Nov 02, 2017 jonathan schneer, a member of the scholar strategy network, teaches modern british history at the georgia institute of technology. His majestys government view with favour the establishment in palestine of a. Comprising a single paragraph, the text became known as the balfour declaration. As the foreword very properly reminds us, the palestine conflict began not in 1948 but in 1917 with the publication of the balfour declaration, and to understand the intensity of the hatred which exists today between the arabs and israel, it is necessary to go back to that crucially important. The forgotten truth about the balfour declaration for 100 years the british statement, which inaugurated zionisms legitimation in the eyes of the world, has been seen as. The contents of this letter became known as the balfour declaration. The balfour declaration influence on formation of israel. The balfour declaration of 1917 was a policy by the government of the united kingdom to discuss the partitioning of the ottoman empire after world war i. The balfour declaration wis a single paragraph in a letter datit 2 november 1917 frae the unitit kinricks furrin secretar arthur james balfour tae walter rothschild, 2nt baron rothschild, a leader o the breetish jewish commonty, for transmission tae the zionist federation o great breetain an ireland.
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 may refer to either of two documents named after british politician arthur balfour, the. The letter was writen on november 2, 1917 and approved by the league of nations on july 24, 1922. Balfour during one of their long and mellow conversations. We have honestly endeavored everywhere to merge ourselves in the social life of surrounding communities and to preserve the faith of our fathers.
The balfour declaration is a statement published november 2, 1917 by british colonial secretary. The balfour declaration was the first promise by the british empire in 1917 to give the jewish people a national home in palestine. Davis douglas, balfour declaration s author was a secret jew, the jerusalem post. Oct 30, 2019 on november 2, 1917, foreign secretary arthur james balfour writes an important letter to britains most illustrious jewish citizen, baron lionel walter. If researching and writing about the balfour declaration was daunting under. Balfour declaration, 1917 history of world war i ww1 the great war history of the airplane over 10,000 airplane videos and growing. 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. The balfour declaration, november 1917 the balfour project. The 80yearold rothschild said in a recent interview that his ancestors helped pave the way for the creation of israel, forcing the british government to sign the balfour declaration in 1917 the rothschilds are commonly believed to have engineered wwi and waited until 1917 when britain showed signs of trouble. Historians disagree as to what the then british foreign secretary, arthur james balfour, intended by his declaration.
Nov 09, 2017 on november 2, 1917 a letter was delivered by hand from britains foreign secretary, lord balfour, to lionel walter, the second baron rothschild, at his home at 148 piccadilly, a prestigious. Segera sesudah memaklumkan perang terhadap kekaisaran turki osmanli pada bulan november 1914, kabinet perang inggris raya mulai memikirkan masa depan palestina. For an expanded activity, you can have students also formulate responses to the declaration in 1917, 1922 after the drafting of the preamble to the articles of mandate for palestine and us congress endorsement of the declaration, 1939, and 1948. The prominent jewish intellectual ar thur koestler, repeating a. Arthur james balfour,arthur james earl of balfour 1848 1930, which states that great britain supports zionist plans of jewish settlement in palestine and the creation of a jewish national home there. History of the balfour declaration jewish virtual library. His majestys government view with favour the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people, and will use their best endeavours 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 nonjewish communities in palestine, or the rights and. The british government issued the balfour declaration on november 2, 1917, but until six months before that date and even up to the very day of its announcement, its existence was uncertain. 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 of 1917 the balfour declaration was a short letter by arthur balfour to arguably one of the most influential jewish families the rothschilds. The declaration also said that britain supported plans for a jewish homeland in palestine. 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. Balfour declaration 1917, a letter which stated the british governments support for the establishment of a jewish homeland in palestine, balfour declaration 1926, which granted autonomy to the dominions of the british empire.
