-
The Balfour Declaration explained
Here's why the Balfour Declaration is important to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
published: 03 Nov 2017
-
What's the Balfour Declaration? And how did it MESS UP the Middle East?
Who decided to give Palestine to the Jews? It may all be traced back to this letter, the Balfour Declaration. Here's what it's all about, 100 years on.
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Visit our website: http://trt.world
published: 02 Nov 2017
-
What is the Balfour Declaration? | History of Israel Explained | Unpacked
This week on History of Israel Explained, we’re dissecting one of the most famous documents in Israeli history - the Balfour Declaration - and asking what made this 117-word letter so important and so controversial.
The Declaration was written in 1917 by the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Arthur James Balfour, and sent to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, one of Britain’s most illustrious Jewish citizens. It expressed the British government’s support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
So why did it take another 30 years, until the United Nations passed UN Resolution 181, for a Jewish state to finally be established? Why was the Balfour Declaration so controversial? Why was it written so ambiguously and did the British even have the right to promise the Jews a homeland in British Mandate...
published: 13 Jun 2019
-
The Balfour Declaration's impact, 100 years on
The Balfour Declaration was penned 100 years ago, but its legacy still resonates in the Middle East today. How did a letter, only 67-words long, ignite 100 years of conflict?
Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7
100 years ago this week Arthur Balfour, the British foreign secretary, penned a letter that would change the face of the Middle East. The letter published on November 2nd 1917 led to the creation of the State of Israel and would spark almost a century of conflict.
The American Colony Hotel has hosted guests in Jerusalem for over a century. This place has a unique perspective on the region's history because it's played a part in it. Presidents and peacemakers, spies and journalists, use this space, often in secret, to hatch plans and d...
published: 03 Nov 2017
-
Balfour Declaration at 100: Seeds of Discord - Al Jazeera World
The Balfour Declaration was a public promise by the British government during World War One announcing support for the establishment of "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. Palestine was still a part of the Ottoman Empire at the time, with a minority Jewish population.
The 67-word document, in the form of a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to the prominent British Jewish figure, Lord Rothschild, dated November 2, 1917 read:
His Majesty's 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 non-Jewish communit...
published: 31 Oct 2017
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The Balfour Declaration
“International Relations in the Middle East“ is an online course on Janux. Learn more at http://janux.ou.edu.
Created by the University of Oklahoma, Janux is an interactive learning community that gives learners direct connections to courses, education resources, faculty, and each other. Janux courses are freely available or may be taken for college credit by enrolled OU students.
Joshua Landis Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Middle East Studies in the College of International Studies
Video by NextThought (http://nextthought.com).
Copyright © 2000-2017 The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, All Rights Reserved.
published: 30 Mar 2017
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The True Story Behind the Balfour Declaration
Learn from Dr. Martin Kramer, founding President of Shalem College in Jerusalem, as he explains how the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917, reflected international recognition of the natural rights of the Jewish people to self-determination in their historical homeland, the Land of Israel.
Music by Podington bear - Glass piano
published: 02 Nov 2017
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Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration | The 20th century | World history | Khan Academy
Courses on Khan Academy are always 100% free. Start practicing—and saving your progress—now: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th-century/v/sykes-picot-agreement-and-the-balfour-declaration
Created by Sal Khan.
Watch the next lesson: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th-century/v/arabia-after-world-war-i?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=Desc&utm_campaign=worldhistory
Missed the previous lesson? https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th-century/v/sinai-palestine-and-mesopotamia-campaigns?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=Desc&utm_campaign=worldhistory
World history on Khan Academy: From the earliest civilizations to the modern world, geography, religion, trade, and politics have b...
published: 04 Apr 2013
-
Balfour Declaration: How 67 words changed the course of Palestinian history
Palestinians around the world are marking 100 years since the Balfour Declaration was issued on November 2, 1917. It was contained in a letter written by the then British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Walter Rothschild, who was a leader of Britain's Jewish community.
In the letter, Balfour expressed his support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people".
The declaration, which is only 67 words long, is widely celebrated by Israelis. But Palestinians regard it as a betrayal which triggered the colonisation of their land.
Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips explains.
- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
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- Check our web...
published: 01 Nov 2017
-
ITN: Balfour Declaration 1917
On the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, British historian Jonathan Schneer (Georgia Tech) discusses its historic significance as the document which laid the groundwork for international commitment to the Zionist Movement. With Mark S. Golub.
published: 02 Nov 2017
5:27
The Balfour Declaration explained
Here's why the Balfour Declaration is important to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Here's why the Balfour Declaration is important to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
https://wn.com/The_Balfour_Declaration_Explained
Here's why the Balfour Declaration is important to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- published: 03 Nov 2017
- views: 159786
3:20
What's the Balfour Declaration? And how did it MESS UP the Middle East?
Who decided to give Palestine to the Jews? It may all be traced back to this letter, the Balfour Declaration. Here's what it's all about, 100 years on.
Subscr...
Who decided to give Palestine to the Jews? It may all be traced back to this letter, the Balfour Declaration. Here's what it's all about, 100 years on.
Subscribe: http://trt.world/subscribe
Livestream: http://trt.world/ytlive
Facebook: http://trt.world/facebook
Twitter: http://trt.world/twitter
Instagram: http://trt.world/instagram
Visit our website: http://trt.world
https://wn.com/What's_The_Balfour_Declaration_And_How_Did_It_Mess_Up_The_Middle_East
Who decided to give Palestine to the Jews? It may all be traced back to this letter, the Balfour Declaration. Here's what it's all about, 100 years on.
Subscribe: http://trt.world/subscribe
Livestream: http://trt.world/ytlive
Facebook: http://trt.world/facebook
Twitter: http://trt.world/twitter
Instagram: http://trt.world/instagram
Visit our website: http://trt.world
- published: 02 Nov 2017
- views: 144039
10:30
What is the Balfour Declaration? | History of Israel Explained | Unpacked
This week on History of Israel Explained, we’re dissecting one of the most famous documents in Israeli history - the Balfour Declaration - and asking what made ...
This week on History of Israel Explained, we’re dissecting one of the most famous documents in Israeli history - the Balfour Declaration - and asking what made this 117-word letter so important and so controversial.
The Declaration was written in 1917 by the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Arthur James Balfour, and sent to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, one of Britain’s most illustrious Jewish citizens. It expressed the British government’s support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
So why did it take another 30 years, until the United Nations passed UN Resolution 181, for a Jewish state to finally be established? Why was the Balfour Declaration so controversial? Why was it written so ambiguously and did the British even have the right to promise the Jews a homeland in British Mandate Palestine?
Drop your reactions to this week’s topic in the comments below and, if you haven’t already done so, watch our video about UN Resolution 181 to understand the events of 1947.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:26 Balfour's letter to Rothschild, AKA The Balfour Declaration
01:19 International recognition of the Jewish right to the Land of Israel
01:54 Why establishing a Jewish nation-state was so important
03:04 What caused European powers to finally approve a Jewish homeland?
04:04 The integral role of Chaim Weizmann
06:03 The vague and ambiguous language in the document
08:07 The promise of Palestine to Arab leaders and the Sikes-Picot Agreement
09:00 Arab rejection of the Balfour Declaration
09:16 Increasing Arab and Jewish violence in Palestine
09:42 Contribution to ending the 2,000 year-old Jewish exile
10:08 Outro
Subscribe and turn on your notifications so you don’t miss future uploads!
https://www.youtube.com/UNPACKED?sub_confirmation=1
Let’s connect:
Website — https://www.jewishunpacked.com
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jewishunpacked
Twitter — https://twitter.com/jewishunpacked
TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@jewishunpacked
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/jewishunpacked
-----------
Photo/Video Credit:
- Central Zionist Archives
- GPO/Moshe Milner/Yosef Eldan/Yaacov Sa'ar/Chanania Hermann/David Eldan/Ilan Bruner/David Rubinger
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS:
Executive Producers:
- Shevi Peters
- Adam Milstein
Platinum Level:
- Rachel & Jack ז”ל Gindi Family Foundation
- Meryl and Sam Solomon, Beit Zayit
- Lily and Kam Babaoff
- Dr. Shmuel and Evelyn Katz
This series would not be possible without the generous support of:
- The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation
-----------
About History of Israel Explained: This series casts a new perspective on the history of the modern State of Israel, both pre and post 1948. We explore the inspiring highs and heartbreaking lows, and the everyday struggles of ordinary people. Understand how the Jewish State came to be by meeting prominent Zionist figures and learning about key historical events. Explore aspects of Israeli society, from its famous military to the meaning of the national anthem, and more.
About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.
