Category Archives: Balfour Project viewpoint

The Boycott Bill: ‘another pernicious piece of legislation’—Lord Hain

26 February 2024 By Tim Llewellyn Two Balfour Project patrons, Lord Hain and the Lord Bishop of Southwark, the Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, spoke in the Lords on Tuesday 20 Feb, in opposition to the so-called Gove Boycott Bill, which … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on The Boycott Bill: ‘another pernicious piece of legislation’—Lord Hain

UK must take action against Israel after ICJ ruling of plausible genocide

The Balfour Project welcomes the Order by the ICJ to accept jurisdiction and to issue Provisional Measures in the case brought by South Africa against Israel for breach of the Genocide Convention.  We endorse the press release issued by CAABU shortly after the Court had issued its … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on UK must take action against Israel after ICJ ruling of plausible genocide

Letter to the Foreign Secretary: ceasefire now

Background and timeline: Brigadier John Deverell CBE, former Director of Defence Diplomacy at the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), has coordinated a letter from military and foreign policy experts to UK Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron. It calls for the UK … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Current Positions, News | Comments Off on Letter to the Foreign Secretary: ceasefire now

‘We Need a Ceasefire Now!’ Sir Vincent Fean on Deep Dive Palestine Podcast

Mark Seddon: Today British Parliamentarians wrote to PM Rishi Sunak calling for a ceasefire. What did the letter say? Sir Vincent Fean: The letter is signed by around about 120 members of Parliament in both houses: Peers and members of … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Contradictory Promises, Historical, McMahon-Hussein Correspondence, News | Comments Off on ‘We Need a Ceasefire Now!’ Sir Vincent Fean on Deep Dive Palestine Podcast

115 peers and MPs demand UK call for immediate ceasefire

 

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, News | Comments Off on 115 peers and MPs demand UK call for immediate ceasefire

Gaza ceasefire now

 Gaza ceasefire now: Building hope for a better future for Palestinians and Israelis, with equal rights and mutual security A call on the British Government by the Balfour Project This cannot be allowed to continue: the civilian deaths and mass … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Gaza ceasefire now

Sir Vincent Fean on LBC with Matt Frei 11 Nov 2023

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Sir Vincent Fean on LBC with Matt Frei 11 Nov 2023

Some leaders are more concerned about Gaza’s future than ending war now

Sir Vincent Fean, Balfour Project Trustee, on Al Jazeera Inside Story, 9 November 2023   Britain in Palestine 1917-1948 Film Palestinians live moment to moment as Israel’s bombardment continues. Life in Gaza is dominated by fears of Israeli attacks, finding … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Some leaders are more concerned about Gaza’s future than ending war now

Britain’s Policy of Deceit

By Peter Shambrook During WWI, successive British governments first promised Palestine to the Arabs; two years later the British cabinet promised the same region to the global Jewish community.  Post-WWI, British governments steadfastly denied that Palestine had been promised to … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Declaration, Balfour Project viewpoint, Book Reviews, Contradictory Promises, Historical, Mandate Period, McMahon-Hussein Correspondence | Comments Off on Britain’s Policy of Deceit

Much Ado About What?

Evidence Submitted to House of Commons Committee on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Public Bill, 5 September 2023 With a host of other pressing matters, domestic and foreign, already on its plate, puzzlingly the Sunak government has … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Much Ado About What?

Michael Gove’s bad Bill – an update

By Sir Vincent Fean The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill was heavily mauled in debate in the House of Commons on 3 July, particularly in this excellent speech by Conservative MP Alicia Kearns (Chair of the influential … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Michael Gove’s bad Bill – an update

Israel Embassy move would ‘breach 1961 Vienna Convention’

Letter to UK Foreign Secretary from 27 international law experts says ‘there is nothing to review’ by Professor Iain GM Scobbie, Chair of Public International Law, and Director of the Manchester International Law Centre, University of Manchester

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Israel Embassy move would ‘breach 1961 Vienna Convention’

Embassy move dropped

Britain’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has dropped the idea of “reviewing” the location of the UK Embassy in Israel, as suggested by his predecessor Liz Truss. Her proposal was to consider moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Embassy move dropped

Report of the UN’s Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel

Announcing Britain’s candidacy for a three-year term on the UN’s Human Rights Council in 2020, the then Minister of State for Human Rights, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, rightly said that respect for human rights sits at the heart of the … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Report of the UN’s Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel

From Balfour to Biden: universal values and international law versus national interests

By Sir Vincent Fean, Balfour Project Vice-Chair I was invited on 5 June to contribute virtually to a conference in Palestine to mark the 55th anniversary of the Six- Day War of 1967, leading to the occupation by Israel of … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on From Balfour to Biden: universal values and international law versus national interests

