World Jewish News

“When some people suggest we should apologize for this letter, I say absolutely not,” British Prime Minister Theresa May said

“When some people suggest we should apologize for this letter, I say absolutely not,” British Prime Minister Theresa May said Thursday as she rejected Palestinian calls for Britain to rescind the Balfour Declaration which paved the way for a homeland for the Jewish people.

May was speaking at a gala dinner in London to mark 100 years since the then British Foreign Minister Lord Alfred James Balfour issued his letter to Lord Rotschild, then serving as the honorary president of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. ‘’His Majesty’s Government views 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,’’ read the Balfour document.

Israel's Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a host of dignitaries attended the dinner.

Britain is “proud of our pioneering role in the creation of the state of Israel,” May said.

‘’In 1917, the idea of establishing a homeland for the Jewish people would have seemed a distant dream for many; and been fiercely opposed by others. Yet it was at this very moment that Lord Balfour had the vision and the leadership to make this profound statement about restoring a persecuted people to a safe and secure homeland,” May said in her address.

She noted the controversy that has surrounded this anniversary, including in her country.

‘’In recognizing the right of the Jewish people tyo a homeland, Balfour did not ignore the rights of others who lived that region, May added.

“Balfour wrote explicitly 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,'” she said.

But his full vision was not fulfilled when the Jewish state was created in 1948, May added. This includes “the Jews forced out of their homes in Arab countries in 1948” and “the suffering of Palestinians affected and dislodged by Israel’s birth.”

Both events were “completely contrary to the intention of Balfour to safeguard all of these communities,” May said.

“Balfour had a vision of co-existence that has yet to fulfilled,” she added.

The British Prime Minister stressed the need today of a renewed commitment to create a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

‘’To achieve the goal Israel must halt settlement activity and the Palestinians must cease their incitement against Israel.There can never be any excuses for boycotts, divestment or sanctions: they are unacceptable and this government will have no truck with those who subscribe to them,” she said.

She also strongly condemned anti-Zionism as a new form of anti-Semitism and said Britain was proud “of the relationship we have built with Israel” .

“Today a new and pernicious form of anti-Semitism which uses criticism of the actions of the Israeli government as a despicable justification for questioning the very right of Israel to exist,” she said.

“Criticizing the actions of Israel is never – and can never be – an excuse for questioning Israel’s right to exist, any more than criticizing the actions of Britain could be an excuse for questioning our right to exist.”

EJP