What was the Balfour Declaration, and how did it shape the future of the Middle East? Why did Britain make such a momentous promise during World War I?
In 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour penned a letter that would forever change the landscape of the Middle East. This pivotal document expressed British support for establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine, marking the first time a major world power endorsed the concept of Jewish statehood.
Keep reading to discover how one letter sparked over a century of conflict and reshaped international relations in ways that continue to impact our world today.
The Balfour Declaration (1917)
A year after the Sykes-Picot agreement, Britain made another decision that would change the trajectory of the Middle East: the Balfour Declaration. So, what was the Balfour Declaration, exactly? David Fromkin explains that the declaration, which supported a Jewish state, took the form of a letter from Britain’s Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild, a prominent Jewish man in London society. (Shortform note: Lionel Rothschild was a member of Parliament before the war. At the time of the letter, he was president of the English Zionist Federation.)
Fromkin argues that the Balfour Declaration built on the Zionist movement’s momentum and was a result of the successful Zionist lobbying of British policymakers during World War I. Through the declaration, Britain hoped to secure Jewish support in the war and ensure that Palestine was under British influence after the war.
The letter marked the first time a major world power endorsed the idea of Jewish statehood. Specifically, it expressed British support for the establishment of “a national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine and paved the way for the creation of Israel. Fromkin explains that the letter’s wording was intentionally ambiguous so as not to overcommit Britain. An initial draft, created in consultation with British Zionist leaders, stated that Palestine should be the Jewish people’s national home. After some back-and-forth with the government, it turned into a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.
(Shortform note: There was a long way to go before Israel became an independent state, and Britain’s lack of outright support continued to be a stumbling block. By the end of World War II, Britain controlled Palestine and opposed the creation of an independent state, whether it was Jewish or Arab. They hoped their general commitment to a “national home for the Jewish people in Palestine” would enable them to govern both groups without giving independence to either. The impasse between Britain and Zionists allowed the US to step in. Israel declared independence in 1948, despite Britain’s objections. US President Truman recognized the state, aiming to counter Soviet influence and secure oil access through a friendly government.)
On December 11, 1917, British forces entered Jerusalem, aided by Arab tribesmen, Bedouin fighters, Ottoman prisoners of war, and Jewish-Palestinian spies. Fromkin explains this marked the end of Ottoman rule and the start of the British administration of Palestine. In 1920, the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine officially put the region under British control.
(Shortform note: Britain’s entry into Jerusalem is remembered differently by Jews and Arabs. Many Arabs consider it a takeover that started a colonial project undermining their self-determination. Some Europeans and Israelis view it as an emancipation that began the journey toward a Jewish state. While Israel celebrates May 14 as its independence day, Palestinians mark it as Al-Nakba, or “the catastrophe.” “Nakba” refers to the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians during Israel’s establishment, when Palestinians’ villages and properties were seized or destroyed. Palestinians and supporters observe Al-Nakba Day on May 15, despite the Nakba Law in Israel, which criminalizes such commemorations.)
Key Outcome: The Israel/Palestine Conflict
Fromkin notes that the Balfour Declaration was contentious from the start. It promised that Jews could have land already inhabited by an Arab majority, and it conflicted with earlier British promises to Arabs and the French. In 1915, Britain promised independence to their Arab allies in exchange for their help against the Ottomans. Britain also promised the French joint rule over Palestine through the Sykes-Picot agreement. Fromkin argues that French support for Zionism was aimed at keeping Zionist leaders involved in the war, not a commitment to a Jewish state.
(Shortform note: Other analysts disagree, citing a 1917 letter from a French diplomat to a Zionist leader expressing support for Jewish colonies in Palestine. This was before the Balfour Declaration.)
The Balfour Declaration stated that the British government would support efforts to establish a Jewish national home in Palestine without negatively affecting the religious and civil rights of the Muslim and Christian populations already living there.
(Shortform note: Although the declaration promised to protect the civil and religious rights of non-Jewish communities in Palestine, it omitted political rights. Some experts argue that this omission favored the minority Jewish population, hindered Palestinian democratic efforts, and enabled the Zionist population’s systematic takeover of the region.)
Fromkin explains that Britain struggled to govern Palestine while balancing their goals with the interests of Jewish and Arab allies. British officials in Palestine delayed announcing the Balfour Declaration to avoid alarming locals. In contrast, the British Foreign Office set up a Zionist Commission to prepare for a Jewish homeland, which faced resistance from the Arabs.
| Britain’s Role in Shaping the Palestine/Israel Conflict Some historians argue that Britain’s inept governance of Palestine after World War I played a key role in instigating lasting conflict in the region. They identify three key reasons: 1. The Balfour Declaration misrepresented the territory. It obscured the fact that Palestine was an established country with a settled population. This led to the idea of Palestine as land promised by Britain solely for Jewish people without harm done to non-Jewish communities. 2. The disenfranchisement of Palestinians generated resentment. Under Ottoman rule, Palestinian males had the right to vote in local elections but lost that right following Britain’s entry into Jerusalem. This loss stirred resentment against Britain and Jewish immigrants. 3. The mismanagement of the resistance encouraged more violence. When riots broke out between Arabs and Jews, British authorities didn’t take responsibility for their role in escalating tensions. They instead punished Arab and Jewish leaders, angering both groups. |
