Gospel News — Jan-Apr 2013

Dr. Chaim Weizmann

This Russian Jew was a brilliant chemist; he discovered a better way of making acetone, vital to the production of explosives. For this practical contribution to the war effort he was asked by Lord Balfour, the spokesman for the British Government, what he would appreciate as a reward. In reply he asked for Palestine for his people. On November 2nd 1917, before Britain had been given the Palestine Mandate, Lord Balfour wrote the now famous `Balfour Declaration' in the form of a letter to Lord Rothschild, a former Zionist leader.

The Balfour Declaration

Lord Balfour

"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a National Home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any country."

There can be no doubt that Chaim Weizmann and his Jewish friends would have been very pleased with this declaration which was so sympathetic to the idea of establishing a national home for the Jews in Palestine. It would now

7

be possible for Jewish colonists to buy land from willing Arab owners which at that time in Southern Israel and the areas around Tel Aviv was nothing but sand dunes and scrub.

The purchase of any land in Palestine would have been impossible when the Turks dominated the land. Similarly, it was not possible to drain the swamps that were prevalent in the North. This would enable the reclamation of valuable fertile land suitable for growing crops of all kinds.

The British Mandate

In the post war allocation of spheres of influence over the conquered territories of the deflated Turkish Empire, the League of Nations proceeded to appoint Britain as the Mandatory power for Palestine in 1920. At San Remo Conference, 52 nations endorsed Britain's endorsement.

In the framing of the Balfour Declaration and in the appointment of Great Britain as the mandatory power we can see the influence of Michael over the members of the British Government and the National Leaders in the League of Nations in guiding and furthering the affairs of God's people.

It was quite wonderful to observe how three angels of God could and did control the course of history to allow the Jews to return to the land of their fathers and, in spite of much opposition, to come with singing unto Zion.

Compassion

Sis Rosie Wright (Jamaica)

When last did we show compassion to our brothers and sisters or to our neighbours? Jesus is expecting us, his followers, to show compassion to each other. Our God is the Father of compassion. He had so much sympathy for our suffering that He sent us His one and only son to die for us, John 3:16. Do you share God's compassion? Do you realise that Jesus Christ wants to express through you what the Father expressed through