Britain and France's Historic Recognition of Palestine: Unpacking the Legacy of Sykes-Picot and Balfour Declarations

Strategic Insights -

The recent moves by Britain and France to recognize Palestine have sparked a heated debate in the Middle East. As the two European powers invoke history to justify their decisions, they resurrect the ghosts of the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration. These century-old documents have had a lasting impact on the region, shaping the borders and fate of Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and the Palestinian territories.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916, signed in secret by Britain and France, carved up the Levantine territories of the Ottoman Empire into spheres of control, leaving behind a legacy of strife and bloodshed in the Middle East.
  • The Balfour Declaration of 1917, issued by Britain, endorsed the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, but with a proviso that it would not prejudice the rights of existing non-Jewish communities.
  • Britain's foreign secretary, David Lammy, cited the Balfour Declaration as a justification for recognizing a Palestinian state, arguing that Britain had a responsibility to act on behalf of its long-oppressed population.
  • France's president, Emmanuel Macron, also invoked history to support the move, citing the country's colonial past and its efforts to make up for past mistakes.
  • The recognition of Palestine by Britain and France is seen as a bid for relevance by post-colonial powers that want to maintain influence in the Middle East.
  • Historians argue that the decisions of Britain and France will not hasten an end to the conflict in Gaza but prolong it, as it gives Hamas less incentive to agree to a cease-fire.
  • The move also carries significant political risk for Macron, as it may alienate France's large Jewish community and exacerbate the country's existing issues with Islamist terrorism.

Statistics:

  • More than three quarters of the U.N.'s 193 member states will have recognized a Palestinian state, including Britain, France, Canada, and Malta.
  • Israel has launched 21 months of relentless attacks in Gaza, with the specter of famine across the enclave.
  • The British foreign secretary, David Lammy, said that Britain "helped lay the foundations for a homeland for the Jewish people," but also acknowledged that its motive in backing Israel was strategic, seeking a client community that would prevent the territory from falling into enemy hands.

Sources:

  • Eugene L. Rogan, professor of modern Middle Eastern history at the University of Oxford.
  • Michael B. Oren, Israeli-American historian and former ambassador to Washington.
  • Gérard Araud, former French ambassador to Israel.
  • "The Arabs: A History" by Eugene L. Rogan.
  • "Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East" by Michael B. Oren.
  • The New York Times, August 9, 2023.