israel and Palestine, two lands embroiled in decades of political tensions. In December, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May disagreed with President Trump’s controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
“I, like you, am hoping that peace in the area can be achieved,” said the Duke of Cambridge to the reporter “I’m very much looking forward to really absorbing and understanding the different issues”.
> Shatabdi Sarker Poushi
Prince William Makes History with First Official Royal Visit to Middle East
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