#Israel #Education #History
https://wn.com/What_Is_The_Balfour_Declaration_|_History_Of_Israel_Explained_|_Unpacked
This week on History of Israel Explained, we’re dissecting one of the most famous documents in Israeli history - the Balfour Declaration - and asking what made this 117-word letter so important and so controversial.
The Declaration was written in 1917 by the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Arthur James Balfour, and sent to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, one of Britain’s most illustrious Jewish citizens. It expressed the British government’s support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
So why did it take another 30 years, until the United Nations passed UN Resolution 181, for a Jewish state to finally be established? Why was the Balfour Declaration so controversial? Why was it written so ambiguously and did the British even have the right to promise the Jews a homeland in British Mandate Palestine?
Drop your reactions to this week’s topic in the comments below and, if you haven’t already done so, watch our video about UN Resolution 181 to understand the events of 1947.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:26 Balfour's letter to Rothschild, AKA The Balfour Declaration
01:19 International recognition of the Jewish right to the Land of Israel
01:54 Why establishing a Jewish nation-state was so important
03:04 What caused European powers to finally approve a Jewish homeland?
04:04 The integral role of Chaim Weizmann
06:03 The vague and ambiguous language in the document
08:07 The promise of Palestine to Arab leaders and the Sikes-Picot Agreement
09:00 Arab rejection of the Balfour Declaration
09:16 Increasing Arab and Jewish violence in Palestine
09:42 Contribution to ending the 2,000 year-old Jewish exile
10:08 Outro
Subscribe and turn on your notifications so you don’t miss future uploads!
https://www.youtube.com/UNPACKED?sub_confirmation=1
Let’s connect:
Website — https://www.jewishunpacked.com
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jewishunpacked
Twitter — https://twitter.com/jewishunpacked
TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@jewishunpacked
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/jewishunpacked
-----------
Photo/Video Credit:
- Central Zionist Archives
- GPO/Moshe Milner/Yosef Eldan/Yaacov Sa'ar/Chanania Hermann/David Eldan/Ilan Bruner/David Rubinger
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS:
Executive Producers:
- Shevi Peters
- Adam Milstein
Platinum Level:
- Rachel & Jack ז”ל Gindi Family Foundation
- Meryl and Sam Solomon, Beit Zayit
- Lily and Kam Babaoff
- Dr. Shmuel and Evelyn Katz
This series would not be possible without the generous support of:
- The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation
-----------
About History of Israel Explained: This series casts a new perspective on the history of the modern State of Israel, both pre and post 1948. We explore the inspiring highs and heartbreaking lows, and the everyday struggles of ordinary people. Understand how the Jewish State came to be by meeting prominent Zionist figures and learning about key historical events. Explore aspects of Israeli society, from its famous military to the meaning of the national anthem, and more.
About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.
#Israel #Education #History
- published: 13 Jun 2019
- views: 75322
8:03
The Balfour Declaration's impact, 100 years on
The Balfour Declaration was penned 100 years ago, but its legacy still resonates in the Middle East today. How did a letter, only 67-words long, ignite 100 year...
The Balfour Declaration was penned 100 years ago, but its legacy still resonates in the Middle East today. How did a letter, only 67-words long, ignite 100 years of conflict?
Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7
100 years ago this week Arthur Balfour, the British foreign secretary, penned a letter that would change the face of the Middle East. The letter published on November 2nd 1917 led to the creation of the State of Israel and would spark almost a century of conflict.
The American Colony Hotel has hosted guests in Jerusalem for over a century. This place has a unique perspective on the region's history because it's played a part in it. Presidents and peacemakers, spies and journalists, use this space, often in secret, to hatch plans and discuss the future.
The hotel sits close to the former border separating East from West Jerusalem. Today, the whole city is under Israeli rule but Jews and Arabs are still divided.
This place is a haven from the troubles all around. Jeremy and Ahmad have both worked here for more than 30 years. Jeremy Berkovits is the hotel's chief financial officer. He is an Israeli. Ahmad Shakarneh is the head of housekeeping. He is a Palestinian.
Balfour's letter has had a profound impact on both of these men. They live on opposite sides of Israel's security barrier. The letter’s crucial clause read “His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”. But it also warned “it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-jewish communities in Palestine”.
Here in the hotels archive Jeremy and Ahmad view the letters legacy very differently. The letter was a declaration of support for Zionists who wanted to create a Jewish state. In the carve up of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War the League of Nations gave Britain a mandate to rule Palestine. But the Arabs who had been living in Palestine for centuries turned increasingly to resistance and violence, culminating in a revolt in 1936.