Britain’s duty to advance equal rights in Palestine/Israel

BALFOUR PROJECT STATEMENT 18 MAY 2022 Whatever our assessment of Britain’s past role as an imperial power, since the Second World War the United Kingdom has played an important role in establishing a new rules-based order in international affairs, and … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Events | Comments Off on Britain’s duty to advance equal rights in Palestine/Israel

Israel’s designation as “terrorist” of six Palestinian civil society organisations: letter of protest to the Foreign Secretary

European Parliamentarians, including British MPs and Peers, have written to the Foreign Secretary calling for Government action to dissuade Israel from three “red line” actions:– designating six Palestinian civil society organisations as “terrorist”– evicting Palestinian families from their homes in … Continue reading

Posted in Annexation, Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, Letters, News | Comments Off on Israel’s designation as “terrorist” of six Palestinian civil society organisations: letter of protest to the Foreign Secretary

Israel ‘terrorist’ slur on Palestinian human rights groups

Statement by the Balfour Project On 22 October Israel’s Defence Minister designated six Palestinian human rights NGOs as ‘terrorist’. The aim appears to be to stem the flow of information about breaches of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Current Positions, News | Comments Off on Israel ‘terrorist’ slur on Palestinian human rights groups

Israel, Palestine, and Law

Balfour Project statement, 26 May 2021 Equal rights under the law are the foundation stone of all democracies. Israel views itself as a democracy. But many in Israel and around the world, including in Britain, were dismayed by the Knesset’s … Continue reading

Posted in Annexation, Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, Current Positions, News, Recognition | Comments Off on Israel, Palestine, and Law

Israel, Palestine and International Law

Sir Vincent Fean, Chair of the Balfour Project Trustees and former Consul-General in Jerusalem, and Professor Adam Sutcliffe, Professor of European History at King’s College, London, and member of the steering group, Independent Jewish Voices, have issued the following statement … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News, Recognition | Comments Off on Israel, Palestine and International Law

Israel-Palestine: in search of the rule of law by Sir Vincent Fean in the Arab Digest

Written by Sir Vincent Fean for the Arab Digest Just when you think it can’t get any worse – it does. Déjà vu, only worse.  It is the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, as I used to describe it in my time as … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, News | Comments Off on Israel-Palestine: in search of the rule of law by Sir Vincent Fean in the Arab Digest

Bishop Christopher Chessun, Balfour Project Patron, in Jerusalem

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Bishop Christopher Chessun, Balfour Project Patron, in Jerusalem

Shameless: Ministers are now attacking our public authorities for respecting human rights in Israel and Palestine

By Richard Burden There was a time when some politicians would argue that human rights were nothing to do with business; that it was perfectly legitimate for UK companies to profit from trade with regimes overseas however badly those regimes … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Shameless: Ministers are now attacking our public authorities for respecting human rights in Israel and Palestine

Sir Vincent Fean on Sky News, 14 May 2021

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Current Positions, News, Recognition, Recordings | Comments Off on Sir Vincent Fean on Sky News, 14 May 2021

Sir Vincent Fean, Chair of Balfour Project, on BBC, 12 May 2021

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, News, Recognition, Recordings | Comments Off on Sir Vincent Fean, Chair of Balfour Project, on BBC, 12 May 2021

Souvenir Booklet from our Jerusalem Conference 2020

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, Current Positions, News, Past | Comments Off on Souvenir Booklet from our Jerusalem Conference 2020

Sir Vincent Fean – How will the US Presidential Elections Affect the Israel/Palestine Conflict?

Talk given on 12 November 2020. Vincent Fean is a retired member of the British Diplomatic Service. His last post was Consul General, Jerusalem, from 2010 to 2014. Before that he was the UK Ambassador to Libya and also High … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Past, USA | Comments Off on Sir Vincent Fean – How will the US Presidential Elections Affect the Israel/Palestine Conflict?

