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Recent Articles
- How Trump scared Netanyahu into a ceasefire deal with Hamas
- A devotion to the truth by people of goodwill
- Balfour Project backs call on UK to address alleged Israel breaches of international law
- As the ceasefire looms, more Gaza Palestinians die under the Israeli gunships
- Appointment of Executive Director by the Balfour Project
- In search of a coherent Labour policy on Gaza
- Another, terminal assault by Israel on Gaza’s shattered health care system
- The Definitive Israel Palestine Reader
- ‘Hope is a Radical Act’: Reflections on my travels in the occupied territory of Palestine with Miranda Pinch
- CONFERENCE: The Rule of Law – the route to a better future for Palestinians and Israelis
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Author Archives: Diana Safieh
How Trump scared Netanyahu into a ceasefire deal with Hamas
Cynical, unwilling, fearful: Benjamin Netanyahu, who rejected this same hostage deal when the Biden administration proposed it months ago, has now been bulldozed into wide-ranging concessions. For the hostages, and for Israel, this is the only morally correct end to … Continue reading
Posted in Current Positions, News
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A devotion to the truth by people of goodwill
By Dr Stephen Leah 10 Jan 2025 How the Balfour Project grew to be influential in helping people learn about the tragic conflict in Israel/Palestine “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Book Reviews, Current Positions
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Balfour Project backs call on UK to address alleged Israel breaches of international law
UNRWA must continue its vital work, says UK parliamentary report on occupied Palestinian territory, citing humanitarian catastrophe 20 January 2025 Summary of the report and recommendations The report by the UK parliamentary International Development Committee* provides a critical examination of … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Current Positions, News
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As the ceasefire looms, more Gaza Palestinians die under the Israeli gunships
Sami abu Salem is a Gaza journalist who, like most Gazan Palestinians, has been pursued with his extended family up and down the Strip by Israel’s war machine since October, 2023. Sami has reported regularly to broadcaster and film-maker Mike … Continue reading
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Appointment of Executive Director by the Balfour Project
15 January 2025 The Balfour Project is delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Brivati as its first Executive Director as of today, 15 January 2025. This appointment marks an important step forward in the growth of the charity as … Continue reading
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In search of a coherent Labour policy on Gaza
Imran Mulla, of Middle East Eye, tries and fails to find any consistency in the Government’s approach to the war on Gaza and any real pressure on Israel 3 Jan 2025 Six months after Keir Starmer’s Labour Party won the … Continue reading
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Another, terminal assault by Israel on Gaza’s shattered health care system
By Richard Burden 3 Jan 2025: The picture on our Home Page is a photo that will come to symbolise the sheer enormity of Israel’s assault on healthcare in Gaza and its attempt to empty the north of Gaza of … Continue reading
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The Definitive Israel Palestine Reader
Review by Rabbi Danny Rich BD Publishing ISBN 979-8332429538 £26.29 As a prominent Jewish student activist of more than 40 years ago, I wrote my undergraduate thesis on The Palestinian Experience in Jordan 1948-1970, and as an advocate since that … Continue reading
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‘Hope is a Radical Act’: Reflections on my travels in the occupied territory of Palestine with Miranda Pinch
January 2025 Watch Here Listen Here View Miranda’s Slides Here Miranda’s mother was a secular Jewish refugee from the Holocaust in 1938. She was always bitterly opposed to what was being done to the Palestinians in her name as a … Continue reading
CONFERENCE: The Rule of Law – the route to a better future for Palestinians and Israelis
Buy tickets here. The conference will be “hybrid” – face to face at King’s College, Strand, London, and online. The conference will be followed by a reception for all speakers and attendees. General admission including reception after the conference: £20 … Continue reading
24/25 Fellows’ Projects
‘Is the UK compliant with the recent International Courts’ decisions and orders on Israel and Palestine?’ by James Henderson, Breshna Rani and Goya Verity In the current political climate, at both national and international levels around the world, there has … Continue reading
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Public Opinion Survey: British Perspectives on Palestine and Israel
Introduction by Timothy Mattar, Trustee 27 November 2024 The Balfour Project is proud to share the findings of a recent survey entitled ‘Palestine, Israel and the British’, examining the views of the British public on the war in Gaza and … Continue reading
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Amnesty International affirms Israel has committed genocide in Gaza: the UK Government must respond
Today, 5 Dec 2024, Amnesty International, a respected, international non-governmental organisation, has published an extensive report which concludes that Israel has committed, and is continuing to commit, a genocide in Gaza. Please read the report here. The report uses the … Continue reading
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Israel has created a nightmare scenario for itself. The clock is ticking
The story isn’t Hamas, religion or terrorism. Rashid Khalidi, eminent historian and a pre-eminent Palestinian intellectual of our time, is convinced that the Israelis simply do not understand the conflict – living in a ‘bubble of false consciousness’. Here he talks … Continue reading
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A terrible weariness of the life of the genocide
These are the words of Amro, the informally adopted Gazan grandson of MIRANDA PINCH, a long-time member of the Balfour Project Advisory Forum. Miranda recently made a solidarity pilgrimage to the illegally Israeli occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem as … Continue reading
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A war like no other: challenge and change in reporting Gaza
Now more than ever, a year on since Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel, and Israel’s continued assault on Gaza, the role of journalists and media organisations has been vital, but it has also been called into question. This event … Continue reading
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Britain’s colonial legacy is still felt in Palestine today
Even before the British Mandate for Palestine and the Balfour Declaration, British intervention in the Holy Land was laying the foundations for Israel’s occupation, with consequences that reverberate today By Gabriel Polley 23 March 2023 Twenty twenty two marked the … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Declaration, Contradictory Promises, Historical, Post-Mandate Period, Pre-Balfour Declaration
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WEBINAR: The Balfour Project: its genesis and mission
Click here for more information on Monica Spooner’s new book.
