1917 the balfour declaration pdf

The making of the balfour declaration palestinian return centre. 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 full text my jewish learning. It was assumed that the letter gave the british governments support to the creation of a jewish homeland. Balfour declaration, declaration issued on november 2, 1917 by great britain in favour of a. Arab bureau, secret, savoy hotel, cairo, september 2. The balfour declaration led the league of nations to entrust the united kingdom with the palestine mandate in 1922. The 1917 balfour declaration can now be seen to describe a. The content of the balfour d eclaration seems distant or downright ba. 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. This right was recognized in the balfour declaration of the 2nd november, 1917, and re affirmed in the mandate of the league of nations which, in particular. The balfour declaration is a statement published november 2, 1917 by british colonial secretary. It should be noted at the time palestine had no definate borders.

The territory remained under british control, but on the other hand the arabs were promised independence of the region. In this letter of 2 november 1917, britains foreign secretary, arthur balfour, wrote to. The balfour declaration 2 november 1917 hurewitz, j. The balfour declaration world war i document archive. Minutes of palestine meeting of the supreme council of the allied powers. 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 contents of this letter became known as the balfour declaration. Feb 22, 2020 2 november 1917 from the united kingdoms foreign secretary arthur balfour to lord rothschild, a leader of the british jewish community, for transmission to the zionist f ederation of great britain and ireland. 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 balfour declaration was the first major political triumph of zionism and the culmination of jewish independent political activity until that time. The balfour declaration of 1917 my jewish learning. Balfour declaration international encyclopedia of the first world war. The balfour declaration the general perception at the time was that the deliverance of the jews was forthcoming, thanks to the declaration of the british government. Provisional government of israel the declaration of the.

The balfour declaration a century later penns political science. The consequences of that letter, the balfour declaration of 1917, still reverberate around the world 99 years later. After discussions in the british cabinet, and consultation with zionist leaders, the decision was made known in the form of a letter by arthur james lord balfour. 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. Balfour declaration uknonun document 2 november 1917. The balfour declaration of 1917 history learning site. To set up a jewish republic or any other form of state in palestine or or in any part of palestine.

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. The prominent jewish intellectual ar thur koestler, repeating a. The middle east and north africa in world politics, a documentary record. Zionist jews sanction to populate palestine the british government first had contact with the zionist movement 1 in 1902, but the first murmurings about the idea of the restoration of the jews to palestine had surfaced some 60 years earlier. Dear lord rothschild, i have much pleasure in conveying to you. It was only with the benefit of what palestinian historian walid khalidi termed the british shield, in the form of the british mandate, that zionism.

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. Balfour declaration of 1917, is a declaration on the benevolent attitude of great britain towards the zionist aspirations of the jews. The balfour declaration had the weight of this consensus behind it, before. In 1917, there was not yet a league of nations or a united nations. The balfour declaration was a letter written by the british foreign secretary, arthur balfour, on november 2, 1917, whose consequences are still felt today. The balfour declaration was more than the promise of one. Balfour declaration of 1917 simple english wikipedia. It is the balfour declaration, a threesentence letter written on november 2, 1917, while the first world war still raged. It took the form of a letter from lord balfour british foreign. The balfour declaration and the palestine mandate, 19171923. Its author, arthur james balfour, was at the time foreign secretary and had previously served as prime minister. But, in the consensus of the allies, there was the nucleus of a modern international order. Balfour became mp for manchester east where he first met weizmann in 1885, and was prime minister from 190205.

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, 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. I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of his majestys government, the. From the balfour declaration of 1917 to the farhud of 1941. In 1917, when the balfour declaration was made, he was foreign secretary this was the partnership that eventually led to the letter known to this day as the balfour declaration balfour. The balfour declaration from the perspective of the palestinian. Oct 30, 2020 the influence of the balfour declaration on the course of postwar events was immediate. May 26, 2015 the balfour declaration was a short letter by arthur balfour to arguably one of the most influential jewish families the rothschilds. 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. The mandatory should be responsible, the preamble stated, for putting into effect the declaration originally made on november 2nd, 1917, by the government of his britannic majestyin favor of the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people1the preamble of the mandate included the precise. News of the balfour declaration reached palestine only with much delay after november 2, 1917. Background to the declaration the balfour declaration was the jewish. Dec 31, 2019 balfour declaration of 1917, is a declaration on the benevolent attitude of great britain towards the zionist aspirations of the jews. Balfour declaration of 1917 simple english wikipedia, the.

