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✡ Preparations Defending the Declaration 45

“After the period of five years no “This pledge of a an agitation which is fed with foreign
further Jewish immigration will be money and ceaselessly inflamed by Nazi
permitted unless the Arabs of Palestine home of refuge was and by Fascist propaganda.
are prepared to acquiesce in it.” Now, It is 20 years ago since my right hon.
there is the breach; there is the violation not made to the Friend used these stirring words: “A
3
of the pledge; there is the abandonment great responsibility will rest upon the
of the Balfour Declaration; there is the Jews in Palestine Zionists, who, before long, will be pro-
end of the vision, of the hope, of the ceeding, with joy in their hearts, to the
dream. If you leave out those words but to the Jews ancient seat of their people. Theirs will
this White Paper is no more than one be the task to build up a new prosperity
of the several experiments and essays in outside Palestine.” and a new civilisation in old Palestine,
Palestinian constitution-making which so long neglected and misruled.” Well,
we have had of recent years, but put in they have answered his call. They have ❛
those three lines and there is the crux, colonists have done. They have made fulfilled his hopes. How can he find it
the peccant point, the breach, and we the desert bloom. They have started in his heart to strike them this mortal
must have an answer to it. a score of thriving industries, he said. blow?
I end upon the land of Palestine. They have founded a great city on the
It is strange indeed that we should barren shore. They have harnessed
turn away from our task in Palestine the Jordan and spread its electricity Although the White Paper was endorsed by
at the moment when, as the Secretary throughout the land. both Houses of Parliament, it was not approved
of State told us yesterday, the local So far from being persecuted, the by the Permanent Mandates Commission,
which oversaw Britain’s stewardship of the
disorders have been largely mastered. Arabs have crowded into the country Mandate for Palestine. The outbreak of the
It is stranger still that we should turn and multiplied till their population Second World War suspended any further
away when the great experiment and has increased more than even all world discussions
bright dream, the historic dream, has Jewry could lift up the Jewish popula- 1. A policy document setting out proposals for
future legislation
proved its power to succeed. Yesterday tion. Now we are asked to decree that all 2. The official record of debates in the British
the Minister responsible descanted this is to stop and all this is to come to an parliament
eloquently in glowing passages upon end. We are now asked to submit – and 3. Churchill was quoting the words of Neville
Chamberlain
the magnificent work which the Jewish this is what rankles most with me – to

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Declaration of sorrow for the failures of the British Mandate

TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE
This year we remember with thanksgiving the signing of the Balfour Declaration in 1917 and the great privilege
given by God to our nation of Britain to help restore the Jewish nation to your homeland Eretz Israel.
Many British Christians, who love and support Israel, want you to know that we are deeply sorry for the way we
broke our solemn promise made in the Balfour Declaration, reneging on the obligation subsequently given to us by the
League of Nations to create a homeland for the Jewish people and severely restricting Jewish immigration to Eretz Israel.
We grieve that this led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Jews who could have escaped Hitler's "Final Solution" if
the gates to their ancient homeland had been fully open.
We acknowledge with shame the British policies which hindered Jews escaping from Nazi Europe, including our cruel
and inhumane treatment of survivors of the Shoah, as we vigorously opposed their return to Eretz Israel on land and sea,
and detained thousands of Jews in Atlit Detention Camp, and on the islands of Mauritius and Cyprus.
The anti-Semitism of many of our leaders, the incitement of Arabs to attack Jews, the policy of disarming Jews, and many
other unjust acts committed by British representatives grieve us deeply. We lament the innumerable instances of British
injustice, including the failure of the British administration to protect the Jewish Community of Hebron from Arab terrorist
attack in 1929 and the subsequent removal of the Jewish Community from Hebron; the failure of the British administration
to protect the Hadassah Convoy from Arab terrorist attack in 1948; and the deplorable treatment of the passengers and
crew of the 'Exodus'.
We are deeply sorry that our nation caused indescribable distress to untold numbers of your people and their surviving
families, and that as a nation we dared to stand against the purpose of Almighty God to restore you to Eretz Israel.
We commit ourselves to do what we can to comfort those who suffered through our actions, and to oppose anti-Semitism
in all its forms.
You are invited to endorse this declaration which is to be presented in Israel. Please go to www.nachamuami.com
Nachamu Ami – "Comfort ye my people" (Isaiah 40:1)
Comforting Jewish people who suffered as a result of British Mandate policies.