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Recent Articles
- BALFOUR IN THE LEVANT, EASTER 1925. Orates in Jerusalem, Tours Palestine, Flees Syria
- Responses to the HRW report on Apartheid and Persecution of Palestinians
- Tinderbox Q&A with Gillian Mosely, Robert Cohen and Tim Llewellyn
- Sophie Bridger on Education Under Occupation – Eyewitness Testimony from the West Bank
- Ban Ki-moon: US should back a new approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- Lord Cope – Speech to British Palestine Police Association Centenary Dinner
Britain’s current role
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 … Read more here ➔
Posted in Annexation, Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, Current Positions, News, Recognition
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Why the rule of law matters – Rt Hon Baroness Hale of Richmond
Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference. Sir Vincent Fean: Good day, everybody. And welcome to our … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Past
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Israel/Palestine: recent developments at the ICJ and ICC – Philippe Sands QC
Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference. Dominic Grieve QC: Now it’s my great pleasure to introduce … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Past
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Essays on Equality, Rights and Responsibilities
Posted in Annexation, Britain's current role, Current Positions, News, Recognition, USA, Zionism Debate
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Israeli-Palestinian peace relies on this essential truth being grasped
This piece, by John McHugo, a Balfour Project Trustee and head of its Fellowship Programme, was published by The Independent. As the dust settles on the latest Israel/Palestinian conflict, and the blood of innocents and perpetrators dries indifferently, the great fear is … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, News
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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 … Read more here ➔
Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, News
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Sir Vincent Fean, Chair of Balfour Project, on BBC, 12 May 2021
Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, News, Recognition, Recordings
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UK-European statement condemns Israeli settlements, East Jerusalem evictions
The Governments of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK issued this statement on Israeli settlements on May 6. We urge the Government of Israel to reverse its decision to advance the construction of 540 settlement units in the Har … Read more here ➔
Posted in Annexation, Britain's current role, Current Positions, News
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson Confirms UK Opposition to ICC Investigation into war crimes in Palestine
The Balfour Project read with sadness and dismay the concluding words in the Prime Minister’s letter to the Conservative Friends of Israel of 9 April 2021. These words assert that “Palestine is not a sovereign State” and that the investigation … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, Letters, News
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The British Government position on Jerusalem
The British Government has now replied to the six recommendations in the Balfour Project statement “Israel-Palestine: equal rights for a lasting peace” which concluded our 27 October conference on Jerusalem. We are indebted to our patron, Rt Revd John Pritchard, … Read more here ➔
Posted in Annexation, Britain's current role, Current Positions, Letters, News
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Seeking cooperation in order to achieve a two-state solution – Ambassador Barbara Woodward
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East. Published 21 December 2020 Thank you, Mr President, and thank you to Special Coordinator Mladenov for his briefing. As others have done, I’d … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, News, Recognition
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Souvenir Booklet from our Jerusalem Conference 2020
Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, Current Positions, News, Past
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Labour MP Stephen Kinnock initiated debate on the settlement and annexation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Thursday 24 September 2020 Click here to view video. 3.13 pm Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab)I beg to move, That this House has considered settlement and annexation of the Occupied Palestinian territories. This country has a unique place in history and … Read more here ➔
Posted in Annexation, Britain's current role, Current Positions, News
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The British Government’s current position on Israel and Palestine: Water
Question by Baroness Northover (Lib Dem) on 24th September 2020 (HL8468) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made ofreports that the government of Israel is demolishing water, sanitation and hygiene structures used by Palestinians in the West … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, Misc
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The British Government’s current position on Israel and Palestine: Recognition of Palestine as a state
Question by Baroness Janke (Lib Dem) on 18th May 2021 (HL351) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the criteria necessary for them to recognise Palestine as a State. Answer from Lord Ahmad (conservative on 2nd June 2021 The UK … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, Recognition
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The British Government’s current position on Israel and Palestine: Living conditions in Gaza
Question by Baroness Sheehan (Lib Dem) on 21st May 2021 (HL535) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of reductions in the Overseas Development Assistance Budget on donations to organisations bringing humanitarian aid to … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions
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The British Government’s current position on Israel and Palestine: Elections
Question by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 18th january 2021 (HL12261) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all Palestinians are able to vote freely in (1) the elections for the legislature on 22 May, … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions
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The British Government’s current position on Israel and Palestine: Environmental issues
Question by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 18th January 2021 (HL12260) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statistics compiled by the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Camping coalition which suggest that over 8,400 olive trees have … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, Misc
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British Government’s Current Position: Trade with Israel
Question by Dr Rupa Huq (Labour) on 21 April 2021 (UIN 185445) To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he will take to tackle the import to the UK of products from illegal … Read more here ➔
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British Government’s Current Position: Restrictions of movement in the West Bank
Question: by Baroness Tonge (Independent) on 10 June 2019 Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hebron, (HL16231) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the consequences for Palestinian children in Hebron of the removal of the Temporary International Presence … Read more here ➔
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British Government’s Current Position: Settler violence towards Palestinians
Question by Baroness Sheehan (Lib Dem) on 12th April 2021 (HL14830) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect Palestinians living in the West Bank from violence from Israeli settlers. Answer from Lord Ahmad (Conservative) on … Read more here ➔
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British Government’s Current Position: Prioritising peace and cooperation in the Middle East in the midst of COVID-19
Question by Dame Diana Johnson (Labour) on 1st February 2021 (UIN 146814) To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department will take to ensure that the citizens of Palestine receive the covid-19 … Read more here ➔
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John McHugo on Why Britain has a Special Responsibility to the Palestinian People Today
A talk given online on 30th June 2020. John McHugo is a trustee of the Balfour Project and a board member of CAABU, The Council for Arab British Understanding. This paper is the edited text of a Balfour Project talk … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Mandate Period, Past
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PM Johnson’s appeal to Israel over annexation
By Andrew Whitley, Trustee and member of the Executive Committee of the Balfour Project Prime Minister Boris Johnson today published a last-minute appeal to Israel not to proceed with the Netanyahu government’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, News
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‘Boris Johnson must stand up against an annexation of the West Bank’ – Christian Aid
By William Bell, Head of Middle East, Christian Aid UK and Ireland Last June, an 82-year-old Palestinian refugee called Fayza in Lebanon’s Nahr el-Bared camp wept as she told me: “Palestine is in our bones – it is not something … Read more here ➔
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Boris Johnson has to stand up to Netanyahu’s annexation plans – for the sake of the Palestinians and peace – by Donald Macintyre
Published in the Independent 30 May 2020 Whatever Boris Johnson’s troubles, he can always comfort himself that unlike the prime minister of a British ally 3,000 miles away, he’s not running the country while simultaneously being tried on corruption charges. But … Read more here ➔
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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 … Read more here ➔
Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, Recordings
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Letter to Boris Johnson on Israeli annexation 1 May 2020
Click here to read the Guardian article.
