It was assumed that the letter gave the british governments support to the creation of a jewish homeland. If britain had indeed promised a jewish national home as part of a plot engineered by mythical elders of zion, the balfour declaration would not have had to go through a tortuous process of revision. The balfour declaration led the jewish community in britain and america into believing that great britain would support the creation of a jewish state in the middle east. The evolution of its final wording sheds light on the goals and agendas of political powers in their advocacy for definitions of nation. His own assessment of the balfour declaration and the arabisraeli dispute can be found in his book a concise history of the arabs. In 1917, the balfour declaration committed the british to the a book that needs to be read to provide some understanding of the establishment of a homeland for the jewish people as stated by british pm lloyd george. Supreme court justice louis brandeis played a key, hidden role. A history of the balfour declaration and the birth of the. The balfour declaration and a century of conflict in the middle east. The balfour declaration of 1917 history learning site. 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 balfour declaration is one of the most defining moments in the uk and israels shared history and i am proud that the support britain gave for a jewish and democratic state brought to an end two millennia of jewish exile and persecution. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book.
The territory remained under british control, but on the other hand the arabs were promised independence of the region. Now the entire fascinating story of the document is revealed in this impressive. It committed britain to supporting the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people, and its reverberations continue to be felt to this day. 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. 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. Sahar huneidi reexamines the historical context of the 1917 balfour declaration and argues that. Conceived against a backdrop of the first world war, its midwives were an extraordinary cast of diplomats, scholars, soldiers and spies, arab insurgents and zionist zealots. We offer this bibliography to readers, whatever their persuasion or level of interest, as a means of learning more about britains responsibilities in this situation. Parliaments and congresses may cobble some of the fabric of history, but its designs and the big decisions, even of democracies, are made by a very few people with special interests.
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 letter was published a week later in the times of london. Issued in london in 1917, the balfour declaration was one of the key documents of the twentieth. The history of the balfour declaration 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 longterm effects of the balfour declaration, and the british governments involvement in palestinian affairs, are felt even today. The fathom essays features toby greene, elias zananiri, gershon shafir, azriel bermant, james sorene, efraim halevy, ronnie fraser, donna robinson devine and jonathan schneer, with a foreward by colin shindler. The balfour declaration was a short letter by arthur balfour to arguably one of the most influential jewish families the rothschilds. More than 100 years since britains controversial pledge, here is everything you need to know about it. Nov 09, 2017 the balfour declaration why lord rothschild.
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. And the best book about the balfour declaration is the. The american balfour declaration tells the story of the first official u. I find middle east history to be a very fascinating subject. Nov 02, 2017 the balfour declaration determined british policy under the league of nations mandate, which ultimately facilitated the ethnic cleansing of palestine. 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.
Issued in london in 1917, the balfour declaration was one of the key documents of the twentieth century. 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 title states it is about the balfour declaration. On november 2, 1917, the british government expressed its sympathy with. The balfour declaration and a century of conflict in the. Balfour declaration, statement on november 2, 1917, of british support for the establishment in palestine of a national home for jewish people. The balfour declaration acls history ebook project. 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. It declared the united kingdom and the dominions to be. It read, in part, his majestys government view with favour the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people. Most books on the topic focus on the drafting history and maybe a little more on the drafters. The balfour declaration of 2 november 1917 is commonly regarded as a seminal moment in the history of zionism, palestine and the middle east. The inside story of the balfour declaration 19171938 reprint by jeffries, j m n isbn. Conventional wisdom has it that the balfour declaration was all about zionism, that british prime minister david lloyd george and arthur balfour were nice guys, zionists both whatever.
Fathom has published a new ebook to mark the 100 th anniversary of the balfour declaration, which you can download here. The infamous balfour declaration and the 1947 partition. The declaration was written in a world of competing imperial powers, in the midst of the first world war and in the twilight. The balfour declaration was the first time the british government endorsed the establishment of a national home for the jewish people. This is the most original exposition of the balfour declaration to date. Balfour declaration international encyclopedia of the. History of the balfour declaration jewish virtual library. Oct 24, 2017 the balfour declaration was the result of a gentlemans agreement in which zionists promised to bring the u. The balfour declaration became the foundation of the international support for the establishment of the modern state of israel. Balfour declaration was one of historys greatest ever acts. The inside story of the balfour declaration 1917 1938 reprint by jeffries, j m n isbn. The balfour declaration was a public statement issued by the british government in 1917. The balfour declaration was not proposed until the summer of 1917, well after the us had entered the war. Balfour declaration was one of historys greatest ever.
Balfour declaration of 1917 simple english wikipedia, the. Library special balfour declaration, 1917 on november 2, 1917, foreign secretary arthur james balfour wrote a letter to britains most illustrious jewish citizen, baron lionel walter rothschild, expressing the british governments support for a jewish homeland in palestine. The origins of the arabisraeli conflict, which won a national jewish book award in 2010. Centenary of the balfour declaration matthew offord.