As they crushed the uprising, the British tried to win over the Arabs by restricting Jewish ambitions. Jewish anger also turned violent. The British gave up and handed the problem over to the United Nations. In 1947, the UN voted to partition Palestine - but the Arabs rejected this and fighting broke out.
As the last British soldiers left Palestine in May 1948, the moment had come for the Jews. They declared the State of Israel. Neighbouring Arab countries invaded immediately. In the armistice of 1949, Israel and Arab states divided up the land but there was no Palestinian state, just two regions controlled by Egypt and Jordan, now known as the West Bank and Gaza.
An estimated 700,000 Palestinians fled or were pushed out of their homes. They called this the Nakba - the Catastrophe.
Since then there have been wars, uprisings, terrorist attacks and diplomatic deals. Nothing has brought lasting peace or a State for the Palestinians. Since the war of 1967, many Palestinians now live in the West Bank under permanent Israeli occupation, cut off by the Israeli security barrier. They have autonomy in big cities and towns but are surrounded by Jewish settlements. Others are locked away in the Gaza Strip the scene of repeated wars.
A century on from Lord Balfour's letter his 67 words have left a profound but mixed legacy.
The conflict between Arab and Jew remains intractable. The Balfour Declaration helped to create Israel, but the state of Palestine is not yet born
Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films throughout the working week.
For more from Economist Films visit: http://films.economist.com/
Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk
Like The Economist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist/
Follow The Economist on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theeconomist
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeconomist/
Follow us on LINE: http://econ.st/1WXkOo6
Follow us on Medium: https://medium.com/@the_economist
https://wn.com/The_Balfour_Declaration's_Impact,_100_Years_On
The Balfour Declaration was penned 100 years ago, but its legacy still resonates in the Middle East today. How did a letter, only 67-words long, ignite 100 years of conflict?
Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7
100 years ago this week Arthur Balfour, the British foreign secretary, penned a letter that would change the face of the Middle East. The letter published on November 2nd 1917 led to the creation of the State of Israel and would spark almost a century of conflict.
The American Colony Hotel has hosted guests in Jerusalem for over a century. This place has a unique perspective on the region's history because it's played a part in it. Presidents and peacemakers, spies and journalists, use this space, often in secret, to hatch plans and discuss the future.
The hotel sits close to the former border separating East from West Jerusalem. Today, the whole city is under Israeli rule but Jews and Arabs are still divided.
This place is a haven from the troubles all around. Jeremy and Ahmad have both worked here for more than 30 years. Jeremy Berkovits is the hotel's chief financial officer. He is an Israeli. Ahmad Shakarneh is the head of housekeeping. He is a Palestinian.
Balfour's letter has had a profound impact on both of these men. They live on opposite sides of Israel's security barrier. The letter’s crucial clause read “His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”. But it also warned “it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-jewish communities in Palestine”.
Here in the hotels archive Jeremy and Ahmad view the letters legacy very differently. The letter was a declaration of support for Zionists who wanted to create a Jewish state. In the carve up of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War the League of Nations gave Britain a mandate to rule Palestine. But the Arabs who had been living in Palestine for centuries turned increasingly to resistance and violence, culminating in a revolt in 1936.
As they crushed the uprising, the British tried to win over the Arabs by restricting Jewish ambitions. Jewish anger also turned violent. The British gave up and handed the problem over to the United Nations. In 1947, the UN voted to partition Palestine - but the Arabs rejected this and fighting broke out.
As the last British soldiers left Palestine in May 1948, the moment had come for the Jews. They declared the State of Israel. Neighbouring Arab countries invaded immediately. In the armistice of 1949, Israel and Arab states divided up the land but there was no Palestinian state, just two regions controlled by Egypt and Jordan, now known as the West Bank and Gaza.
An estimated 700,000 Palestinians fled or were pushed out of their homes. They called this the Nakba - the Catastrophe.
Since then there have been wars, uprisings, terrorist attacks and diplomatic deals. Nothing has brought lasting peace or a State for the Palestinians. Since the war of 1967, many Palestinians now live in the West Bank under permanent Israeli occupation, cut off by the Israeli security barrier. They have autonomy in big cities and towns but are surrounded by Jewish settlements. Others are locked away in the Gaza Strip the scene of repeated wars.
A century on from Lord Balfour's letter his 67 words have left a profound but mixed legacy.
