Balfour Declaration of 1917

The letter from Balfour to Rothschild

The Balfour Declaration was a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to the banker and prominent Zionist leader Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, dated 2 November 1917.

The Balfour Declaration consisted of a public statement by the government of the United Kingdom during the World War I. In this letter, Balfour declared on behalf of the British government its support for plans for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

The issuance of the declaration had many long-lasting consequences and was a key moment in the lead-up to the Arab–Israeli conflict, which is often referred to as the world's "most intractable conflict".

Balfour Declaration Of 1917 Media

• Memorandum to Protestant Monarchs of Europe for the restoration of the Jews to Palestine, Colonial Times 1841.jpg

  "Memorandum to the Protestant Powers of the North of Europe and America", published in the Colonial Times (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia), in 1841

• The "Basel Program" at the First Zionist Congress in 1897.jpg

  The "Basel program" approved at the 1897 First Zionist Congress. The first line states: "Zionism seeks to establish a home (Heimstätte) for the Jewish people in Palestine secured under public law"

• Future of Palestine Herbert Samuel memorandum 1915 CAB 37 123 43.jpg

  Herbert Samuel's Cabinet memorandum, The Future of Palestine, as published in the British Cabinet papers (CAB 37/123/43), as at 21 January 1915

• World War I Palestine campaign, Military situation immediately prior to the release of the Balfour Declaration.jpg

  Military situation at 18:00 on 1 Nov 1917, immediately prior to the release of the Balfour Declaration.

• Lord Rothschild initial Balfour Declaration draft and Balfour draft reply, July and August 1917.jpg

  A copy of Lord Rothschild's initial draft declaration, together with its covering letter, 18 July 1917, from the British War Cabinet archives.

• British War Cabinet Minutes approving the release of the Balfour Declaration.png

  British War Cabinet minutes approving the release of the declaration, 31 October 1917

• The Future of Palestine, Lord Curzon's October 1917 cabinet memorandum, one week prior to the Balfour Declaration.jpg

  Lord Curzon's 26 October 1917 cabinet memorandum, circulated one week prior to the declaration, addressed the meaning of the phrase "a National Home for the Jewish race in Palestine", noting the range of different opinions

• The Anti-Semitism of the Present Government, Edwin Montagu, 23 August 1917.jpg

  Edwin Montagu, then the only Jew in a senior British government position, wrote a 23 August 1917 memorandum condemning Zionism as a "mischievous political creed" and stating his belief that: "the policy of His Majesty's Government is anti-Semitic in result and will prove a rallying ground for anti-Semites in every country of the world."

• Balfour Declaration in the Times 9 November 1917.jpg

  Balfour Declaration as published in The Times, 9 November 1917