ris
New Member
MrBishop said:3 reasons -
a) The Balfour Declaration began the process of the British withdrawing from the area and a promise of a real state for both Isreal and Paletine in that area.
b) The history goes so far back that I might have well posted a link to the Koran and the Bible and it still wouldn't have been enough.
c) 'cause I felt like it.
freako, if my addled memory serves me correctly the british government only 'acquired' palestine from the ottoman empire in 1918, previous to that the area was ruled by the turkish ottomans. i know the area around jerusalem was moor/ottoman during the crusades but the 700 years inbetween are complete gap to my knowledge of history.
the balfour decl. really was a shining example of what total twats the british government were at the time - having made vague promises of homeland to the arabs who massively aided the british defeat the turks they not only had plans outlined in the balfour papers but also had a neat arrangement with the french over the area where it would be divided after the war.
sadly, the ideas of empire appear to have come before promises made to either side. it is saddening to think that there are moments in the past, not all that far ago, where things could have ended so differently if it wasn't for a selfish occupying government, and one that claimed to be so civilised and fair.
