Balfour Declaration

The Balfour Declaration was a statement issued by the British government on November 2, 1917, during World War I. It expressed support for establishing a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. The declaration was significant because it indicated British backing for Jewish aspirations in the region, which many viewed as a pivotal moment in the movement for a Jewish homeland. However, it also raised complex issues regarding the rights and claims of the Arab population living in Palestine, setting the stage for future conflicts.