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 declaration also said that britain supported plans for a jewish homeland in palestine. Oct 31, 2017 the balfour declaration was the first time the british government endorsed the establishment of a national home for the jewish people in palestine. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The balfour declaration provided me the understanding of zionism and how wwi led to the balfour declaration. 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. The history of israel documents the balfour declaration. On 2 november 1917, the british government, represented by. It took the form of a letter from the foreign secretary of the government of his britannic majesty king george v, the largest empire the. 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. The balfour declaration, the document that set the stage for establishing the state of israel, was the product of months of wordsmithing and political jockeying.
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. Aug 01, 2011 this title states it is about the balfour declaration. 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. Arthur balfour, at center, in 1925, was an early convert to the idea that the jews might constitute more than a religious community. Was the balfour declaration made by the british people through their elected parliament. The hidden history of the balfour declaration or books. O nehundred years ago today, the famousor infamousbalfour declaration was issued by the government of great britain. While most people with basic knowledge about the conflict. Foreign office november 2nd, 1917 dear lord rothschild, i have much pleasure in conveying to.
And the best book about the balfour declaration is the balfour. Balfour declaration first world war hidden history. Ori gins and consequences history, by james renton, senior lecturer in history at edge hill university, and an honorary research fellow at university college london. In this lesson, well explore the balfour declaration and see how it. Schneer, a professor at georgia techs school of history. It should be noted at the time palestine had no definate borders. The balfour declaration led the league of nations to entrust the united kingdom with the palestine mandate in 1922. The balfour declaration, as it came to be known, set in motion a series of events, entirely unforeseen by its authors, which shaped the modern world and continues to shape it. The balfour declaration is a statement published november 2, 1917 by british colonial secretary. On november 2, 1917, foreign secretary arthur james balfour wrote a letter to britains most illustrious jewish citizen, baron lionel walter rothschild, expressing the british governments support for a jewish homeland in palestine. Balfour declaration, november 2, 1917, statement of british support for the establishment in palestine of a national home for the jewish people. On november 2nd 1917, arthur james balfour, the british foreign secretary of.
Balfour declaration as published in the times, 9 november 1917 the declaration represented the first public support for zionism by a major political power 237 its publication galvanized zionism, which finally had obtained an official charter. 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. Jonathan schneer, a specialist in modern british history, is a professor at georgia techs school of history, technology, and society. Dear lord rothschild these three words helped to change the course of modern jewish history and ultimately create the state of israel. All those with an interest in the history of zionism in america will find this book to. The balfour declaration is an historic statement for which hmg her majestys government does not intend to apologize. Expectations inside the jewish community in britain leaped like the proverbial salmon in the first few weeks of november 1917. Jonathan schneer, a member of the scholar strategy network, teaches modern british history at the georgia institute of technology. 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. A recent history and a concise history of sunnis and shiis. Nov 02, 2017 jonathan schneer, a member of the scholar strategy network, teaches modern british history at the georgia institute of technology. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Winner of the national jewish book awardissued in london in 1917, the balfour declaration was one of the key documents of the twentieth century.
Before the 1917 mandate palestine was a backyard province of the ottoman empire and was under the control of the ottoman high commissioner sitting in damascus. The dark forces behind the balfour declaration and its. The balfour declaration has all the makings of a classic. 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 creation of israel was one of the more significant moments in the 20th century, but there is a long history behind this. The balfour declaration was the first major political triumph of zionism and the culmination of jewish independent political activity until that time. A fellow of the american council of learned societies in 198586, he has also held research fellowships at oxford and cambridge universities in the uk, as well as at the erich. His majestys government view with favour the establishment in palestine of a. He quotes miller, writing about one report on the history and impact of zionism.
The balfour declaration of 1917 my jewish learning. This year is the centennial of one of the most criminal acts in modern history. The hidden history of the balfour declaration on jstor. 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, itself, is a letter from the british government to lord walter rothschild declaring support for a jewish settlement in palestine.
On november 2, 1917, foreign secretary arthur james balfour writes an important letter to britains most illustrious jewish citizen, baron lionel. Balfour declaration letter written on november 2, 1917, foreign secretary arthur james balfour writes an important letter to britains most illustrious jewish citizen, baron lionel walter. It did not call into question the legitimacy of the state of israel, but sought to increase awareness of the palestinian plight, and the hundred years of suffering caused by the british governments failure to implement the final clause of balfours declaration. The balfour declaration was the first time the british government endorsed the establishment of a national.
Winner of the national jewish book award issued in london in 1917, the balfour declaration was one of the key documents of the twentieth century. Balfour declaration of 1917 simple english wikipedia. This book looks at the entire historical context and the story culminating into what has become known as the balf. The balfour declaration became the diplomatic foundation stone of the state of israel. During most of the 19th century this province made very little economic progress and. Balfour declaration was one of historys greatest ever acts as we celebrate the centenary of the balfour declaration, the current earl of balfour commemorates the famous letter from arthur. As we proudly approach the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the balfour declaration on 2nd november, rabbi sacks has recorded a short video reflecting on what this declaration meant in 1917, and what it means for us today. What was the balfour declaration of 1917 and why is it.
Nov 02, 2017 arthur balfour, at center, in 1925, was an early convert to the idea that the jews might constitute more than a religious community. 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, 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. The declaration came in a letter that british foreign secretary arthur james balfour sent to lord rothschild lionel walter rothschild, the honorary. The poetic simplicity of the balfour declaration resides in its presumption that a home for the jews in their land needs no justification.
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