The balfour declaration israel ministry of foreign affairs. Balfour 18481930 the letter below is known as the balfour declaration as it was issued by arthur james balfour, the british foreign secretary 19161919 under david lloyd george as britains prime minister. 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. The infamous balfour declaration and the 1947 partition. The history behind the balfour declaration and the. That short document its crucial paragraph contains 67 words laid the foundation of modern israel. Former head of israeli foreign ministry calls for british government to recognise the state of palestine. Figure 1 david bengurion reading out israels declaration of independence, may14, 1948, at the tel aviv museum public domain.
For the time being, while the letter had no international legal standing, the declaration was received with great excitement by the zionist leaders and those recent immigrants to palestine. What makes the balfour declaration stand out is that it was adopted by the league of nations the precursor to the united nations in 1922, paving the way to israels. 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. It was sent in the format of a letter on november 2 nd 1917, written by british foreign secretary lord arthur james balfour and sent to lord lionel rothschild, a senior member of the. The balfour declaration was not a grand proclamation signed in a formal ceremony, as its name may seem to suggest. As a result of the efforts of rothschild, british foreign secretary lord arthur james balfour sent the following letter, known as balfour declaration. British foreign secretary proud of balfour declaration. Even prior to the balfour declaration was the mcmahonhussein correspondence, an exchange of letters between the british high commissioner in cairo and the sharif of mecca, between july 1915 and january 1916.
During the first world war, british policy became gradually committed to the idea of establishing a jewish home in palestine eretz yisrael. The balfour declaration was a 67word statement contained within a brief letter attributed to lord arthur balfour, the british foreign secretary. The declaration was contained in a letter dated 2 november 1917 from the united kingdoms foreign secretary arthur. What is the balfour declaration of 1917, how is it linked. Arthur james balfour 1 the israel yearbook, 195051, tel aviv, israel publications ltd.
What makes the balfour declaration stand out is that it was adopted by the league of nations the precursor to the united nations in 1922, paving the way to israel s. In fact, the foreign ministry issued a formal response to the petition emphasis added. Aug 17, 2017 the balfour declaration 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. The british foreign minister, arthur balfour, wrote to the jewish leader, lord rothschild, in order to assure him and the zionist organization of the british governments continued support for the idea of the recreation of a homeland for the jewish people in palestine. It declared the united kingdom and the dominions to be. Another would be the controversial haavara agreement or transfer agreement with nazi germany entered into by german zionists in the 1930s. The british government decided to endorse the establishment of a jewish home in palestine. The declaration was a synopsis of jewish history to 1948 and a statement of israel s intent toward its inhabitants, neighbors, and the international community. It was a simple letter from one man to another but a letter backed by the weight of the british government. After the war, the league of nations granted britain a mandate to administer palestine on the basis of. Prime minister benjamin netanyahu introduces director general of the ministry of foreign affairs dore.
Balfour declaration cie center for israel education. British government states intent to create a jewish homeland in palestine. The response to the balfour declaration by isaiah friedman the view dominant among british historians is that the balfour declaration was the result of miscalculation, a product of sentiment rather than of considered interests of state. November 2, 2017, marks 100 years since the balfour declaration, a historic statement of sympathy issued by the british government for the establishment of a national home for the jewish people in the land of israel. The balfour declaration is an historic statement for which her majestys government does not intend to apologise. 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. Figure 1 david bengurion reading out israels declaration of independence, may14, 1948, the declaration of the establishment of the state of israel 14 may 1948 israel ministry of. Ministry of foreign affairs norways involvement in 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. The signers of israels declaration of independence, at a ceremony at the tel aviv art museum, may 14, 1948. This campaign is one of the means of manipulation of the international community used by.
We are proud of our role in creating the state of israel. We are now immersed in a different spectrum of activity, where politicized messages convolute the meaningful reality of israels existence. This right was recognized in the balfour declaration of the 2nd november, 1917, and reaffirmed in the mandate of the league of nations which, in particular, gave international sanction to the historic connection between the jewish people and eretzisrael and to. The balfour declaration was one of several bargains entered into by zionists en route to the eventual declaration of the state of israel in 1948. The letter represents the first political recognition of zionist aims by a great power. 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. In practice, however, no inherent contradiction exists between recognizing the right of the jewish people to selfdetermination in the state in which it con. The balfour declaration influence on formation of israel. And it laid the allimportant foundation for the establishment of the nation of israel.
Israel ministry of foreign affairs israel celebrates the. The israeli declaration of independence, formally the declaration of the establishment of the state of israel hebrew. The declaration was the first modern recognition of the right of the jews to reconstitute their homeland in palestine subsequent conferences convened after wwi drew upon the balfour declaration. Today, that declaration has been reversed, symbolizing the beginning of the end to the arabisraeli wars that raged for decades in the past. An important area of authority that has not been transferred is foreign affairs, and the pas sphere of authority does not include israeli nationals, settlements or military installations. Nothing in the balfour declaration dealt with jewish statehood, immigration, land purchase or the boundaries of palestine. Balfour declaration is released cie center for israel. Figure 1 david bengurion reading out israel s declaration of independence, may14, 1948, at the tel aviv museum public domain. In them, a senior british official assured the arab leader that if he and his people joined the war on the side of the allies, the uk would recognize arab independence following the war. Relations with israel united states department of state.
