Zionist Federation, Homelessness and Peace
I have felt inspired to explore this topic. I realise the Balfour declaration is the foundation of the creation of an Israeli state. This has been the crossroads of global conflict as oil interests and economic activity underlie this decision. The British Government was a protectorate of Palestine and it was the British Prime Minister who declared Palestine the place to repatriate the Jews after the Second World War.
I would like to say a few words to the Jewish that experienced the holocaust. I have met and interviewed one and we both walked through a peace park in Carlsbad USA together, she told me she forgave the German’s. These are the ordinary Jewish folk who suffered terribly and found themselves not only homeless, but stateless and treated brutally. I ask all to forgive.
I now wish to turn to the Palestinians who have become homeless, stateless and been treated brutally by the Israeli Defence Forces and government. I have interviewed Palestinians to discover their pain and feeling of displacement in their own home. I walk through in my heart a peace garden with them. I hold their hands. I ask them to forgive the IDF. To deal with the pain and heal. To rebuild Palestinian self love, self esteem and dignity. To trust in guidance. They are not alone. They have incredible courage and resilience. As did the ordinary Jewish people who suffered the holocaust. They would know how you feel. It is those in power who do not know. When they know they do not know, then a door opens to greater understanding. Do not fuel hatred, plant seeds of love, for fear cannot exist in love. Love can exist in environments of fear. This is the resilience of freedom.
Now we turn to the Balfour Declaration and Zionism, which was a small percentage of Jewish people, who successfully negotiated for a homeland without the permission of those they occupied and then called legitimate. Somewhat like the British landing here in Australia, indicating to Captain Cook not to land if there were inhabitants, if it was Terrus Nullius (“nobody’s land”, no occupants) then he had permission to land. He landed and occupied this land anyway. This is a shared disrespect of the wishes of the people who already inhabit the land, their wishes not embraced as in those days it was about conquest and control. These are the bad seeds planted that create conflict in the future. If respect had been there then the future would have changed. Respect is the key focus.
The British government’s connection with Walter Rothschild is noteworthy.
The British government decided to endorse the establishment of a Jewish home in Palestine. After discussions within the cabinet and consultations with Jewish leaders, the decision was made public in a letter from British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur James Balfour to Lord Walter Rothschild. The contents of this letter became known as the Balfour Declaration.
Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917Dear Lord Rothschild,
I have much pleasure in conveying to you. on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet
His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
Yours,
Arthur James Balfour
Here is a message from the Zionist Federation. In the video they state they want peace. I ask them do you understand that when you act in violence that creates more violence. Can you live in peace with others different from yourself. Byron Katie states that when we see others with a story we are believing our thoughts. What if – there are no enemies only our belief that finds another threatening. What if we dealt with the fear that is within us to deal with what takes away our peace. What if, inner peace creates outer peace. Jesus preached love to the Jews and Arabs, as it was not only an answer it was a peace strategy. Gandhi was a teacher of nonviolence and he tried to show the Hindu’s that the Muslims were not the enemy, that we are all brothers and sisters. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in jail as he protested apartheid. He came out a peacemaker having made peace with his guards and reconciling his country. Is a child an enemy or a potential friend? I believe all are potential friends. One of my dearest friends is Jewish. However, I am a peacemaker and I would say there is no enemy. My wish is for peace for all.
Here are some words that frame beliefs from the Zionist Foundation.
Speaking out for Israel
The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, also known as the British Zionist Federation or simply the Zionist Federation (ZF), was established in 1899 to campaign for a permanent homeland for the Jewish people.
The Zionist Federation is an umbrella organisation for the Zionist movement in the United Kingdom, representing more than 30 organisations, and over 50,000 affiliated members.
The ZF celebrates Israel and challenges our enemies. As the UK affiliate of the World Zionist Organisation, originally founded as the Zionist Organisation at the initiative of Theodor Herzl, The ZF stands up for Israel in all forums, both nationally and internationally. From the media, to civil society, to the political establishment, The ZF is proud to support the noble cause of Zionism.
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