Much like the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the Balfour Declaration is another important document which played a role in the development of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Britain first engaged Arab leaders as allies during World War I by promising them independence at the end of the war (known as the Hussein-McMahon Correspondence). Shortly after, Britain enlisted Jewish support in the war effort by promising to create a Jewish national home in the ancient Jewish homeland. This promise was known as the Balfour Declaration. The Balfour Declaration was one of the many competing promises that the British made in order to secure allies during World War I.
Context: WWI
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914 sparked World War I. The conflict between the Allied Powers (Britain, France, and Russia) and the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire) would last over four years and take millions of lives.
The Ottoman Empire, which began in 1299 CE, lasted over 800 years – reaching its greatest extent in the 17th century. The Ottomans governed their empire by dividing it into smaller units called vilayets, roughly the equivalent to what we might call states or provinces. These vilayets were further subdivided into sanjaks, similar to what we might call counties. By the time World War I began, the geographic territory that now comprises the State of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, was known as “Greater Syria” (sometimes Palestine) at the time, and had been part of the Ottoman Empire for six centuries.
Strategic Interest of the Allied Powers
The Allied Powers had strategic interests in the Middle East. They were concerned that the Central Powers would advance further into the Ottoman Empire and take control of areas with important natural resources, such as oil, or march south toward Egypt to take control of the Suez Canal. Also, Greater Syria was strategically important to the Allied Forces because of its geographic location as a land bridge connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. In order to contain and push back the Central Powers, the British enlisted the help of Arabs and Jews in the region, promising each of them independence if the Allies were victorious.
What is Zionism?
Zionism is a movement that sought to address the plight of Jews facing discrimination and persecution in Europe by advocating for a return to their ancestral homeland. The Balfour Declaration was a pivotal moment in the history of Zionism, providing international recognition and support for the re-establishment of the Jewish homeland. However, this movement contributed to the complex dynamics between Jewish and Arab communities and the broader geopolitical struggles in the region.
Who Was Arthur Balfour?
Arthur Balfour (1848-1930) was a British statesman and Prime Minister who played a significant role in early 20th-century politics. On November 2, 1917, he wrote a letter to Lord Walter Rothschild, endorsing the British Government’s establishment of a Jewish national home in the geographic territory of Palestine.
Who Was Lord Walter Rothschild?
Lord Rothschild, to whom Balfour’s letter was addressed, was the unofficial leader of the British Jewish community. The declaration was seen as a significant moment in the Zionist movement, which sought to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
This support reflected both the growing alignment between British interests and Zionist goals and the pro-Zionist Protestant religious convictions of Prime Minister Lloyd George and others at the time. It also aimed to secure Jewish support for the Allied war effort. Like Britain’s other promises, the Balfour Declaration was purposefully vague, which would lead to problems down the road.
Key Points of the Balfour Declaration:
- Support for a Jewish homeland: The British government declared its support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people, while also recognizing the rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.
- Political implications: The declaration had political motivations, including gaining Jewish support for the Allied war effort against the Ottoman Empire and garnering sympathy among Jewish communities worldwide, especially in the United States and Russia.
- International implications: The Balfour Declaration was incorporated into the British mandate for Palestine after World War I, which was confirmed by the League of Nations in 1922. It became a foundational document for the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
- Controversies and implications: The declaration has been controversial due to its impact on Palestinian Arabs, who opposed Jewish immigration and land acquisition in mandatory Palestine. It laid the groundwork for the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and remains a subject of historical and political debate.
The Effects of the Balfour Declaration
The Balfour Declaration’s call for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people” was purposefully vague. Nonetheless, the British viewed the Balfour Declaration as an important tool to further their interests in the region. Just as Arab nationalists were disappointed that promises made during the war did not materialize after the war, so too were Jews disappointed that the national home endorsed by the British did not come to fruition after World War I had been won.
Overall, the Balfour Declaration marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Middle East, influencing the course of British policy in the region and shaping the aspirations and conflicts of both Jewish and Arab populations in Palestine. Read more here.
