Prince William's Middle East tour causes controversy as Palestinians claim it is 'indirect apology'

It is the most challenging diplomatic trip of his lifetime by some measure, walking the tightrope of Middle Eastern politics for five days as he attempts to avoid offending any interested party.

The Duke of Cambridge was on Friday night already facing an uphill battle, as Israelis objected to parts of his schedule and Palestinians claimed the trip was an "indirect apology" for Britain's role in the region.

The Duke, who will travel to Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories next week, is being offered the support of a group of senior advisers for the trip: the first official visit by the Royal family to the region at the request of government.

While Kensington Palace has heavily emphasised that the trip is strictly non-political, with a focus on the people and culture of the region, the details of the Duke's schedule have already proved controversial.

Manuel Hassassian,  the Palestinian diplomatic representative in London, told the Telegraph: "Regardless of what the British government does, this visit by itself is a political visit.

"We don’t care about the official British interpretation, we care about our impression and what the Prince could do and what messages he conveys when he meets both sides.

"I think this is a historic and a symbolic visit for the Royal family to visit Occupied Palestine. It reflects that Palestine is a legitimate country and the struggle of the Palestinian people is a legitimate one.

"This visit symbolises the acknowledgement that Palestine and its people exist and they have the right to self determination."

Referring to the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the British statement of support for a Jewish homeland, he added: "This visit also is an acknowledgement of what the Balfour Declaration has done to the Palestinian people. It is considered to be an act of indirect apology.

"We hope the prince will be a bridge between Palestinians and Israelis when he visits both sides. Maybe his good office will bring us back together to the negotiating table."

Mark Regev, the Israeli ambassador in London, said: "It is the first official visit by a senior British royal and Israel will be rolling out the red carpet. You’ve got to remember, we haven’t had royalty since Biblical times and I think people are genuinely very excited.

"There’s no doubt that the partnership between Britain and Israel is going from strength to strength and I think the visit is a clear manifestation of the robust nature of the partnership.

"No one has any intentions of involving the prince in politics. The goal is to showcase Israel’s achievements and a very strong bilateral partnership.

"The British side has made clear that the trip is not a political trip and we will be respecting that."

Ahead of the trip, the Duke's schedule has drawn criticism from some quarters for appearing to refer to Jerusalem's Old City as being part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Ze'ev Elkin, an Israeli minister, said: “United Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for 3,000 years and no distortion in the tour itinerary can change that reality. I expect the prince’s people to correct the distortion.”

In fact, the schedule, which follows the geographical definitions accepted by the British government, states that the "programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will begin with a short briefing on the history and geography of Jerusalem's Old City from a viewing point at the Mount of Olives".

The Duke’s trip will include visits to key sites in the region, delivering several speeches and meeting local people to celebrate their culture.

He will also meet with Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.  

The Duke will be advised by Sir David Manning, a former British ambassador to Israel who now works for the Royal Household.

He will also be joined by both his current private secretary Miguel Head, and the man who will shortly replace him, Simon Case, a civil servant currently tasked with trying to solve the border issue in Northern Ireland and Ireland during Brexit negotiations.  

As the trip was announced, a spokesman for Kensington Palace said: "The complex challenges in the region are of course well known.

"The non-political nature of His Royal Highness’s role – in common with all Royal visits overseas – allows a spotlight to be brought to bear on the people of the region: their cultures, their young people, their aspirations, and their experiences.

"In cities with storied histories that are never far from the headlines, The Duke’s goal will be to meet as many people from as many walks of life as possible – and to use the spotlight that his visit will bring to celebrate their hopes for the future."