Posted in Britain's current role, Letters, News, Recognition
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Letter from Claudia Beamish MSP to Dominic Raab MP
This is a letter from Claudia Beamish MSP Member of the Scottish Parliament for South Scotland, to the Rt Hon Dominic Raab, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and First Secretary of State.
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, Letters, News
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UK Government affirms its position that Israel’s annexation plans of occupied Palestinian territory is contrary to international law
In a response to a letter to the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab from Caabu Chair Rt Hon David Jones MP, the Foreign Office and DFID Minister responsible to the Middle East, Rt Hon James Cleverly MP has affired the UK … Read more here ➔
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Remarks by HRH The Prince of Wales at a reception in Bethlehem
24 January 2020 Throughout my life, I have tried, in whatever very small way I can, to foster greater understanding between people of different faiths, to heal divisions and to remind people of so much that we share in common … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions
Tagged Bethlehem, Prince of Wales
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The time is right to recognise Palestine
Text of letter published in The Times, January 20th 2020 THE TIME IS RIGHT TO RECOGNISE PALESTINESir, Today Britain attends her last EU foreign affairs council. On the agenda is the Middle East peace process, which must address recognition of … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, Letters
Tagged Palestine, Recognition, Times letter
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Holy Land Coordination 2020
We must not ignore the voice of people in the Holy Land Every year we come to encounter and hear the people of the Holy Land. We are inspired by their enduring resilience and faith in a worsening situation. In … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role
Tagged Catholic Bishops, Gaza, Holy Land
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The status of West Bank settlements under international law.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cannot rewrite international law. By John McHugo , Balfour Project Trustee and International Lawyer Following the comments by the US Secretary of State on Monday, we have felt it necessary to clarify the legal … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role
Tagged International Law, Settlements
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Scottish Parliament endorses Balfour Project Call to Action Sept 3rd 2019
Claudia Beamish MSP (Labour) introduced a members’ business debate on motion S5M-16637, “Towards an independent Palestinian state: a Scottish proposal” calling for action leading to an independent Palestinian state and acknowledging Britain’s historical responsibilities in what was to become Israel … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, McMahon-Hussein Correspondence
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Israel’s election, Palestine, and Britain’s best response: Equal Rights
This article was first published on the Conservative Middle East Council website Analysis 23 September 2019 Sir Vincent Fean KCVO Sir Vincent Fean is Chair of Trustees of the Balfour Project. Between 2010-14, Sir Vincent was British Consul-General in Jerusalem. … Read more here ➔
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115 British Parliamentarians demand British Prime Minister act robustly to any Israeli annexation of Occupied Palestinian Territory
115 British Parliamentarians demand British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson act robustly to any Israeli annexation of Occupied Palestinian Territory. In the letter, sent from the Britain-Palestine All-Party Parliamentary Group, the Parliamentarians insisted that the British Government and its partners in … Read more here ➔
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Should Britain recognise a sovereign Palestine now? Event report
Talk by Sir Vincent Fean at recent Meretz UK Event Meretz UK hosted an event on 7th July in London’s Jewish Community centre JW3, to discuss the prospects, advantages and likely outcomes of recognition of the state of Palestine alongside … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role
Tagged Britain, Israel, Recognition of Palestine
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What is the UK’s role in Israel – Palestine today?
Speakers: Sir Tom Phillips and Sir Vincent Fean Chairing the debate: Prof. Yossi Mekelberg, Professor of International Relations at Regent’s University, London and senior consulting research fellow for the MENA programme, Chatham House. OneVoice Europe hosted an event on 26th … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role
Tagged Recognition of Palestine
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Is There a Plausible Alternative to The Two-State Solution? By Tony Klug
Dr. Tony Klug has written extensively on Israeli-Palestinian issues. He is a special advisor on the Middle East to the Oxford Research Group and a consultant to the Palestine Strategy Group and the Israel Strategic Forum. His Ph.D. thesis … Read more here ➔
Posted in Britain's current role
Tagged Israel, Palestine, Two-state
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Gaza, one year on
Letter to the Times 30 March 2019 Sir,A year on from the avoidable deaths of 60 people at the Gaza fence, rockets and reprisals are recurring. This dismal pattern of behaviour must be broken. Two million people are imprisoned in … Read more here ➔
Towards an independent Palestinian state: a Scottish call to action
Israel/Palestine: Equal Rights 17 March 2019 From Edinburgh, and the home university of Arthur Balfour,we acknowledge Britain’s historical responsibilities in the Holy Land, from before the Balfour Declaration through the British Mandate to today. Gaza was, is, and always will … Read more here ➔
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