The balfour declaration led the league of nations to entrust the united kingdom with the palestine mandate in 1922. His majestys government view with favour the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people, and will use. Despite the declarations statement that the status and rights of arab citizens will remain, they interpreted the declaration as britains attempt to separate between a jewish state in western eretz yisrael and the kingdom of jordan east of the jordan river. 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. Mar 16, 2017 with the 2017 centenary of the 1917 balfour declaration, 1 which acknowledged the right of the jewish people to their national homeland in palestine, the international community is witnessing a highly orchestrated attempt by the arab league and the palestinian leadership to question its legal veracity. Oct 29, 2017 november 2, 2017, marks 100 years since the balfour declaration, a historic statement of sympathy issued by the british government for the establishment of a national home for the jewish people in the land of israel.
Jews and turks veterans today military foreign affairs. No peace with israel, no recognition of israel, no negotiations with israel. This year is the centennial of one of the most criminal acts in modern history. 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. 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.
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. A detailed and richly documented history of the background and origins of the balfour declaration of november 1917 regarding the establishment of a national home for the jewish people in palestine. With the 2017 centenary of the 1917 balfour declaration, 1 which acknowledged the right of the jewish people to their national homeland in palestine, the international community is witnessing a highly orchestrated attempt by the arab league and the palestinian leadership to question its legal veracity. The declaration of the league of nations was preceded by the november 2, 1917 balfour declaration, in which, in consort with the international community, the british government expressed support for the establishment of a national home for the jewish people in the land of israel. This balfour declaration promised to support the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people, so long as that did not. A hundred years ago today, while world war i was raging and no one knew which side would win, the british government, led by prime minister david lloyd george, released a declaration bearing the name of arthur balfour, the foreign secretary. Britain must compensate palestinians for balfour declaration. The november 2, 1917, balfour declaration was a major milestone in the recognition by the international community of the jewish peoples historic rights to the land of israel. 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. First prime minister of israel david ben gurion stands up to speak during a session of the new israeli government.
His majestys government views with favour the establishment in palestine of a jewish national home. The balfour declaration of 1917 has been at the center of the arabisraeli conflict over the establishment of a jewish homeland in palestine. There is much speculation about the events that led to the formulation of this declaration. As foreign secretary in the lloyd george ministry, he issued the balfour declaration in 1917 on behalf of the. The balfour declaration of 1917 arab world, israel.
Uk labours choice for foreign secretary, castigates. Balfour declarationin which britain expressed support for the establishment in palestine. Boris johnson lauds miracle of israel in honor of balfour declaration uk foreign secretary addresses board of deputies of british jews parliamentary reception. It was at this time that the british foreign secretary lord balfour issued a declaration. Lord arthur james balfour, the british foreign secretary, penned the historic letter on behalf of the british government, to lord. What is the balfour declaration of 1917, how is it linked to. The foreign office files and the war cabinet papers now available for. Balfour declaration was a 67word letter from britains then foreign secretary arthur balfour that threw londons backing behind a homeland for the jewish people in palestine. It came in the form of a private letter from the british foreign secretary arthur balfour to lord rothschild, the head of the british zionist organization.
Israel relations the united states was the first country to recognize israel as a state in 1948, and the first to recognize jerusalem as the capital of israel in. A day after the declaration of independence of the state of israel, armies of five arab countries, egypt, syria, transjordan, lebanon, and iraq, invaded israel. The balfour declaration was a statement of support made by the british government for the establishment of a national home for the jewish people in eretz yisrael. In his speech, alagha mentioned the unfortunate balfour declaration and insisted britain compensate the palestinians for the balfour crime by recognizing and supporting a palestinian state.
In it he calls for the british government to recognise the state of palestine. Declaration of independence of the modern state of israel was announced on the day that the last british forces left israel may 14, 1948. The claim for recognition of israel as a jewish state. The november 2, 1917, balfour declaration was sent by thenbritish foreign secretary arthur balfour and proclaimed britains support for the establishment of a jewish national home in then. The balfour declaration motivated the arab national movement to guarantee its own control over eretz yisrael. It was sent in the format of a letter on november 2 nd 1917, written by british foreign secretary lord arthur james balfour and.
The declaration was a synopsis of jewish history to 1948 and a statement of israels intent toward its inhabitants, neighbors, and the international community. The declaration accepted the growing political and diplomatic independence of the dominions in the years after world war i. Nov 02, 2017 this balfour declaration promised to support the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people, so long as that did not prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing nonjewish communities there. The history of israel documents the balfour declaration. The declaration was made in a letter dated november 2, 1917, from the uks then foreign secretary arthur balfour to lord walter rothschild, a leader of the british jewish community. My vision for middle east peace between israel and a new.
The contents of this letter became known as the balfour declaration. This article can be downloaded as pdf file, here t he balfour declaration was a statement of support made by the british government the war cabinet for the establishment of a national home for the jewish people in eretz yisrael. The declaration of the establishment of the state of israel. In them, a senior british official assured the arab leader that if he and his people joined the war on the side of the allies, the uk. Arthur james balfour, 1st earl of balfour, kg, om, pc, frs, fba, dl. On november 5, 1917, lord arthur james balfour, the foreign secretary of great britain who was also the prime minister during 190205 signed the death warrant of the palestinians by announcing the declaration that takes his name as the balfour declaration that paved the way to create the state of israel on. This essay examines how british policy with regard to the national home for the jewish people evolved between november 1917 and july 1922, and the stages by which the. Lord arthur james balfour, the british foreign secretary, penned the historic letter on behalf of the british government, to lord lionel walter rothschild, a prominent leader of. The balfour declaration 100 years jewish voice ministries. Oct 30, 2017 foreign secretary boris johnsons article published in todays daily telegraph ahead of the centenary of the balfour declaration on 2 november 2017. Palestine implied a jewish land, long before the state of israel was born. Arabisraeli wars a day after the declaration of independence of the state of israel, armies of five arab countries, egypt, syria, transjordan, lebanon, and iraq, invaded israel.
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