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The Balfour Declaration led to the agreement made by the United Nations in 1947 that Jewish people should be allowed to have a homeland in Palestine. The territory had been previously under the control of Britain for 30 years.
In his declaration, Balfour insisted that "nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine".
Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917
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
Balfour Declaration.
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