Twice

[Dr Opinion]

This is one of history's strange coincidences. And before some people start wigging out, no, I don't think it's a conspiracy.    

The Balfour Declaration is not the first time a powerful empire found itself in recent posession of Palestine and issued a proclamation for the evicted Chosen people to head on back to their homeland.

The first event was documented twice in the Old Testament, first at the end of Chronicles 2, and secondly at the start of Ezra - note, it's the same event, just recorded twice. The Chronicles version is quite short and powerful:

2 Chronicles 36
22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

Balfour is a bit more waffly, but gets the job done:
"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 other country."

[This message has been edited by Dr Opinion (edited 09-05-2002).]

[The Answer]

What a surprise! Another thread on the Jews! Antoine, Nualum and others should be on top of this thread in no time. I wonder how its going to end up? I'm sure people will write the same nice things about Jews that they did in the other threads...

I guess its just another wild coincidence that you (again) chose this of all possible topics in the world! Next time, how about a debate on the hypocrisy of labeling selective discussion of certain minorities 'free debate'.

[The Answer]

By the way, Doc, I think you are a pretty level-headed, intelligent person (from the bulk of your messages). If you read my last post in the thread on Palestine (that I started), you can see why I am a little "sensitive" on this subject. A number of discussions of Israel, the Balfour Declaration, etc., have become gateway issues to a worse form of debate. See my excerpts from Antoine's messages.

Some of the Israeli/Jewish/Biblical exegesis type threads begin as one type of discussion and (in places) degenerate into something else (e.g., "Friendly Fire", "Explain the Different Response",  "the state of refugees", among others). I am sure that you are sincere (and curious)about the origins of WWI and the other topics that you bring up. Israel is also a "hot" issue right now in the news.    

[Dr Opinion]

Answer, maybe this post was just an attempt to show that discussion can be scholarly, and that scholarly discussion should not be confused with hate rhetoric?

Yes, I read your Palestine post with interest, and was the first commentator, if you noticed.  

[The Answer]

I did. Thanks. This is a scholarly topic. I cannot think of any other historical examples. These two references (Balfour and Bible) are exceptionally unique, I think. It is worth reflecting upon.