The declaration is identified by the palestinian narrative as the source of their tragedy. The importance of the balfour declaration san diego. The balfour declaration was the first practical step on the road to the state. My lords, the balfour declaration in 1917 was a significant moment in. Why was the balfour report of 1926 important to canada. Overstating the importance of the balfour declaration.
Despite the millions of words published on the balfour declaration in the last 100 years, many aspects of the. The balfour declaration of 1917 history learning site. On november 2, 1917, lord balfour of great britain wrote a letter promising a jewish home to the jewish people in the land of palestine. The significance of the balfour declaration the speakers. Between protection and self determination karin loevy, nyu very rough first draft, please do not circulate the balfour declaration as it was published in the times on november 9, 1917 famously declaring british support for the establishment of a jewish national home in palestine, the.
Winning the balfour declaration was a major historical accomplishment, and accordingly the enemies of the jewish national cause have targeted the declaration and endeavored to negate it, mainly through a campaign of falsification of history. Britains role in the middle east in the decades following the first world war was highly significant. Oct 09, 2008 the balfour declaration the balfour declaration was a letter arthur balfour wrote to lionel walter rothschild and also a statement of british support for the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people. The balfour declaration, november 1917 the balfour project. This is made easier with each passing year, as the world that produced the declaration draws ever more remote. The balfour declaration from the perspective of the palestinian people it is a great honor to be asked to speak here on the 100 th anniversary of the balfour declaration. The balfour declaration, so called after the british foreign secretary lord arthur balfour, who published it on november 2, 1917, was one of the most portentous documents in world history, whose consequences are still being played out today and not only in the arabisraeli conflict. Notwithstanding, here is a list of a few sources which will serve as irrefutable evidence to bring home the point that the critical importance of the middle eastern oil predates the 1917 balfour declaration for the creation of israel. British antizionist jews reject the balfour declaration. Balfour declaration 1926 page 4 of 14 defined by the government of india act, 1919.
During the trip he spent significant time discussing zionism with louis. Nov 02, 2017 the balfour declarations significance is that it set british policy on a course grounded in a fundamental rejection of the rights of the arab palestinians. An overwhelmingly jewish state from the balfour declaration to the palestine mandate martin gilbert on 22 july 1922, when the league of nations announced the terms of britains mandate for palestine, it gave prominence to the balfour declaration. It realised herzls dream of an international affirmation of the zionist project. It was this deliberate openness that allowed the british government, years later, to reshape its meaning, and even the history of its drafting, to support specific foreign policy ends. The declaration was quite simply just a letter from the foreign secretary arthur balfour to lord lionel walter rothschild, a jewish banker, which was made public in november 1917 for the zionist federation of great britain and ireland. What was significant was its public and formal recognition and its incorporation into international law. The balfour declaration was the british governments pledge to help the jewish community build a national home in palestine and took the form of a letter penned on 2 november 1917 by british foreign minister lord balfour to lord rothschild, then serving bicom briefing the balfour declaration. What was the significance of the balfour declaration in. He was a conservative member of the house of commons from 1874 to 1922 and succeeded cecil as prime minister in 1902, but lost the 1905 election. Creation of the state of israel following the defeat of the ottoman empire in world war i, the british assumed control of palestine. The british government made a written promise in a letter to recognize palestine as the legitimate jewish state.
Although no more than a political secretary to the cabinet, during 1917 sykes assumed the role of intermediary between the zionists and whitehall, keeping up persistent pressure on his. Dear lord rothschild, i have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of his majestys government, the following declaration of sympathy with jewish zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the cabinet. The significance of the balfour declaration the jewish. It was made in a letter from the british foreign secretary to a leader of the anglojewish community and was later included in the british mandate over palestine. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The d ebate over the d eclaration s meaning since the balfour declaration constitutes the beginning of israels legitimation by other nations, the declaration s own legitimacy has been the subject of unending attacks. There are those who believe that the balfour declaration was the most. The balfour declaration was a letter written by british foreign secretary arthur balfour to lionel walter rothschild, in which he expressed the british governments support for a jewish homeland in palestine. The balfour declaration balfour s promise in arabic was a public pledge by britain in 1917 declaring its aim to establish a national home for the jewish people in palestine. Aug 17, 2017 the balfour declaration was a 67word statement contained within a brief letter attributed to lord arthur balfour, the british foreign secretary, dated november 2, 1917. Roosevelt had assured the arabs in 1945 that the united states would not intervene without consulting both the jews and the arabs in that region. The longterm effects of the balfour declaration, and the british governments involvement in palestinian affairs, are felt even today. For zionists, the balfour declaration was a huge victory.