Why Didn’t I Know? Britain’s Legacy in Palestine by Monica Spooner
Order here Released: 28th November, 2024Format: Paperback, eBook ISBN:9781836280750 £12.99 eISBN:9781836287193 £6.99 A unique, factual and evocative narrative that raises awareness of Britain’s historic responsibility and role in the Israel Palestine conflict. Paperback £12.99 Read a review in the Methodist An endearingly told story … Continue reading
Posted in Misc
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The war for Jewish supremacy: an Israeli looks into his fellow citizens’ minds post 7 10 23
By Menachem Klein In the past year, I have been trying to decipher what happened to most Israeli Jews. What clouded their minds and hardened their hearts to what Israel’s armed forces are doing in their name to Palestinians and … Continue reading
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The Balfour Project condemns the Israel Parliament’s decision to ban UNRWA
By Lara Bird-Leakey 30 Oct 2024 In an unsurprising yet unprecedented attack, the Israeli Knesset voted on Monday 28 Oct to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (for Palestinian refugees) inside Israel and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). … Continue reading
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No bombs, no bodies
By Mike Joseph ‘No bombs, no bodies’, wrote a viewer about my film, GAZA A Story of Love and War, ‘and yet so powerful and moving’. Lacking the expected screenplay of horror that fills television and online news daily since … Continue reading
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A New Policy is launched, aimed at reforming Middle East Policy
Under the leadership of Josh Paul and Tariq Habash, a coalition of Americans is ushering in a new chapter for US politics and policy on Israel/Palestine.. A New Policy will work to align our foreign policy with American values of … Continue reading
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The EU resists upholding International Law for Palestine
Sun 27 Oct 2024 Jewish Voice for Labour introduction The UK may have left the European Union, but it remains an important international organisation with influence on the world stage. It seems, however, to be tying itself in knots over … Continue reading
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A personal view
A personal view: How Starmer’s Labour Government has helped enable Israel’s genocide 16 Oct 2024 By Joseph Willits A personal view: What the last year showed us about how the UK handles international law and values Palestinian life Lara … Continue reading
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A personal view: What the last year showed us about how the UK handles international law and values Palestinian life
By Lara Bird-Leakey 25 October 2024 For 384 days the world has watched the horrors unleashed by a rogue state acting with complete impunity. For 384 days, the UK Government has used the shield of Western democracy to ignore the … Continue reading
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New Film From Mike Joseph – GAZA: What do we do?
In 25 minutes, this short sequel to GAZA A Story of Love and War, delivers three dramatic moments: * Plaid Cymru’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson commits to building a UK parliamentary coalition to press for justice for Palestine * Labour Foreign Secretary … Continue reading
Posted in Current Positions, Films, News
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The Palestinians of Israel: the historical development from 1948 to present with Thair Abu-Ras
4th December 2024 Click here to download slides. Thair Abu Ras is a PhD candidate at the department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland. A Palestinian citizen of Israel, Thair has extensive experience in civil society in … Continue reading
A personal view: How Starmer’s Labour Government has helped enable Israel’s genocide
By Joseph Willits 16 Oct 2024 Joseph Willits is Head of Parliamentary Affairs at the Council for Arab British Understanding, and this article first appeared in Middle East Eye. Some hoped the new Government would chart a fresh course: but … Continue reading
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The implications of the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Illegality of the Occupation
As a result of the worsening situation in the Palestinian Territory, as well as the July ruling by the ICJ Advisory Opinion that the occupation in this territory by Israel is illegal, the Balfour Project wrote the letter below to … Continue reading
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One doctor’s eyewitness testimony of the agony of Gaza
By Richard Burden While the news from the Middle East is understandably now focusing on the horrors unfolding in Lebanon and the real threat of tit for tat strikes between Israel and Iran escalating into a full-scale regional war, please … Continue reading
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Sir Vincent Fean on Times Radio on 8 October 2024
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Michael Ancram’s legacy offers our present leaders lessons for a time of war
By Peter Oborne Middle East Eye, 4 Oct 2024 His deft diplomacy stands in sharp contrast to the likes of Netanyahu, Biden and Starmer Just over 30 years ago, Conservative politician Michael Ancram made a journey into the heart of … Continue reading
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What actually happened on that fateful day? A step towards understanding
By Jonathan Kuttab This question is important because of the prevailing political and media narratives. These narratives claim that what Hamas did on that day, apart from being unprovoked, was so heinous and evil that it excused everything that happened … Continue reading
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A year of war against Gaza’s Palestinians – The Balfour Project looks back—and forward