In 1926, he would initiate the merger of four companies to form the. 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. His majestys government, the balfour declaration read, view with favour the establishment in palestine of a. All local newspapers had been shuttered since the beginning of the war. Balfour 1917, translation, declaration, promise, ideology. It was assumed that the letter gave the british governments support to the creation of a jewish homeland. What was the balfour declaration of 1917 and why is it. Nov 29, 2001 the balfour declaration of 1917 was the first significant declaration by a world power in favour of a jewish national home in what was known as palestine. Although heavy loss of young lives in the stalemated land war on french territory dissipated national strength and morale, britains fate, ominous for a certain. Aug 17, 2017 at the time of the declaration in 1917, palestinianswhich were the nonjewish communities in palestineconstituted 90 percent of the population there. In this letter of 2 november 1917, britains foreign secretary, arthur balfour, wrote to. I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of his majestys government, the. 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.
This outcome was the result not solely of the balfour declaration but also of a longstanding convoluted and opportunistic british middle eastern policy often at odds with. The balfour declaration became the foundation of the international support for the establishment of the modern state of israel. More than 100 years since britains controversial pledge, here is everything you need to know about it. The balfour declaration from the perspective of the palestinian people rashid khalidi, columbia university it is a great honor to be asked to speak here on the 100 th anniversary of the balfour. The middle east and north africa in world politics, a documentary record. It came in the form of a private letter from the british foreign secretary arthur balfour to lord rothschild. By late 1917, in the lead up to the balfour declaration, the wider war had reached a stalemate, with two of britains allies not fully engaged. John hutton balfour 18081884, a scottish botanist and father of sir isaac bayley balfour. News of the balfour declaration reached palestine only with much delay after november 2, 1917. What is the balfour declaration of 1917, how is it linked. In seeking official government endorsement for the zionist cause from a great power, the leadership of the zionist organization was successful in obtaining that endorsement from the british government in 1917. January 12, 1999 the balfour declaration was a letter of november 2 1917 from british foreign secretary arthur james balfour, to lord rothschild, a leader of the british jewish community, for transmission to the zionist federation. Balfour declaration definition of balfour declaration by.
By 1917, when the balfour declaration the declaration was published, zionism had crossparty support in britain as well as government backing in france, america, and other countries, while the pending defeat of the ottoman empire which had controlled that geographic area for the previous four hundred years provided an opportunity. Oct 24, 2017 who wrote the balfour declaration and why. Balfour declaration, 1917 history of world war i ww1. 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. 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. The balfour declaration was a short letter by arthur balfour to arguably one of the most influential jewish families the rothschilds. After discussions within the cabinet and consultations with jewish leaders, the decision was made public in a letter from british foreign secretary lord arthur james balfour to lord walter rothschild. The balfour declaration of 1917 history learning site.
The balfour declaration, written as a letter on november 2, 1917, from british foreign secretary arthur balfour to british jewish leader baron lionel walter rothschild, pledged british support for. The zionist family then promised the british government that they could. Arthur james balfour, 1st earl of balfour, kg, om, pc, frs, fba, dl. Nov 02, 2017 what is the balfour declaration of 1917, how is it linked to the israelpalestine conflict and who is leo amery. 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. Balfour declaration, november 2, 1917, statement of british support for the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people. The balfour declaration was addressed to lionel walter rothschild in his capacity as leader of the british jewish community. The issuance of the declaration had many long lasting consequences, and was a key moment in the leadup to the arabisraeli conflict, often referred to. What is the balfour declaration of 1917, how is it linked to. Isi deklarasi balfour disiarkan lewat media massa pada tanggal 9 november 1917. Lord lionel walter rothschild, as a figurehead of the jewish community in.
Balfour declaration falsehoods israel national news. The longterm effects of the balfour declaration, and the british governments involvement in palestinian affairs, are felt even today. As foreign secretary in the lloyd george ministry, he issued the balfour declaration in 1917 on behalf of the. 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. On november 2, 1917, foreign secretary arthur james balfour writes an important letter to britains most illustrious jewish citizen, baron lionel walter. British foreign policy decisionmaking towards palestine during the. Which of the following declarations have you heard of. Foreign office november 2nd, 1917 dear lord rothschild, i have much pleasure in conveying to. By 1947, on the eve of israels declaration of independence, jews numbered 600,000. The balfour declaration world war i document archive. Until the very end, lucien wolf and his followers remained staunchly antizionist and pressed the foreign office hard.