The conflict between Arab and Jew remains intractable. The Balfour Declaration helped to create Israel, but the state of Palestine is not yet born
Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films throughout the working week.
For more from Economist Films visit: http://films.economist.com/
Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk
Like The Economist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist/
Follow The Economist on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theeconomist
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeconomist/
Follow us on LINE: http://econ.st/1WXkOo6
Follow us on Medium: https://medium.com/@the_economist
- published: 03 Nov 2017
- views: 339577
48:31
Balfour Declaration at 100: Seeds of Discord - Al Jazeera World
The Balfour Declaration was a public promise by the British government during World War One announcing support for the establishment of "a national home for the...
The Balfour Declaration was a public promise by the British government during World War One announcing support for the establishment of "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. Palestine was still a part of the Ottoman Empire at the time, with a minority Jewish population.
The 67-word document, in the form of a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to the prominent British Jewish figure, Lord Rothschild, dated November 2, 1917 read:
His Majesty's 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 non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
Whatever its real intentions, the declaration has had a profound impact on the Middle East and its people; and its effects still resonate across the region today.
The British War Cabinet began to consider the future of Palestine during the course of World War One in which it fought the central powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.
According to historian and author Jonathan Schneer, the British somehow "felt that the Jews held the key to winning the war and so they had to figure out how to bribe the Jews to support them."
James Renton of Edge Hill University elaborates on British motives: "We can boil it down to two elements of British self-interest at that time. Not an emotional interest in Zionism or a love of Jews and the Jewish plight and the desire for return of the Jews to the holy land, no... they wanted to mobilise the allies behind Britain and this idea of Jewish power in the world. They were all of the different policy elites in the war - believers in the notion that Jews who have tremendous influence in the corridors of power around the globe. If the British government appeared to support Zionism, they would win over World Jewry to their side and all that entailed. The British were convinced that Zionism was really at the centre of the Jewish heart."
Whatever its basis, the relationship between the British Zionists and the government was established in late 1916 and continued to develop throughout 1917, leading to the Declaration in November. It was the first expression of public support for Zionism by a major political power.
"As a term, 'a national home' didn't exist", says Palestinian historian Basheer Nafi. "At that time, international law was well developed. They could have used 'self-governance' or 'independent state'. There was no such a term in international law as 'a national homeland'. What did 'a national home for the Jews in Palestine' mean?"
The term "national home" was intentionally vague as to whether a Jewish state was contemplated. The intended boundaries of Palestine were not specified; and the British government later confirmed that the words "in Palestine" meant that the Jewish national home was not intended to cover all of Palestine.
The second half of the declaration was added to satisfy opponents of the policy, who had claimed that it would otherwise prejudice the position of the local population of Palestine and encourage anti-semitism against Jews worldwide.
While the declaration called for political rights in Palestine for Jews, rights for the Palestinian Arabs, who comprised the vast majority of the local population, were limited to civil and religious rights.
"The Jews were described as a people with the right to self-determination while the Arabs were considered non-Jewish communities," explains French historian Philippe Prevost. "They didn't even mention the name of the Arabs. They were called non-Jewish. They only could enjoy civil and religious rights. They had no political rights."
But the Balfour Declaration set in motion a series of events that, over two decades, began to signal its deep flaws.
The British proposed partitioning Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, but Arab dissent built into the three year Revolt between 1936 and 1939. It was a nationalist uprising against the British administration, demanding Arab independence and the end of Jewish immigration.
More from Al Jazeera World on:
YouTube - http://aje.io/aljazeeraworldYT
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AlJazeeraWorld
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AlJazeera_World
Visit our website - http://www.aljazeera.com/aljazeeraworld
Subscribe to AJE on YouTube - http://aje.io/YTsubscribe
https://wn.com/Balfour_Declaration_At_100_Seeds_Of_Discord_Al_Jazeera_World
The Balfour Declaration was a public promise by the British government during World War One announcing support for the establishment of "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. Palestine was still a part of the Ottoman Empire at the time, with a minority Jewish population.
The 67-word document, in the form of a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to the prominent British Jewish figure, Lord Rothschild, dated November 2, 1917 read:
His Majesty's 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 non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
Whatever its real intentions, the declaration has had a profound impact on the Middle East and its people; and its effects still resonate across the region today.
The British War Cabinet began to consider the future of Palestine during the course of World War One in which it fought the central powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.
