3-056-983 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Balfour Declaration, 1917. The 'Balfour Declaration' is a fundamental document in the history of the state of Israel. As British Foreign Secretary, Balfour wrote on 2 November 1917 to Lord Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, declaring that the British government would use its best endeavours to establish a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, subject to the rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine. 'Dear Lord Rothschild, I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet. "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." I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation. Yours sincerely, Arthur James Balfour'.