In 1917 schrijft de Britse minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Lord Balfour, aan Lord Rothschild dat de Britse regering welwillend staat tegenover de vestiging van een "Joods nationaal tehuis" in Palestina.

 

Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917

Dear Lord Rothschild,

I have much pleasure in converying 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 endaevoure to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done wich 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.

(Handtekening)