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From Balfour to today: Has Great Britain turned its back on the Jewish people? All Israel News
Paul Calvert April 9, 2926
I am a proud Brit, proud of our heritage.
The UK wrote the White Paper known as the Balfour Declaration, promoting the idea of a homeland for the Jewish people. Written on November 2, 1917, many of those who came together were Christians who believed that the Jews needed to be in their own land for Jesus (Yeshua) to return. It must have been so exciting to be part of that historic document.
In reality, it didn’t initially mean much because it was only a recommendation, and Great Britain did not control Palestine. But then something remarkable happened—Palestine came under the British Mandate, and this declaration could now be implemented.
It truly is amazing. The Balfour Declaration was written on November 2, 1917, and Britain captured Jerusalem in December 1917, occupying the entire region in 1918. Israel recognizes Britain’s contribution to the Holy Land; every year I receive a partial visa exemption because of this shared history.
It is a wonderful history, although to be fair, we have not always been a blessing to the Jewish people.
Sadly, today Great Britain is very much lacking in its love for the Jewish people. Could you imagine the Balfour Declaration being written today?
Keir Starmer has declared his support for a Palestinian state, which rewards terrorism and offers no clear guidelines. We have turned our back on our Middle East ally and on God’s promise. He also refused to allow the U.S. to use its bases at the start of the war with Iran.
It is ironic—he does not want to be part of a war with Iran, a war that could bring peace to the region, because Iran is a major sponsor of terror. It is a war he could win, yet he chooses a path that puts him in opposition to God—something he could never win.
The British government supports a two-state solution. But a two-state solution already exists today, because Great Britain is responsible for giving away 77% of Palestine. That 77% became known as Jordan. We already have a two-state solution, which goes against God’s word.
The Bible is clear that God’s promise is an eternal covenant, as stated in Genesis:
“Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:8 NKJV)
You do not touch the apple of God’s eye. If you try, you will lose.
It is sad that we have fallen so far from our Balfour Declaration days. And it is not just the government. It was deeply troubling to read the headline in All Israel News:
“No Zios in the flat”: One in five British students reluctant or unwilling to share a home with a Jew, new poll reveals.
This isn’t just sad—it is shocking. It is disgraceful. It is antisemitic. It is a sad indictment of Great Britain.
The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) released a report about the severe levels of antisemitism on British campuses, based on new research and accompanied by recommendations. Between Jan. 26 and Feb. 4, a poll commissioned by JL Partners surveyed 1,000 university students from 170 higher education institutions about their experiences and opinions regarding antisemitism on UK campuses.
This is the same Great Britain whose history and heritage I once felt proud of. Now, I feel ashamed. We have fallen greatly as a nation.
We have become a country where Jews no longer feel safe, and that disgusts me. We are a nation where Jewish ambulances—vehicles that serve the community—can be burned in the streets simply because they are Jewish.
At music festivals, people proudly shout “Death to the IDF.” We have nothing to be proud of.
Britain needs to be great again. It must rise out of this antisemitic hatred. We need to repent and return to God. We must recognize that we are on a collision course with Him—and we cannot win.
The Bible says in Genesis 12:3:
“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
I want to live in the blessings of God, and I want my country to live in those blessings. We need to bless the Jewish people, and in time, we will become great again.
Paul is a Christian journalist
