-
Recent Articles
- When captivity is the price of courage
- WEBINAR: UNRWA and the Palestinian Refugees at a Crossroads with Dr Lex Takkenberg
- What to do when the US President advocates the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians?
- KS3-5 Lecture & Q&A
- British Palestinians urge UK arms and trade embargo on Israel
- UNRWA ban: Israel moves to cut the Palestinians’ rights to their homeland
- UK support would secure Palestinian statehood, says ex-Israeli diplomat
- Challenging UK weapons sales to Israel in the courts with lawyer Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe
- How Trump scared Netanyahu into a ceasefire deal with Hamas
- A devotion to the truth by people of goodwill
-
Join our mailing list
-
.
-
Category Archives: Past
Parliamentary panel – Jack Straw, Wayne David MP, Layla Moran MP, Joanna Cherry QC MP, moderated by Lord Alderdice
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. Lord Alderdice: Wayne David is Member of Parliament for Caerphilly … Continue reading
Posted in Past
Comments Off on Parliamentary panel – Jack Straw, Wayne David MP, Layla Moran MP, Joanna Cherry QC MP, moderated by Lord Alderdice
Can international law prevail in Israel/Palestine, and if so, how? The role of the UK – Rt Hon Jack Straw
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. Andrew Whitley: I would like to now introduce Lord Alderdice, … Continue reading
Posted in Past
Comments Off on Can international law prevail in Israel/Palestine, and if so, how? The role of the UK – Rt Hon Jack Straw
4 case studies from Issam Younis, Hagit Ofran, Sahar Francis & Nada Kiswanson
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. Michael Lynk: And I think it is now my happy … Continue reading
Posted in Past
Comments Off on 4 case studies from Issam Younis, Hagit Ofran, Sahar Francis & Nada Kiswanson
International Law: indispensable in the search for a just Middle East peace – Prof Michael Lynk
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. Andrew Whitley: Good afternoon and welcome, everyone. My name is … Continue reading
Posted in Past
Comments Off on International Law: indispensable in the search for a just Middle East peace – Prof Michael Lynk
A rights-based approach – Zaha Hassan & The dual legal system – Michael Sfard
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: Good afternoon. We are now going to … Continue reading
Posted in Past
Comments Off on A rights-based approach – Zaha Hassan & The dual legal system – Michael Sfard
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Britain's current role, Past
Comments Off on Israel/Palestine: recent developments at the ICJ and ICC – Philippe Sands QC
Nadia Hijab on Moving Beyond Statehood Debates and on to How We Get There
Nadia Hijab is co-founder and President of Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, the transnational Palestinian think tank. She is a writer, public speaker and media commentator. Her first book, Womanpower: The Arab debate on women at work was published by … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Nadia Hijab on Moving Beyond Statehood Debates and on to How We Get There
John Lyndon – Northern Ireland & Israel/Palestine: what two differing paradigms can teach us about conflict resolution
John Lyndon is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), the largest network of peacebuilding NGOs in Israel/Palestine. He brings with him over a decade of experience leading NGOs concerned with conflict resolution and international development, … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings
Comments Off on John Lyndon – Northern Ireland & Israel/Palestine: what two differing paradigms can teach us about conflict resolution
Rev Dr Munther Isaac – Christian Zionism as Imperial Theology
Thank you all for joining us. I’m privileged to speak to you and address this really important and relevant topic of Christian Zionism as an imperial theology. The impact and influence of Christian Zionism have been manifested, especially in the … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Zionism, Evangelicals and Christian Zionism, Misc, Nakba, Past, Recordings, USA, Zionism Debate
Comments Off on Rev Dr Munther Isaac – Christian Zionism as Imperial Theology
Raja Shehadeh on Britain and Palestine, a family history
A live online talk in March 2021. Raja Shehadeh is a lawyer and writer and the founder of the pioneering Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq. Shehadeh is the author of several acclaimed books published by Profile Books including the … Continue reading
Posted in Mandate Period, Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Raja Shehadeh on Britain and Palestine, a family history
Arabella Dorman on The Audacity of Hope
A live online talk given on 10 February 2021. Arabella Dorman: It’s great honour to be with you all tonight and thank you to the Balfour Project for hosting this talk. I’d like really to start with asking a question. … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Arabella Dorman on The Audacity of Hope
25/26 MAY CONFERENCE: Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law