It was made in a letter from arthur james balfour, the british foreign secretary, to lionel walter rothschild, 2nd baron rothschild of tring, a leader of the anglojewish community. It maintained that britains 1917 balfour declaration to support the establishment of a national home for the jews in palestine was extended in gratitude for weizmanns bringing to britain from germany a process of fermentation of horse chestnuts he was said to have invented. The zionist, the zealot and the emergence of israel by geoffrey lewisavi shlaim enjoys an elegant and insightful account of the unlikely partnership behind the. Jews and zionists following the balfour declaration, but antipathy towards. Theresa may said she would mark the 100th anniversary with pride but other mps. Read this excerpt from israels declaration of independence. Issued in london in 1917, the balfour declaration was one of the key. The letter was published a week later in the times of london. 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. The hidden history of the balfour declaration on jstor.
The origins of the arabisraeli conflict, which won a national jewish book award in 2010. To the east it merged with the jordanian plateau, to the south with the arabian deserts. 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. Britain honored its international commitment under the balfour declaration for. The balfour declaration was a public statement issued by the british government during world war one announcing its support for the. It was the first legal recognition by a governmental body that the jewish people had an ancient connection to the land of.
The dark forces behind the balfour declaration and its. It was the first major success of the zionist movement and led. Earls of balfour edit arthur james balfour, 1st earl of balfour 18481930, british conservative politician, prime minister of the united kingdom 19021905, made the public statement of balfour declaration. Palestine was, at the time, a remote province in the disintegrating ottoman empire, with. The balfour declaration dated 2 november 1917 was a letter from the united kingdoms foreign secretary arthur james balfour to baron rothschild walter rothschild, 2nd baron rothschild, a leader of the british jewish community, for transmission to the zionist federation of great britain and ireland. The balfour declaration led the league of nations to entrust the united kingdom with the palestine mandate in 1922. The poetic simplicity of the balfour declaration resides in its presumption that a home for the jews in their land needs no justification. The balfour declaration was a letter written in the name of the british government, by lord arthur james balfour. Balfour declaration, statement on november 2, 1917, of british support for the establishment in palestine of a national home for jewish people. Balfour declaration 1926 page 4 of 14 defined by the government of india act, 1919.
The history of israel documents the balfour declaration. He returned in july 1917, as an adherent of the socialistrevolutionary kerensky government. Everything seemed to be on track, but as balfour expert leonard stein notes, it would be more than three months until the first draft, which was drastically amended would be ultimately translated into the balfour declaration. Nov 02, 2017 it was made public, in a letter to lord rothschild, on november 2, 1917. World zionism and world war i by adeyinka makinde only a relatively few historians acknowledge just how close britain came to losing the first world war. Balfour declaration of 1917 simple english wikipedia. The centenary of the balfour declaration issued on 2 november 1917 is being used to unleash a barrage of falsehoods designed to denigrate the jewish people and delegitimise the jewish state of israel. Balfour declaration synonyms, balfour declaration pronunciation, balfour declaration translation, english dictionary definition of balfour declaration. The british government decided to endorse the establishment of a jewish home in palestine. Pdf this study attempts to investigate the distinctive ways balfour.
Balfour declaration, 1917 what does the balfour declaration promise. 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 declaration was contained in a letter dated 2november 1917 from the united kingdoms foreign secretary. Declaration balfour introduction et texte reseau du. The letter was published a week later in the times london of london foreign office november 2nd, 1917 dear lord rothschild. Living warbirds is your largest aircraft and aviation resource. The content of the balfour d eclaration seems distant or downright ba. Encyclopedia of jewish and israeli history, politics and culture, with biographies, statistics, articles and documents on topics from antisemitism to zionism. Obviously the arabs didnt agree with the terms of the declaration as they were promised independence in this land and definatly werent wanting to share it with the jews. Benjamin h freedman the balfour declaration youtube.
The british government made a written promise in a letter to recognize palestine as the legitimate jewish state. It should be noted at the time palestine had no definate borders. Nov 02, 2017 to expose britain and frances plot, the communist government published the agreement in izvestia on november 24, 1917just weeks after britain issued the balfour declaration. In 1917, by contrast, proposing the recognition of the right of the jews to a national home in palestine was to rebel against the inertia of established facts and against mountainous obstacles of rationality. What is the balfour declaration of 1917 and who wrote it.