According to historian and author Jonathan Schneer, the British somehow "felt that the Jews held the key to winning the war and so they had to figure out how to bribe the Jews to support them."
James Renton of Edge Hill University elaborates on British motives: "We can boil it down to two elements of British self-interest at that time. Not an emotional interest in Zionism or a love of Jews and the Jewish plight and the desire for return of the Jews to the holy land, no... they wanted to mobilise the allies behind Britain and this idea of Jewish power in the world. They were all of the different policy elites in the war - believers in the notion that Jews who have tremendous influence in the corridors of power around the globe. If the British government appeared to support Zionism, they would win over World Jewry to their side and all that entailed. The British were convinced that Zionism was really at the centre of the Jewish heart."
Whatever its basis, the relationship between the British Zionists and the government was established in late 1916 and continued to develop throughout 1917, leading to the Declaration in November. It was the first expression of public support for Zionism by a major political power.
"As a term, 'a national home' didn't exist", says Palestinian historian Basheer Nafi. "At that time, international law was well developed. They could have used 'self-governance' or 'independent state'. There was no such a term in international law as 'a national homeland'. What did 'a national home for the Jews in Palestine' mean?"
The term "national home" was intentionally vague as to whether a Jewish state was contemplated. The intended boundaries of Palestine were not specified; and the British government later confirmed that the words "in Palestine" meant that the Jewish national home was not intended to cover all of Palestine.
The second half of the declaration was added to satisfy opponents of the policy, who had claimed that it would otherwise prejudice the position of the local population of Palestine and encourage anti-semitism against Jews worldwide.
While the declaration called for political rights in Palestine for Jews, rights for the Palestinian Arabs, who comprised the vast majority of the local population, were limited to civil and religious rights.
"The Jews were described as a people with the right to self-determination while the Arabs were considered non-Jewish communities," explains French historian Philippe Prevost. "They didn't even mention the name of the Arabs. They were called non-Jewish. They only could enjoy civil and religious rights. They had no political rights."
But the Balfour Declaration set in motion a series of events that, over two decades, began to signal its deep flaws.
The British proposed partitioning Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, but Arab dissent built into the three year Revolt between 1936 and 1939. It was a nationalist uprising against the British administration, demanding Arab independence and the end of Jewish immigration.
More from Al Jazeera World on:
YouTube - http://aje.io/aljazeeraworldYT
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AlJazeeraWorld
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AlJazeera_World
Visit our website - http://www.aljazeera.com/aljazeeraworld
Subscribe to AJE on YouTube - http://aje.io/YTsubscribe
- published: 31 Oct 2017
- views: 82859
9:44
The Balfour Declaration
“International Relations in the Middle East“ is an online course on Janux. Learn more at http://janux.ou.edu.
Created by the University of Oklahoma, Janux is a...
“International Relations in the Middle East“ is an online course on Janux. Learn more at http://janux.ou.edu.
Created by the University of Oklahoma, Janux is an interactive learning community that gives learners direct connections to courses, education resources, faculty, and each other. Janux courses are freely available or may be taken for college credit by enrolled OU students.
Joshua Landis Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Middle East Studies in the College of International Studies
Video by NextThought (http://nextthought.com).
Copyright © 2000-2017 The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, All Rights Reserved.
https://wn.com/The_Balfour_Declaration
“International Relations in the Middle East“ is an online course on Janux. Learn more at http://janux.ou.edu.
Created by the University of Oklahoma, Janux is an interactive learning community that gives learners direct connections to courses, education resources, faculty, and each other. Janux courses are freely available or may be taken for college credit by enrolled OU students.
Joshua Landis Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Middle East Studies in the College of International Studies
Video by NextThought (http://nextthought.com).
Copyright © 2000-2017 The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, All Rights Reserved.
- published: 30 Mar 2017
- views: 19201
5:04
The True Story Behind the Balfour Declaration
Learn from Dr. Martin Kramer, founding President of Shalem College in Jerusalem, as he explains how the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917, reflected inte...
Learn from Dr. Martin Kramer, founding President of Shalem College in Jerusalem, as he explains how the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917, reflected international recognition of the natural rights of the Jewish people to self-determination in their historical homeland, the Land of Israel.
Music by Podington bear - Glass piano
https://wn.com/The_True_Story_Behind_The_Balfour_Declaration
Learn from Dr. Martin Kramer, founding President of Shalem College in Jerusalem, as he explains how the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917, reflected international recognition of the natural rights of the Jewish people to self-determination in their historical homeland, the Land of Israel.
