(JTA) — In a break with what many believe is a decades-long unofficial boycott of Israel, the British Royal House announced what appears to be a state visit to the Jewish homeland by one of its senior-most members, Prince William, whose official title is the Duke of Cambridge.

The announcement on March 1 on the Facebook account of the British Embassy in Israel read: “The Duke of Cambridge will visit Israel, Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the Summer.” It contained no further details.

To date, no senior member of the Royal House has visited Israel in their official capacity in what many observers believe is a policy adopted following Zionist movements’ use of violence against British nationals when the United Kingdom ruled the Mandate on Palestine – an area comprising modern-day Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.

Whereas members of the British Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth, have made state visits to Kenya and other countries where acts perceived as terrorism were committed against Britain and its citizens by anti-colonialist combatants, they have stayed away from Israel in their official capacity since the country’s establishment in 1948.

The president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jonathan Arkush, applauded the announcement of what he said will be the first ever official royal visit to Israel.

“We are delighted that in the year of Israel’s 70^th anniversary, the Duke of Cambridge will be making the first official royal visit to the country. This is something I have been calling for, for a long time. The visit is testimony to the fact that the United Kingdom and Israel are key allies with a strong trading relationship and close cultural links. This visit will bring our two nations even closer together.”

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