Some have tried to shift the focus to the league of nations mandate for palestine. The making of the balfour declaration palestinian return centre. The balfour declaration was a 67word statement contained within a brief letter attributed to lord arthur balfour, the british foreign secretary, dated november 2, 1917. Reading a recent commentary by seth lipsky about the balfour declaration, and then seeing a photo of british prime minister theresa may and israeli leader benjamin netanyahu celebrating the. Balfour declaration is the title given to an important policy statement on palestine by britain in november 1917 in the form of a letter from the british foreign secretary, arthur james later lord balfour, in the coalition government of prime minister david lloyd george, to a prominent british zionist leader, lord. The conference was a continuation of a previous meeting between these allied powers that had been held in london in february 1920, where it was decided, among other things, to put palestine under british mandatory rule. An official letter from the british foreign office headed by arthur balfour, the uks foreign secretary from december 1916 to october 1919, to lord rothschild, who was seen as a representative of the jewish people.
The balfour declaration had no significance for canada. As early as the 1920s, they grasped the full significance of the international support given to the statement at the league of nations, and sought to foil its implementation. Foreign office november 2nd, 1917 dear lord rothschild, i have much pleasure in conveying to. It is now 100 years since the balfour declaration was issued. The balfour declaration, november 1917 introduction one of the most important statements of british foreign policy of the twentieth century, the balfour declaration was no more than a short, vague letter that had no legal status. Raised false hopes among both jews and arabs, and laid foundations for future frustration and conflict. He is famous for composing the balfour declaration, which had a profound impact on the.
This was the perspective of the people of palestine, whose future the balfour declaration ultimately. Winning the balfour declaration was a major historical accomplishment, and accordingly the enemies of the jewish national cause have targeted the declaration and endeavored to. The conference, attended by great britain, france, italy, and japan with the united states as a neutral observer, was held in san remo, italy, in april 1920. As ww1 drew to a close, lord balfour wanted to reward chaim weizmann, a jewish chemist, for his heroic work in supplying breakthrough munitions manufacturing methods to the nation. Nov 02, 2017 it is now 100 years since the balfour declaration was issued.
Vast areas of the ottoman empire had been captured, and a group of. British rule of palestine enabled massive zionist immigration until the late 1930s. The balfour declaration s significance is that it set british policy on a course grounded in a fundamental rejection of the rights of the arab palestinians. Balfour declaration the balfour declaration, contained within the original letter from balfour to rothschild created 2 november 1917 19171102 location british library authors walter rothschild, arthur balfour, leo amery, lord milner signatories arthur james balfour purpose confirming support from the british government for the establishment in palestine of a national home for the.
The balfour declarations century of turmoil consortiumnews. Arthur balfour was a nephew of british statesman lord robert cecil and his own career in the british foreign office is said to have sparked the saying bobs your uncle. This is the balfour declaration of 1926 not, perhaps better known internationally, the balfour declaration of 1917 from the same individual which related to palestine. May, 2016 as ww1 drew to a close, lord balfour wanted to reward chaim weizmann, a jewish chemist, for his heroic work in supplying breakthrough munitions manufacturing methods to the nation. Since it is now the 100th anniversary of the balfour declaration of nov. British government also promised support to an arab independent nation through the mcmahonhussein correspondence. Oct 30, 2019 the influence of the balfour declaration on the course of postwar events was immediate. A century on, the importance of the balfour declaration and the policies that accompanied it cannot be overstated. What was the significance of the balfour declaration. This rejection of their rights ultimately manifested in a crime that was not unforeseen. Despite the document initially having no legal legitimacy zionists consider the balfour declaration their. We would, nevertheless, recall that by resolution ix of the imperial war conference, 1917, due recognition was given to the important position held by india in the british commonwealth.
Arthur balfour was the secretary of state for foreign affairs of great britain during the first world war. Main presentation with salim mansur, ezra levant, and jordan peterson, may 18, 2017. In november 1917, the british government issued the balfour declaration, announcing its intention to facilitate the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people. Is it still important to the middle east 100 years later. Jun 11, 2018 the balfour declaration was a november 2, 1917 letter from british foreign secretary arthur james balfour to lord rothschild that made public the british support of a jewish homeland in palestine. I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of his majestys government, the. The practical significance of the balfour declaration is that in our times it is the modern basis of the legitimacy of the jewish national home and the state of israel. According to the mandate system created by the versailles treaty of 1919, britain was entrusted with. Balfour declaration, statement on november 2, 1917, of british support for the establishment in palestine of a national home for jewish people.
