Balfour Declaration 1917 through the English press

Abstract

The British newspaper played a highly significant role in promoting and disseminating Zionist ideas. The Zionists also utilized widely circulated non-Zionist British newspapers, which had a clear influence on British society in general, to publish Zionist news within and outside Britain and to craft impactful Zionist articles that helped spread their ideas and attract supporters to their goals. This was clearly evident in their support for the Balfour Declaration, which was the primary basis for the establishment of a Zionist entity in Palestine.

Among these newspapers were: The Jewish Chronicle, The Jewish World, as well as The Manchester Guardian, The Times, and The Spectator. These newspapers played a significant role in spreading Zionist thought in Britain and beyond, convincing public opinion of the importance of helping Jews migrate to Palestine and establish a national homeland for the Jews, which achieved strategic goals for Britain.