Click here to read the Balfour Project statement on the Rule of Law. Day 1 Tuesday 25 May Welcome – Sir Vincent Fean & Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QCWhy the rule of law matters – Rt Hon Baroness Hale of … Continue reading
Ardi Imseis – Unfinished Business: Why the United Kingdom Must Now Recognise the State of Palestine
A live online talk given on 5 January 2021. Ardi Imseis: Thank you. I have been requested to address the issue of why now is the time for the United Kingdom to recognize the State of Palestine. My remarks will … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Ardi Imseis – Unfinished Business: Why the United Kingdom Must Now Recognise the State of Palestine
In Conversation with Leila Sansour
You can watch Open Bethlehem on Vimeo. Below is the excerpt of Open Bethlehem about Rachel’s Tomb, shown during the event. Leila Sansour is a Palestinian/British filmmaker with more than 24 years of experience working in television as a producer, … Continue reading
Posted in Annexation, Past, Recordings
Comments Off on In Conversation with Leila Sansour
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
Conference on Jerusalem – Session VI: Questions and Answers
Session VI: Questions and AnswersModerated by Ian BlackPanellists: Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Daniel Seidemann, Daniel Levy, Rula Salameh, Sir Vincent Fean Ian Black: A question from Andrew Wilkinson, Oxford University: “Does the continued focus on the Balfour Declaration – which … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Conference on Jerusalem – Session VI: Questions and Answers
Conference on Jerusalem – Session V: Britain’s Role in the Coming Years
Session V: Britain’s Role in the Coming YearsChair: Sir Vincent FeanKeynote Speaker: Rt Hon Alistair BurtPanellists: Julie Elliott MP (Labour), Tommy Sheppard MP (SNP), Rt Hon Baroness Lindsay Northover (LibDem) Sir Vincent Fean: We are going to talk about the … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Conference on Jerusalem – Session V: Britain’s Role in the Coming Years
Conference on Jerusalem – Session IV: Contemporary Realities and Plans to Share the City
Session IV: Contemporary Realities and Plans to Share the CityChair: Dr Imad Karam (BP Trustee)Keynote Speaker: Daniel LevyPanellists: Ariel Caine, Rula Salameh, Yudith Oppenheimer Conference on Jerusalem Session IV: Contemporary Realities and Plans to Share the City Dr Imad Karam: … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Conference on Jerusalem – Session IV: Contemporary Realities and Plans to Share the City
Conference on Jerusalem – Session III: Religion and Holy Sites
Session III: Religion and Holy SitesChair: Bishop Michael Doe (BP Executive Committee)Keynote Speaker: Daniel SeidemannPanellists: Imam Monawar Hussain, Bishop Christopher Chessun, Rabbi Jeremy Gordon Bishop Michael Doe: Good afternoon and welcome back to this Balfour Project Day Conference on Jerusalem: … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Conference on Jerusalem – Session III: Religion and Holy Sites
Conference on Jerusalem – Session II: International Law and Human Rights
Session II: International Law and Human RightsChair: John McHugo (BP Trustee)Keynote Speaker: Baroness Helena Kennedy QCPanellists: Iain Scobbie, Daniel Seidemann & Victor Kattan John McHugo: Good morning, everyone. My name is John McHugo. I’m a trustee of the Balfour Project … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Conference on Jerusalem – Session II: International Law and Human Rights
Conference on Jerusalem – Introduction & Session I: History
Introduction Welcome: Sir Vincent Fean (BP Chair of Trustees) Video Message from HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan Session I: History Chair: Andrew Whitley (BP Trustee) Keynote Speaker: Avi Shlaim Panellists:Menachem Klein, Mick Dumper, Salim Tamari Sir Vincent … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Conference on Jerusalem – Introduction & Session I: History
Jerusalem: from Past Divisions to a Shared Future?
Below you will find both audio and video recordings, as well as transcripts, of each session of our Online Conference on 27 October 2020. Click here for conference brochure. Click here to read the statement. IntroductionWelcome: Sir Vincent Fean (BP … Continue reading
Posted in Past
Comments Off on Jerusalem: from Past Divisions to a Shared Future?
Unseen question? Zionism and the Palestinians under the British Mandate
A live online talk given in October 2020. Ian Black: Thanks very much for inviting me to give this talk. It is based on the research for my book, Enemies and Neighbours: Arabs and Jews in Palestine and Israel, 1917-2017, … Continue reading
Posted in Nakba, Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Unseen question? Zionism and the Palestinians under the British Mandate
Former Israeli Ambassador Dr. Alon Liel – Is the failed formal annexation attempt a regional turning point?
A talk given online in September 2020. Alon Liel is a courageous man. He dares to speak truth to power, and knows the cost of this in his own life. While calling for an end to occupation and for equal … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Former Israeli Ambassador Dr. Alon Liel – Is the failed formal annexation attempt a regional turning point?