Sahar huneidi reexamines the historical context of the 1917 balfour declaration and argues that the document was a work of calculated ambiguity. The balfour declaration is important because it recognizes the historical bond of the jewish people to the holy land, a bond which existed long before the declaration. What was the balfour declaration of 1917 and why is it. He was a conservative member of the house of commons from 1874 to 1922 and succeeded cecil as prime minister in. His majestys government view with favour the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish. Although the united states supported the balfour declaration of 1917, which favored the establishment of a jewish national home in palestine, president franklin d. Balfour and palestine, a legacy of deceit, by anthony nutting. The balfour declaration was a public statement issued by the british government in 1917. Jul 08, 20 they have accepted that to the british government of the day the balfour declaration meant no more and no less than it said, when it proclaimed that britain would help to establish a national home for the jewish people in palestine without prejudice to the rights of the existing moslem and christian arab population. What was the significance of the balfour declaration to. The balfour declaration was a public statement issued by the british government in 1917 during the first world war announcing support for the establishment of a national home for the jewish people in palestine, then an ottoman region with a small minority jewish population.
Restricted the arab and jewish communities in the middle east. The consequences of that letter, the balfour declaration, still reverberate around the world 100 years later. The balfour declaration of 1926, issued by the 1926 imperial conference of british empire leaders in london, was named after lord president of the council and former prime minister of the united kingdom arthur balfour. The balfour declaration led the league of nations to entrust the united kingdom with the palestine mandate in 1922. As israel continues to occupy palestinian lands and threatens a new war against lebanon, much of this turmoil traces back to great britains balfour declaration during world i, a century ago. What was the controversy of the balfour declaration. Sixtyseven words, 100 years of conflict, by elliot jager.
Winning the balfour declaration was a major historical accomplishment, and accordingly the enemies of the jewish national cause. The balfour declaration was a letter written by british foreign secretary arthur balfour to lionel walter rothschild, in which he expressed the british. Chaim weizmann later to be the first president of israel proposed to balfour that the declaration should read, an integral palestine as a jewish state, meaning it. It was the first legal recognition by a governmental body that the jewish people had an ancient connection to the land of. This laid the foundations for the israelipalestinian conflict that continues to this day. British foreign secretary balfour endorsed creating a jewish homeland in palestine in 1917. Yet it was one of the most significant events leading ultimately to the creation of the state of israel and conflict between jews and arabs. The hidden history of the balfour declaration on jstor. The balfour declaration was a short letter by arthur balfour to arguably one of the most influential jewish families the rothschilds.
The d ebate over the d eclarations meaning since the balfour declaration constitutes the beginning of israels legitimation by other nations, the declaration s own legitimacy has been the subject of unending attacks. The critical importance of the balfour declaration to jewish leaders may perhaps best be seen in a letter from chaim weizmann, whom many historians credit as the prime mover in influencing british. The land of palestine was ruled by many nations over the ages. The influence of the balfour declaration on the course of postwar events was immediate. The forgotten truth about the balfour declaration pdf scholars at.
Balfour declaration, russian revolution and the arab oil. The balfour declaration influence on formation of israel. No longer was building zion rooted solely in theory. The balfour declaration recognized the land of israel as the national home for the jewish people and started the international movements that led to israels establishment. It declared the united kingdom and the dominions to be. The historical significance of the balfour declaration.
The balfour declaration from the perspective of the palestinian. The balfour declaration the balfour declaration was a letter arthur balfour wrote to lionel walter rothschild and also a statement of british support for the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people. In 1919, world war i ended and britain was granted temporary possession of. The balfour declaration dated november 2, 1917 was a formal public manifestation of the british government during the first world war, to announce its support for the establishment of a national home for the jewish people in the palestine region, which in that then was part of the ottoman empire. It was assumed that the letter gave the british governments support to the creation of a jewish homeland. The balfour declaration was a november 2, 1917 letter from british foreign secretary arthur james balfour to lord rothschild that made public the british support of a jewish homeland in palestine. Just before israel became a state, it was ruled by the british empire. While the infrastructure for a new society was already being laid.
1462 662 512 1028 124 746 1182 124 998 1298 1086 898 754 48 646 1436 398 1353 979 484 182 194 1036 1215 562 988 975 641 360 275 171 793 1286 1457 685 743