The Declaration that betrayed the rights of Palestinians

It was author George Orwell who once said: “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act”. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was a sordid and evil document, embellished in chicanery and a betrayal of the rights of the Palestinian people, and an insult to the Muslim world. Arnold J Toynbee, British historian wrote on June 1,1968: “In promising the Jews a national home in Palestine, the British Government was, I believe, using deliberate language. As a citizen of the United Kingdom, I declare this belief of mine with feelings of shame and contrition. But I do believe that this is the truth. The tragedy in Palestine is just not a local one, it is a tragedy for the world because it is an injustice that is a menace to world peace. Britain’s guilt is not diminished by the humiliating fact that she is now impotent to redress the wrong that she has done”

This was written 49 years ago, since then Israel has graphically expanded three-fold, and is still expanding geographically. This expansionist policy continues unabated, manifested in the charade of the “Peace Process”, which allows Israel to continue its seizure of Arab land, while simultaneously professing its pursuit of peace and ignoring International Law and a multitude of binding United Nations resolutions. The Balour Declaration effectively ignored the rights of the Palestinian people only stating that “Nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the non-jewish communities. It ingenuously and deceptively, did not identify the non-Jewish communities.

The effects and consequences of The Balfour Declaration is as prevalent today as they were 100 years ago. It has proven to be a catastrophe for the Palestinian people and gave rise to one of the most intense, bitter and protracted conflicts of modern times. Farouk Araie, South Africa WRITE TO US AT letters@khaleejtimes.com