This video explores the factors that led jewish leaders in the beginning of the 20th century to seek support for the zionist movement from britains governme. The following brief letter from british foreign secretary arthur james balfour to honorary president of the zionist federation of great britain and ireland, lord lionel rothschild, is the document that came to be known as the balfour declaration. 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. 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. The hidden history of the balfour declaration on jstor. But as arkush recognizes, i also dont think much of it on purely historical grounds. The balfour declaration, issued on 2 november 1917, is one of the most influential documents leading to the establishment of the state of israel. Balfour declaration uknonun document 2 november 1917 foreign office, november 2nd, 1917. The balfour declaration, november 1917 balfour project. 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. November 2, 1917 during the first world war, british policy became gradually committed to the idea of establishing a jewish home in palestine eretz yisrael. Which of the following declarations have you heard of. 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.

In 1917 british foreign minister lord balfour issued a letter to zionist leader lord rothschild. 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 balfour declaration was a letter written by british foreign secretary arthur balfour to lionel walter rothschild, in which he expressed the british. Reflections on the 1917 balfour declaration jadaliyya. The declaration also said that britain supported plans for a jewish homeland in palestine.

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 article sets the balfour declaration of 1917 and the final confirmation of. In fact, palestinian president mahmoud abbas would like to sue britain over this letter. Mar 17, 2017 the final text of the balfour declaration, issued by foreign secretary arthur james balfour to lord rothschild on behalf of the british government on nov. After discussions in the british cabinet, and consultation with zionist leaders, the decision was made known in the form of a letter by arthur james lord balfour to lord rothschild. Lord lionel walter rothschild, as a figurehead of the jewish community in.

The declaration came in a letter that british foreign secretary arthur james balfour sent to lord rothschild lionel walter rothschild, the honorary president of the zionist federation of great. In 1917 the balfour declaration was put into play, and was an agreement drafted by the british in attempt to create a jewish homeland in palestine. This occupation was achieved either in the form of land sales between tribes, or through. According to the mandate system created by the versailles treaty of 1919, britain was entrusted with. Background to the declaration the balfour declaration. Balfour declaration 1926 page 4 of 14 defined by the government of india act, 1919.

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 issuance of the declaration had many long lasting consequences, and was a key moment in the lead. The balfour declaration november 2, 1917 during the first world war, british policy became gradually committed to the idea of establishing a jewish home in palestine eretz yisrael. Known as the balfour declaration, this letter promised that britain would view with favour the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people and use their best. Enduring understanding the contents of the 1917 balfour declaration became central to the international recognition of the right of jews to establish a national homestate. Jewish national home determined by san remo conference. For civil services examination 2021 preparation follow byjus. The text of the declaration was published in the press on 9 november 1917. 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. Its purpose was to produce acetone for guncotton, used in. James balfour, the british foreign secretary, conveyed the following pledge in a public letter to a. In 1917, when the balfour declaration was made, he was foreign secretary this was the partnership that eventually led to the letter known to this day as the balfour declaration balfour was the signatory. The forgotten truth about the balfour declaration pdf scholars at.

Pdf on nov 2, 2017, kumaraswamy p r published balfour declaration, a century later find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. What was the balfour declaration why the balfour declaration was so important how the balfour declaration is relevant today 1. The response can either be done as a written assignment, journal entry, blog entry even though there were no blogs in 1917. In 1917 the british government issued the socalled balfour declaration promising. 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 contained in a letter dated 2 november 1917 from the united kingdoms foreign secretary arthur balfour to lord rothschild, a leader of the british jewish community, for transmission to the zionist federation of great britain and ireland. Wartime contingency and the balfour declaration of 1917. After discussions in the british cabinet, and consultation with zionist leaders, the decision was made known in the form of a letter by arthur james lord balfour to. Who promised arab palestine to world jewry in 1917. We ask great britain, as we approach 100 years since this infamous declaration, to draw. Thesis together, the change in iraqi leadership, the rise of iraqi nationalism in response to british foreign power, and the development of palestine as a jewish state give the best explanation for rising antijewish sentiment among iraqi arabs from 1917 1941. In other words, the british promised a territory over which they had neither sovereign power nor control to a third party.

Nothing in the balfour declaration dealt with jewish statehood, immigration, land purchase or the boundaries of palestine. At first in 1919 only 60,000 jews lived in palestine but this had increased. The events the centenary balfour declaration, 2nd november 1917. Balfour declaration, statement on november 2, 1917, of british support for the establishment in palestine of a national home for jewish people. 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 lord lionel walter rothschild see rothschild, family by arthur james balfour, british foreign secretary, on november 2, 1917. All local newspapers had been shuttered since the beginning of the war. 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.