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Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=17507
The Balfour Declaration: 100 Years Later
(Israel Hayom) Benny Begin - On Nov. 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour announced that "His Majesty's Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object." Arab leaders in Palestine opposed the Balfour Declaration as soon as it was made public. They protested the use of the terms "the Jewish people" and "national home." From the PLO's point of view, a permanent agreement that will anchor Israel eternally in a part of Palestine and apply a quota to the realization of "the return of refugees to their homes" cannot also include the essential clause declaring "an end to mutual claims." Therefore, the PLO is not able to sign a permanent agreement with the State of Israel, even with the most modest terms. An international attempt to coerce such an agreement will lead to the dismantling of the PLO and to the elimination of its leadership, and it will fail. The writer is a former Israeli government minister.