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Britain's current role, Mandate Period, Past
Comments Off on John McHugo on Why Britain has a Special Responsibility to the Palestinian People Today
Evaluating the Balfour Declaration: Breaking the Deadlock in the Middle East
On Saturday May 18th 2013, the Balfour Project held a one day conference at The Stripe, University of Winchester exploring the different legacies of the Balfour Declaration and how a greater understanding of history can contribute to justice and peace … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Declaration, Historical, Past
Comments Off on Evaluating the Balfour Declaration: Breaking the Deadlock in the Middle East
Tim Llewellyn on The Crafting of the News: the British media and the Israel-Palestine Question
A talk given online in August 2020. Tim Llewellyn: Hello, everyone. I want to start by saying two basic things to plan out, to map out my thesis, if you like, about the British media coverage, particularly the broadcasting media … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Tim Llewellyn on The Crafting of the News: the British media and the Israel-Palestine Question
Toppling Balfour, a talk by Sarah Helm
A live online talk given in July 2020 Welcome everyone. Sarah Helm was a staff correspondent for The Sunday Times and a foreign correspondent for The Independent and she’s written two books, most recently, If This is a Woman about … Continue reading
Posted in Past, Recordings, Zionism Debate
Comments Off on Toppling Balfour, a talk by Sarah Helm
Navigating Isolation Through Music – A PalMusic Online Event with Sir Vincent Fean – 26th July 2020
Posted in Past
Comments Off on Navigating Isolation Through Music – A PalMusic Online Event with Sir Vincent Fean – 26th July 2020
Vincent Fean on Illegal Settlements and UNRWA
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 Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Vincent Fean on Illegal Settlements and UNRWA
Screening with Q&A – Britain in Palestine: 1917-1948
3pm UK time, Thursday 7th May 2020 Click here to register.
Posted in Past
Comments Off on Screening with Q&A – Britain in Palestine: 1917-1948
Palestine/Israel: Britain’s role, then and now
Online talk by Sir Vincent Fean, Balfour Project, 2 April 2020 Read the transcript below: Vincent: A welcome to all. Thank you all for joining the Balfour Project today. I think it’s important to have this discussion to keep the … Continue reading
Posted in McMahon-Hussein Correspondence, Past, Recordings
Comments Off on Palestine/Israel: Britain’s role, then and now
Tragedy in Gaza: Britain’s legacy Scotland’s role
Conference Edinburgh March 2019 Gaza, under Israeli military occupation since 1967, is home to two million Palestinians. Most are there because in 1948, when Britain abandoned its Mandate for Palestine, Gaza gave refuge to Palestinians forced to flee from the … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Past
Tagged Gaza, Palestine, Palestine Mandate, Sacred Trust of civilisation
Comments Off on Tragedy in Gaza: Britain’s legacy Scotland’s role
‘The news from Gaza: dispelling myths and telling the truth’
The Glasgow Balfour Project event. March 14, 2019. ( Held at the Sir Charles Wilson Building, Glasgow University, 7.30pm-9.30pm Thursday March 14, 2019) Hala Safadi, a film-maker from Gaza, made the essential point: “The truth is always censored for the … Continue reading
Posted in Past
Comments Off on ‘The news from Gaza: dispelling myths and telling the truth’
Conferences in Glasgow and Edinburgh
March 14th and 17th 2019 On March 14th at 300 people at Glasgow University heard former British and Israeli diplomats and distinguished journalists speak on ‘The news from Gaza: dispelling myths and telling the truth’. The following Sunday at Edinburgh University … Continue reading
Posted in Mandate Period, Past, Pre-Balfour Declaration
Comments Off on Conferences in Glasgow and Edinburgh
Britain Palestine Israel – 70 years on
Donate A 20-page booklet is now available containing the speeches at the conference of the Balfour Project in partnership with King’s College London (see below). The booklet also includes the Balfour Centenary Declaration, which has now been signed by 141 … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Declaration, Mandate Period, Past, Post-Mandate Period, Pre-Balfour Declaration
Tagged 1922, 1948, British Mandate, Israel, League of Nations, nakba, Palestine, Palestine Mandate, War of independence
Comments Off on Britain Palestine Israel – 70 years on
Mahatma Gandhi and the Wounds of History: Palestine, India and the British Empire in the 20th century
Professor Rajmohan Gandhi, Committee Room 14, in the House of Commons, London, 18th April 2017 The British Parliament does not often hear an Asian perspective on the Middle East. The very term ‘Middle East’ is Europe-centred; in India … Continue reading
Reclaiming the lost Jewish voices of the Balfour Declaration, by Robert Cohen
This article was part of Robert Cohen’s talk at the Balfour Project conference,’How will we mark the centenary of the Balfour Declaration’ in Southwark Cathedral on November 5th 2016: A leading British Rabbi has written: “Zionism and Zionistic activities not … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Declaration, Past, Zionism Debate
