Colony of Promise: The Conflict of Rights and Identity

The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was pivotal in establishing a national home for Jewish people in Palestine, recognizing Jewish aspirations despite their minority status of 6% in the local population and neglecting the majority Palestinians. Early Zionist leaders believed in their biblical and humanitarian right to settle in Palestine, framing their movement as both a refuge for persecuted Jews and a national renaissance. However, they openly acknowledged this endeavor as a settler colonial process, evidenced by the naming of institutions like the Jewish Colonization Agency, which indicates a recognition of land appropriation from Palestinians. The discourse surrounding Israel's founding can thus be accurately labeled as settler colonialism, a term that remains contentious among its supporters.