British Consul General in Jerusalem Sir Vincent Fean was attacked during a visit to the PA’s (Palestinian Authority) Birzeit University in the Ramallah area. Fean was uninjured in the attack.

The British diplomat’s visit was met with dozens of students protesting his arrival, expressing their disapproval for his country’s alliance with Israel. Fean met with the university’s director and the two decided it would be wise to cancel the planned visit in light of the protests. As the consul general was heading to his vehicle protected by security agents the attack occurred.

After he was placed in his waiting vehicle safely, students began smashing and banging the vehicle, which was damaged but there were no injuries.

The British Embassy in Tel Aviv called in the incident “regrettable”. The statement released to the media read “Sir Vincent had hoped to underline Britain’s deep commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state, and the urgency of progress on the peace process in 2013.

“Sadly, such a dialogue was not possible on this occasion. Sir Vincent remains absolutely committed to building his relationship with the Palestinian student community, and hopes to have the opportunity to pursue this dialogue in future.”

Members of a group calling itself the ‘Islamic Bloc at Birzeit University’ posted pictures of the protest on Facebook: “The Birzeit University students today expelled the British consul, who came to the university to give a lecture about the European Union at the invitation of the Department of Sociology,” they said.

“The sitters demanded lecture be cancelled, to protest the policies of Britain in support of the Zionist entity, which caused the plight of the Palestinian people and their continued suffering, and because of the infamous Balfour Declaration. The students carried pictures of prisoners and banners condemning the policies of Britain. This is a message to the world.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)