Conference on Jerusalem – Closing Remarks & Statement

Closing Remarks and StatementHE Khaled Al-Duwaisan -Kuwaiti Ambassador to the UKSir Vincent Fean Click here to read the statement. Sir Vincent Fean: I now welcome His Excellency Khaled Al-Duwaisan, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom for the last 27 years. … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Past, Recordings | Comments Off on Conference on Jerusalem – Closing Remarks & Statement

Illusions and Delusions about Peace in the Middle East

A commentary by Andrew Whitley, with introduction by Sir Vincent Fean I commend to you Andrew Whitley’s thoughtful analysis, below, of current British Government policy on the Israel/Palestine conflict. Andrew asks if our Foreign Secretary’s recent visit signals sustained Government … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off on Illusions and Delusions about Peace in the Middle East

Andrew Whitley on The UN, Britain and Palestine/Israel – 1947 to Present Day

A talk given online in June 2020. Andrew Whitley: My thanks to so many of you for taking the trouble today to attend this online talk from the Balfour Project, I hope you will find it stimulating and thought-provoking. It … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Events, Post-Mandate Period, Recognition, Recordings | Comments Off on Andrew Whitley on The UN, Britain and Palestine/Israel – 1947 to Present Day

Podcast: Vincent Fean on the ICC, Trade Agreements and Umbrella Organisations

Diana Safieh: A question from Sara Apps, is there an opportunity to unlock the blockage on the ICC application? What best can we do to help? Vincent Fean: Palestine joined the International Criminal Court in 2015 after the UN General … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, Recordings | Comments Off on Podcast: Vincent Fean on the ICC, Trade Agreements and Umbrella Organisations

Podcast: Vincent Fean on Israeli Annexation and International Law

Q&A Session with Sir Vincent Fean, Chair of the Balfour Project Vincent Fean: It’s a pleasure to be with you. I think it’s important for us to address questions raised by participants at the 2 April talk. We will try … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Current Positions, Recordings | Comments Off on Podcast: Vincent Fean on Israeli Annexation and International Law

Vincent Fean on Annexation, International Law and Recognition

Q&A Session with Sir Vincent Fean, Chair of the Balfour Project Vincent Fean: It’s a pleasure to be with you. I think it’s important for us to address questions raised by participants at the 2 April talk. We will try … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Recordings | Comments Off on Vincent Fean on Annexation, International Law and Recognition

Balfour Project: writing to your MP about Britain and Palestine/Israel

Here is a template for your letter to your constituency MP. Please amend as you see fit, adding your address, to show the MP that you are a constituent. You can copy and paste the draft into a letter or … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Current Positions, Letters, News | Comments Off on Balfour Project: writing to your MP about Britain and Palestine/Israel

Thoughts on Nabil Fahmy’s suggestions for Palestinian policy

Click here to read Nabil Fahmy’s The “Deal” of the Century? Nabil Fahmy writes: ‘The Trump plan imposes Israeli security and economic control over a self-autonomous Palestinian entity’ Below are Sir Vincent Fean’s thoughts on Fahmy’s suggestions. Dr Nabil Fahmy, … Continue reading

Posted in Annexation, Balfour Project viewpoint, News, USA | Comments Off on Thoughts on Nabil Fahmy’s suggestions for Palestinian policy

Balfour Project Denounces President Trump’s Proposal which will only perpetuate the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; calls upon the British Government to take immediate remedial action to uphold a genuine two-state solution.

There’s a strong parallel between the Balfour Declaration and the Trump Vision. In both of the two historical circumstances -and the Trump plan is historical – a foreign state arrogated to itself the right to bestow to one people territory … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint | Comments Off on Balfour Project Denounces President Trump’s Proposal which will only perpetuate the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; calls upon the British Government to take immediate remedial action to uphold a genuine two-state solution.

You are right, Prime Minister: Israel needs a Palestinian State. We should recognise it, now: Open Letter to Boris Johnson from Sir Vincent Fean

Dear Prime Minister, This month HRH Prince Charles visits Israel and Palestine together for the first time, invited by Presidents Rivlin and Abbas. He will undertake engagements on your behalf in both countries. This is historic, and welcome. For more … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint | Tagged , | Comments Off on You are right, Prime Minister: Israel needs a Palestinian State. We should recognise it, now: Open Letter to Boris Johnson from Sir Vincent Fean

Britain’s historic responsibility to the people of Palestine, Gaza and Israel

John McHugo Edited text of speech for the Balfour Project event The Tragedy of Gaza in Edinburgh 17 March 2018 My role is to explain why Britain carries a historic responsibility to the people of Palestine generally, to the people … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Historical, Mandate Period, Pre-Balfour Declaration, Zionism Debate | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Britain’s historic responsibility to the people of Palestine, Gaza and Israel

Concluding remarks at Balfour Project meeting in Durham by Nicholas Frayling

Concluding remarks at Balfour Project meeting in Durham – 31.10.2015 by the Very Rev Nicholas Frayling One of the questions we as members of the BP are often asked is: ‘Why didn’t I know about this?’ Today, even those who … Continue reading

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Current Positions | Comments Off on Concluding remarks at Balfour Project meeting in Durham by Nicholas Frayling