Tagged 1917, Balfour Declaration, Claude Montefiore, Lucian Wolf, Montagu
Comments Off on Reclaiming the lost Jewish voices of the Balfour Declaration, by Robert Cohen
Balfour Declaration Centenary, 2017: towards constructive commemoration
‘I never knew that ……’ Liverpool Hope University 1st October 2016. The use of round tables in the Eden Arbour Room at Liverpool Hope University facilitated a welcome and a warmth to the buzz of conversation as participants in the … Continue reading
Posted in Past
Tagged Balfour Declaration, McMahon Hussain, Palestine
Comments Off on Balfour Declaration Centenary, 2017: towards constructive commemoration
‘Britain in Palestine’ shown in UK Parliament
Parliamentarians from all four of Britain’s main political parties sponsored a showing of ‘Britain in Palestine, 1917-1948’ in The Attlee Suite – one of the main conference suites in the British Parliament. The audience of 130 watched the documentary, which … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Declaration, Past, Pre-Balfour Declaration
Tagged 1915, 1917, Balfour Declaration, commemoration, First World War, Marking the Balfour Declaration, McMahon Hussain
Comments Off on ‘Britain in Palestine’ shown in UK Parliament
Britain made the mess and should help sort it out
Scores of people squeezed into Sarum College, Salisbury, to hear from experts on the Balfour Declaration of 1917 which gave British support to a home for Jews in historical Palestine. The Very Reverend Nicholas Frayling said the declaration was the … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Declaration, Past
Comments Off on Britain made the mess and should help sort it out
Britain and Palestine: past history & future role
Held at St Chad’s College Durham 31st October 2015 Summary Report Seventy people from places as far apart as Omagh, Norwich, Somerset, Inverness, Salisbury and Edinburgh, spent Saturday 31st October in Durham reflecting on Britain’s responsibilities, past and present, for … Continue reading
Posted in Events, McMahon-Hussein Correspondence, Past
Comments Off on Britain and Palestine: past history & future role
Talk by Sir Vincent Fean, recently retired UK Consul General in Jerusalem, at the Balfour Project annual conference
St Chad’s College, Durham University, 31 October 2015 ‘I believe there is a constructive role for the UK in bringing about a just peace. It is good to look back in order to look forward. The Balfour Declaration helped bring … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Past
Tagged Durham, Vincent Fean
Comments Off on Talk by Sir Vincent Fean, recently retired UK Consul General in Jerusalem, at the Balfour Project annual conference
Thatcham Festival, The role of Britain in Palestine?
What has been the historic role of Britain that has led to the present day tragic situation in Israel/Palestine? This was the theme engaged with by a very mixed group of over seventy people as part of the Thatcham Festival. … Continue reading
‘Britain should be more active in helping resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict’
Commemorating the 97th Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration Report of Balfour Project conference, Britain in Palestine 1917-1948 in St John’s College, Oxford, Oct 30th 2014. A common theme from speakers at the Balfour Project’s annual event was that Britain’s history … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Past
Tagged 1917, Andy Gosler, Avi Shlaim, Danny Rich, Liz Carmichael, Nicholas Frayling, Vincent Fean
Comments Off on ‘Britain should be more active in helping resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict’
“Are we trapped by our own narratives?” by Tony Klug
Tony Klug, speaking at the Balfour Project conference in October 2013 spoke stirringly to the question “Are we trapped by our own narratives?” He began by demonstrating that everyone becomes a player in this seemingly intractable conflict, where what passes … Continue reading
Posted in Past
Tagged Balfour Declaration, Christian Zionism, Israel, Palestine
Comments Off on “Are we trapped by our own narratives?” by Tony Klug
Healing the Wounds of History: Looking at the Balfour Declaration with New Eyes
Second annual Balfour Project conference to mark the 96th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration October 30th 2013
Posted in Events, Past
Tagged 1917, 1922, 19th Century, Balfour, Balfour Declaration, First World War, Herbert Samuel, Palestine, restorationism
Comments Off on Healing the Wounds of History: Looking at the Balfour Declaration with New Eyes
Evaluating the Balfour Declaration: Breaking the Deadlock in the Middle East
A one day conference exploring the different legacies of the Balfour Declaration and how a greater understanding of history can contribute to justice and peace in the Middle East today was held in Winchester University on May 18th 2013. Over … Continue reading
Posted in Balfour Declaration, Events, Past
Tagged anti-semitism, Balfour, Balfour Declaration, Christian Zionism, Curzon, Herzl, Lloyd George, Lord Curzon, Middle East, Rothschild, Sykes Picot
Comments Off on Evaluating the Balfour Declaration: Breaking the Deadlock in the Middle East