Music by Podington bear - Glass piano
- published: 02 Nov 2017
- views: 26107
12:52
Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration | The 20th century | World history | Khan Academy
Courses on Khan Academy are always 100% free. Start practicing—and saving your progress—now: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/mid...
Courses on Khan Academy are always 100% free. Start practicing—and saving your progress—now: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th-century/v/sykes-picot-agreement-and-the-balfour-declaration
Created by Sal Khan.
Watch the next lesson: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th-century/v/arabia-after-world-war-i?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=Desc&utm_campaign=worldhistory
Missed the previous lesson? https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th-century/v/sinai-palestine-and-mesopotamia-campaigns?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=Desc&utm_campaign=worldhistory
World history on Khan Academy: From the earliest civilizations to the modern world, geography, religion, trade, and politics have bound peoples and nations together — and torn them apart. Take a journey through time and space and discover the fascinating history behind the complex world we inhabit today.
About Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Our math missions guide learners from kindergarten to calculus using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps. We've also partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to offer specialized content.
For free. For everyone. Forever. #YouCanLearnAnything
Subscribe to Khan Academy’s World History channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6KRvvmvkCchFMo2EJ-3Arg?sub_confirmation=1
Subscribe to Khan Academy: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=khanacademy
https://wn.com/Sykes_Picot_Agreement_And_The_Balfour_Declaration_|_The_20Th_Century_|_World_History_|_Khan_Academy
Courses on Khan Academy are always 100% free. Start practicing—and saving your progress—now: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th-century/v/sykes-picot-agreement-and-the-balfour-declaration
Created by Sal Khan.
Watch the next lesson: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th-century/v/arabia-after-world-war-i?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=Desc&utm_campaign=worldhistory
Missed the previous lesson? https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/euro-hist/middle-east-20th-century/v/sinai-palestine-and-mesopotamia-campaigns?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=Desc&utm_campaign=worldhistory
World history on Khan Academy: From the earliest civilizations to the modern world, geography, religion, trade, and politics have bound peoples and nations together — and torn them apart. Take a journey through time and space and discover the fascinating history behind the complex world we inhabit today.
About Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Our math missions guide learners from kindergarten to calculus using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps. We've also partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to offer specialized content.
For free. For everyone. Forever. #YouCanLearnAnything
Subscribe to Khan Academy’s World History channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6KRvvmvkCchFMo2EJ-3Arg?sub_confirmation=1
Subscribe to Khan Academy: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=khanacademy
- published: 04 Apr 2013
- views: 185808
2:53
Balfour Declaration: How 67 words changed the course of Palestinian history
Palestinians around the world are marking 100 years since the Balfour Declaration was issued on November 2, 1917. It was contained in a letter written by the th...
Palestinians around the world are marking 100 years since the Balfour Declaration was issued on November 2, 1917. It was contained in a letter written by the then British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Walter Rothschild, who was a leader of Britain's Jewish community.
In the letter, Balfour expressed his support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people".
The declaration, which is only 67 words long, is widely celebrated by Israelis. But Palestinians regard it as a betrayal which triggered the colonisation of their land.
Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips explains.
- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
- Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/
https://wn.com/Balfour_Declaration_How_67_Words_Changed_The_Course_Of_Palestinian_History
Palestinians around the world are marking 100 years since the Balfour Declaration was issued on November 2, 1917. It was contained in a letter written by the then British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Walter Rothschild, who was a leader of Britain's Jewish community.
In the letter, Balfour expressed his support for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people".
The declaration, which is only 67 words long, is widely celebrated by Israelis. But Palestinians regard it as a betrayal which triggered the colonisation of their land.
Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips explains.
- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
- Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/
- published: 01 Nov 2017
- views: 59263
29:02
ITN: Balfour Declaration 1917
On the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, British historian Jonathan Schneer (Georgia Tech) discusses its historic significance as the document which...
On the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, British historian Jonathan Schneer (Georgia Tech) discusses its historic significance as the document which laid the groundwork for international commitment to the Zionist Movement. With Mark S. Golub.
https://wn.com/Itn_Balfour_Declaration_1917
On the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, British historian Jonathan Schneer (Georgia Tech) discusses its historic significance as the document which laid the groundwork for international commitment to the Zionist Movement. With Mark S. Golub.
- published: 02 Nov 2017
- views: 761