PA TV broadcast from high school discussing Balfour Declaration; Teacher: “Had we not been weak, Britain would not have dared to give a homeland to the Jews”
Official PA TV program Palestine This Morning, on the PA Ministry of Education dedicating the first lesson of the day to a discussion about the Balfour Declaration, live broadcast from Ramallah High School for Boys, hosting Ramallah High School for Boys teacher Akram Jabr
Official PA TV journalist: “The Palestinian people demands that Britain apologize for the historical injustice or for this promise that was annexed to the historical injustice to the Palestinian people. Today [Nov. 2, 2017] the first lesson is being dedicated to discussing this [Balfour] Promise (i.e., Declaration) with the children, and to talk about the significance of this matter.”
Ramallah High School for Boys teacher Akram Jabr: “Indeed, it is our duty as teachers, educators, and politicians – I say to the Palestinian people – the boy, the man, and so forth – it is necessary to be aware not only of the Balfour Promise. There are many matters related to us. Our history is abundant with tragedies. The Balfour Promise is what led to all of the tragedies that have befallen the Palestinian people. Nevertheless, I say something to history: The homeland will not be forgotten. The place of the homeland exists, whether settlements were established [on it] and whether what is called the State of Israel was established. The homeland exists. Our hope is first and foremost in Allah Almighty, and afterwards we depend on the young, that they will not forget Palestine. Palestine is Palestine! Palestine is Palestine! Palestine is Palestine! It was never called Israel, never.”
Journalist: “Sir, Nov. 2, 1917, is the day of the Balfour Promise [when] Britain gave the right to someone who was not the owner and did not have the right. What do you say to the students about this day?”
Akram Jabr: “On this day we say to the students the first thing is to learn the lesson. We need to be strong. Had we not been weak, Britain would not have dared to give a homeland to the Jews. Had we been strong, it would not have tried. After all, a number of places in the world were suggested to the Jews, as the Jews knew well that they would not completely succeed in living in those places. Here, our weakness, our lack of belonging, the lack of belonging to Palestine, and the lack of national culture is what caused what happened. I ask of the students and of everyone that the matter remain engraved in the memory of Palestine, that Palestine belongs to them.”
Journalist: “We will go to a… student, let’s get to know you quickly and tell me what you know about this promise.”
Student: “My name is Amir Zayoud, a 12th grade matriculation [track] student. First, the Balfour Promise came on Nov. 2, 1917. However, this date is the date the promise was issued – but the promise was planned many years before that. It can be said that the Zionists and Britain and all of these states took interest in our people and our state because they knew we were weak, that we have no military strength, political strength, or political culture.”
The Balfour Declaration of Nov. 2, 1917 was a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Baron Rothschild stating that “His Majesty's government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” In 1922, the League of Nations adopted this and made the British Mandate “responsible for putting into effect the declaration,” which led to the UN vote in 1947 and the establishment of the State of Israel.
Official PA TV journalist: “The Palestinian people demands that Britain apologize for the historical injustice or for this promise that was annexed to the historical injustice to the Palestinian people. Today [Nov. 2, 2017] the first lesson is being dedicated to discussing this [Balfour] Promise (i.e., Declaration) with the children, and to talk about the significance of this matter.”
Ramallah High School for Boys teacher Akram Jabr: “Indeed, it is our duty as teachers, educators, and politicians – I say to the Palestinian people – the boy, the man, and so forth – it is necessary to be aware not only of the Balfour Promise. There are many matters related to us. Our history is abundant with tragedies. The Balfour Promise is what led to all of the tragedies that have befallen the Palestinian people. Nevertheless, I say something to history: The homeland will not be forgotten. The place of the homeland exists, whether settlements were established [on it] and whether what is called the State of Israel was established. The homeland exists. Our hope is first and foremost in Allah Almighty, and afterwards we depend on the young, that they will not forget Palestine. Palestine is Palestine! Palestine is Palestine! Palestine is Palestine! It was never called Israel, never.”
Journalist: “Sir, Nov. 2, 1917, is the day of the Balfour Promise [when] Britain gave the right to someone who was not the owner and did not have the right. What do you say to the students about this day?”
Akram Jabr: “On this day we say to the students the first thing is to learn the lesson. We need to be strong. Had we not been weak, Britain would not have dared to give a homeland to the Jews. Had we been strong, it would not have tried. After all, a number of places in the world were suggested to the Jews, as the Jews knew well that they would not completely succeed in living in those places. Here, our weakness, our lack of belonging, the lack of belonging to Palestine, and the lack of national culture is what caused what happened. I ask of the students and of everyone that the matter remain engraved in the memory of Palestine, that Palestine belongs to them.”
Journalist: “We will go to a… student, let’s get to know you quickly and tell me what you know about this promise.”
Student: “My name is Amir Zayoud, a 12th grade matriculation [track] student. First, the Balfour Promise came on Nov. 2, 1917. However, this date is the date the promise was issued – but the promise was planned many years before that. It can be said that the Zionists and Britain and all of these states took interest in our people and our state because they knew we were weak, that we have no military strength, political strength, or political culture.”
The Balfour Declaration of Nov. 2, 1917 was a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Baron Rothschild stating that “His Majesty's government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” In 1922, the League of Nations adopted this and made the British Mandate “responsible for putting into effect the declaration,” which led to the UN vote in 1947 and the establishment of the State of Israel.