‘Your name and your deeds were forgotten Before your bones were dry, And the lie that slew you is buried Under a deeper lie. ‘But the thing that I saw in your face No power can disinherit: No bomb that … Continue reading
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Balfour Project seeks new Executive Director
Visit job microsite for more information. Are you passionate about securing peace with justice, security, and equal rights for Palestinians and Israelis? Do you have the leadership skills to drive a dynamic and influential charity to new heights? If so, … Continue reading
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Trustee Peter Shambrook Interview: The British betrayal of Palestine
During the First World War, Britain promised the Arabs of the Ottoman-ruled Middle East an independent state in exchange for revolting against the Ottomans. The British changed course soon after, breaking their promise to the Arabs, and paving a way … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role
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The role of non-violent resistance for Palestinians in the light of the Gaza war with Jonathan Kuttab
14th November 2024 Jonathan Kuttab is a co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International. A well-known international human rights lawyer, Jonathan practices in the US, Palestine and Israel. He serves on the Board of … Continue reading
The UK abstained at the UN General Assembly on Palestine and Israel earlier this week – here is what the Government needs to do now
On 18 September the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to adopt a resolution which reaffirms the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 19 July 2024. The vote followed a debate concerning Israeli actions in occupied East … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Current Positions, Letters, News
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They’re building another wall
By Lara Bird-Leakey Three months ago, a small village in Area C called Um al-Khair suffered the worst demonstration of settler colonial violence and annexation in the West Bank since 7th October. Seemingly random settler violence ripped through the village … Continue reading
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What should the Government do now?
Richard Burden and Dr Phyllis Starkey, both former Labour MPs and both Balfour Project Trustees, set out eight targets for Keir Starmer’s Government to restore balance to UK policy. This entails more effective measures with regards to Israel and affirmation … Continue reading
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Understanding Hamas: Palestinian resistance from the PLO onwards with Helena Cobban
24th October 2024 Helena Cobban is a writer and researcher on international affairs who lives in Washington DC. In 1984, Cambridge U.P. published her seminal study The Palestinian Liberation Organisation. Three of her six other sole-authored books dealt with political … Continue reading
‘The Night Won’t End: Biden’s War on Gaza’ followed by Q&A with Director Kavitha Chekuru
Watch film here Watch Q&A with director Kavitha Chekuru From air strikes to field executions, Fault Lines investigates the killings of civilians by the Israeli military in Gaza and the role of the United States in the war. As Israel’s … Continue reading
Getting to the truth about Israel’s assault on West Bank towns, villages, refugee camps
By Richard Burden 2 Sept 2024 In June 2023, I visited a hospital in Nablus, in the Israel-occupied West Bank, a few hours after it had been surrounded by Israeli troops. The attacks that have been launched on West Bank … Continue reading
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How to prevent the erasure of Palestinians with Tamara El-Halawani & Dr Zahira Jaser
2nd October 2024 Tamara El-Halawani is a research assistant at the SOAS ICOP project and a recent MSc graduate in International Politics from SOAS University, London. She is currently completing a dissertation on ‘The Erasure of Palestinians on social media.’ Prior … Continue reading
A Palestinian woman vanishes — under British-era law
On 6 April this year (2024), amid steadily increasing Israeli aggression and oppression in the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank, Israeli security agents seized at gunpoint a 23-year-old Palestinian woman, Layan Nasir, taking her from her home in … Continue reading
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The US diplomatic strategy on Israel and Gaza is not working
By Daniel Levy US policies strengthen Benjamin Netanyahu – whose political preference in the short term is an open-ended war, not a deal. Kamala Harris should not continue this (This article appeared in The Guardian on 27 Aug 2024) The Biden … Continue reading
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The United Kingdom, Israel and Palestine: Recognition Q and A
Click here to download this as a Word document. Preamble Labour Party election manifesto, 2024 “Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. It is not in the gift of any neighbour and is also essential to the … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, Current Positions
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Survivor’s guilt in the Palestinian diaspora
By Diana Safieh This article first appeared in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs of August/September 2024, pp. 20-2 ON 6 JUNE this year, at a Balfour Project conference in London, Palestinian political analyst Nour Odeh discussed the unique … Continue reading
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The struggle for freedom is longer and harder than we imagine
By Richard Sewell 2 August 2024 People must not avert their eyes from the conflict in the Holy Land, writes Richard Sewell in a personal reflection from Jerusalem In 1955, the Anglican priest and monk (and later bishop) Trevor Huddleston was recalled … Continue reading
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