Balfour Declaration

The political event in consideration is the Balfour Declaration. In the course of World War I, the Middle East was under British Imperialism. In 1915, the British government through Sir Henry McMahon, who was Egypt's British High Commissioner, assured Hussein, who was Sharif of Mecca at the time, that Britain would give backing to the independence of the Arab kingdom if they took part in an Arab revolt in opposition of the Ottoman Empire. However, two years later, Britain through Lord Arthur Balfour issued the Balfour Declaration with the proclamation of guaranteeing the establishment of a home for the Jews in Palestine.[footnoteRef:1] The Balfour Declaration as a political event had both supporters who thought it was a good and fitting idea but at the same time also faced major criticism. On one hand, the Balfour Declaration was given support by the British government and the Zionism movement. On the other hand, the Arab population did not agree with this event as it not only caused a major displacement of them in their land, but also granted land to individuals that did not originally lay any claim to such land.[footnoteRef:2] [1: Shlaim, Avi. "The Balfour Declaration and its consequences." Yet More Adventures with Britannia: Personalities, Politics and Culture in Britain (2005): 251-270.] [2: Jones, David. Impact of the Balfour Declaration. Palestine Facts, 2013.]

This political event had major significance on the future of the Middle East. In particular, the Balfour Declaration set the basis for the substantial enmity between Jews and Arabs that is presently posing a severe danger to world peace. In essence, the Balfour Declaration was issued by the British government at the time handing international acknowledgement to the Zionist movement and thereafter guaranteed them a Jewish state in the Palestine territory. At the time, the Jewish population was increasing at an alarming rate not only in the United States but also in Britain. Therefore, they had come to be a significant player in the World War I. In addition, the British had been under pressure to stop the increasing Jewish population in England. With the rise of the Zionist movement, this offered great prospect to use the Jewish population to gain additional support. In particular, the Jewish people situated in Palestine at the time represented approximately 10% of the total populace prior to the Balfour Declaration. This made it permissible for the colossal migration of Jews situated in various parts and expanses across the globe; and, in the end, gave rise to the formation of the State of Israel. In the end, the Balfour Declaration can be considered to be the cradle or birthplace of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This is largely for the reason that the Jewish people were given straight access to occupy a land that belonged to the Arab people without any consent or deliberation on its impact. In addition, the Arab people were forced to move away from the land.[footnoteRef:3] [3: Schneer, Jonathan. The Balfour Declaration: the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Bond Street Books, 2010.]

As aforementioned, the British Government and the Zionist movement were in support of the Balfour Declaration. The key basis for this positive perspective is that the British government aspired and endeavored that the Declaration would be beneficial in gathering Jewish support for the Allied determination and strength in World War I. The key development of this was centered on the massive increase of the Jewish population in not only the United States but also in England. Prior to the ensuing of the war, Zionism came to attain major support. With progressively more Jews migrating from Russia due to oppression, there was increased pressure on Britain to put it to a stop. Between 1914 and 1915, approximately half a million Jews were banished from Russia, which gave rise to almost 20% of this populace dying of starvation. British had hope that Jewish support would be beneficial in keeping Russia in the war.[footnoteRef:4] [4: Taylor, Alan R. "Zionism and Jewish history." Journal of Palestine Studies 1, no. 2 (1972): 35-51.]

The Arabs had a negative perspective and standpoint against the Balfour Declaration. To begin with, the Balfour Declaration disregarded the ground actualities in the Middle East region and did not outline a practical and sensible plan for Palestinians as well as Jews. The Arabs were completely opposed to this Declaration because it provided unfair support to the Zionist movement and its cause and in this move ended up ruining the future generations of the Palestinians. The basis of this negative perspective is that the Balfour Declaration was in complete contradiction of an earlier correspondence and agreement between Husayn and McMahon. In turn, this gave rise to major bitterness and anger of the Arab people against the West, an aspect that goes on up until the present day. Moreover, the Balfour Declaration gave genuine basis to Zionism and the occupancy of Palestine, which angered the Palestine as the Jews did not have any right to the land itself. This led to the removal as well as outcast of the Palestine populace from their own land. This can indicate the justification of the negative perspective of the Arab people.

The Balfour Declaration is a major political event that forever altered the events of the Middle East. In particular, the Declaration proclaimed that Palestine would be a national homes for the Jewish people. Issued in 1917, the Declaration faced both significant support and opposition from different parties. On one hand, the British and the West supported the Zionist movement to not only ensure that their immigration would not fill Britain but at the same time also attain their support during the War. However, this Declaration was met with vehement opposition from the Arab population. This was largely for the reason that the Jews were being granted permission to exist and fill a land that they did not have a right to. In addition, this gave rise to the displacement and removal of Arabs from their home. In overall, the Balfour Declaration can be deemed to be what gave rise to the Jewish-Arab conflict that continues to exist even in the present day and also the animosity of the Arab world against the West.

References

Jones, David. Impact of the Balfour Declaration. Palestine Facts, 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_ww1_balfour_impact.php

Schneer, Jonathan. The Balfour Declaration: the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Bond Street Books, 2010.

Shlaim, Avi. "The Balfour Declaration and its consequences." Yet More Adventures with Britannia: Personalities, Politics and Culture in Britain (2005): 251-270.

Taylor, Alan R. "Zionism and Jewish history." Journal of Palestine Studies 1, no. 2 (1972): 35-51.