Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour’s letter to Lord Rothschild on this date in 1917 confirmed the UK’s backing for the formation of a Jewish state in Palestine
The 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration will be marked by celebrations or protests by the different communities affected by it.
What is the Balfour Declaration?
The British pledge that paved the way for Israel’s creation. The declaration saw Britain, a major world power, make the first key declaration backing a Jewish “national home” in what was known as Palestine.
It was contained in a letter dated 2 November 1917 by the then British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to British Jewish community leader Lord Rothschild.
What does it say?
The letter, which states it is a “declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations”, promises British assistance to create a Jewish homeland.
Here’s the text in full:
Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917
Dear Lord Rothschild,
I have much pleasure in conveying to you. on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet
His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
Yours,
Arthur James Balfour
How do historians view the declaration?
The Foreign Secretary’s intention in making the declaration is a hot topic of debate as the letter does not use the word “state” and also stresses that that “nothing should be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine”.
Historian Simon Schama, in delivering the Balfour Centenary Lecture at the Royal Society, described Israel as a “living, breathing, thriving democracy” of “six million Jews who are nothing short of a crushing retort to Hitler and the Shoah”. He also pointed to schools like Yad Ve’Yad where the governing bodies, both Israeli and Palestinians, work together.“
How do Palestinians view the declaration?
To this day it remains hugely divisive as it is despised by Palestinians while being celebrated by Israel.
Zionists feel it is the foundation for modern Israel while non-Jewish Palestinians and Arabs speak of loss and dispossession….
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE… The Independent
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