The Balfour Declaration

The Balfour Declaration

During World War I, British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour wrote the following letter to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild of the Zionist Federation in England:

Foreign Officer

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 favor 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 the Jews in any other country.”

I should be grateful if you would bring this Declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.

Yours Sincerely,

Arthur James Balfour

This letter was the result of over three years worth of negotiations between Britian, France, Italy and USA. The Balfour declaration was issued with the support of these governments and a special session from the US Congress lead by President Woodrow Wilson. President Harding approved the declaration on September 21, 1922.

The Balfour Declaration led to the mandate that created the state of Israel, a Jewish Homeland, in the land of Palestine (or the ancient name of the land -Eretz Israel). This mandate was approved and given to Britain by the League of Nations and the Declaration sends a wave of joy and revival in the Jewish Community.

At the end of World War, in the Treaty of Sevres, the allies included the Balfour Declaration in the wording of the Treaty to ensure fair treatment of people within the territories of the former Ottoman Empire. Meanwhile, after a year, during the celebration called Balfour Day (celebrated on November 2nd) the Muslim-Christian Association sent a lengthy memorandum and petition to the British governor at Jaffa, protesting the Zionist intrusion in Palestine.