MEMO marks 100 years since the Balfour Declaration

Middle East Monitor is to mark 100 years since the signing of the Balfour Declaration on Saturday in a day-long conference with notable academics, journalists and political activists.

The event, which is split into three panel discussions, will cover how the Balfour Declaration came to existence, Britain’s role in the Zionist project and continued oppression of Palestinians and the occupation’s violations. The guest panels will discuss the impact the ever increasing illegal settlements are having on the conflict and how the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is helping to tackle them.

The 1917 Balfour Declaration is the controversial document which underpinned the creation of the State of Israel by providing support for the Zionist mission.

The conference will feature new studies on the Israeli occupation of Palestine through the lens of the Balfour Declaration, 100 years on. Panellists will seek to nourish understanding of the political and ideological forces which shaped the history of Palestine and will link historical events to modern day issues.

The “Palestine, Britain & the Balfour Declaration 100 years on” event will take place at the British Library, London.

Senior Research Fellow at the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies Dr Basheer Nafi, historian Prof Jonathan Schneer and consultant to the Balfour Project Dr Peter Shambrook will take part in the first panel discussion “Understanding the Balfour Declaration, 100 years on”.

Former UN Special Rapporeur of Human Rights in Palestine and ICC Judge Prof John Dugard will be amongst the speakers in the second session which is entitled “Palestine and international law – from Balfour to settlements”. This discussion will be chaired by British journalist Peter Oborne.

“Britain’s role – from Balfour to BDS” is the title of the day’s final discussion during which speakers are expected to highlight how civil action groups are helping support Palestinians and their fight for justice and self-determination.

Some 400 people are expected to attend the event which is being held in London. Coverage of the conference will be updated live on the MEMO website, via a live blog throughout the day, in addition to onsocial media.

Explained: The Balfour Declaration