Author Archives: Diana Safieh

Mapping: An art exhibition exploring homeland, identity and British colonialism in Israel-Palestine

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Diana Safieh

By Rosie Richards and Francesca Vawdrey

Posted in Peace Advocacy Fellows Programme | Comments Off

The British Government position on Jerusalem

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Diana Safieh

The British Government has now replied to the six recommendations in the Balfour Project statement “Israel-Palestine: equal rights for a lasting peace” which concluded our 27 October conference on Jerusalem. We are indebted to our patron, Rt Revd John Pritchard, … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, Britain's current role, Current Positions, Letters, News | Comments Off

Arabella Dorman on The Audacity of Hope

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Diana Safieh

A live online talk given on 10 February 2021. Arabella Dorman: It’s great honour to be with you all tonight and thank you to the Balfour Project for hosting this talk. I’d like really to start with asking a question. … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Past, Recordings | Comments Off

Over 80 UK parliamentarians call on Israel to stop the dispossession of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, or face diplomatic consequences

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Diana Safieh

Published by CAABU, 9 February 2021. Over 80 British parliamentarians representing all parties, in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, wrote in a letter to the British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab that the British government must … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, News | Comments Off

25/26 MAY CONFERENCE: Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Diana Safieh

Click here to read the Balfour Project statement on the Rule of Law. Day 1 Tuesday 25 May Welcome – Sir Vincent Fean & Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QCWhy the rule of law matters – Rt Hon Baroness Hale of … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Past | Comments Off

Church leaders call on Israel to give vaccine access to Palestinians in West Bank/Gaza

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Diana Safieh

Two distinguished patrons of the Balfour Project signed the communique below from the Holy Land Coordination (HLC):Rt Revd Declan Lang, Catholic Bishop of Clifton and Chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference Dept. of International Affairs andRt Revd Christopher Chessun, Anglican … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Positions, News | Comments Off

We are Israel’s largest human rights group – and we are calling this apartheid

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Diana Safieh

By Hagai El-Ad, published in The Guardian, 12 Jan, 2021 The systematic promotion of the supremacy of one group of people over another is deeply immoral and must end One cannot live a single day in Israel-Palestine without the sense … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, News | Comments Off

Indonesia is no saviour: against normalisation with Israel

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Diana Safieh

By Gilang Al Ghifari Lukman, published on New Mandala on 11 JAN, 2021 Recent reports of potential normalisation between Indonesia and Israel have received varied reactions in the respective countries. In his three-month marathon toward normalization, U.S. President Donald Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Recognition | Comments Off

Book Review: Time’s Monster: History, Conscience and Britain’s Empire

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Diana Safieh

By Priya Satia, Penguin Allen Lane, Oct 2020 Review by Tariq Suleman A great deal has already been written on the history of empire, but Priya Satia’s ingenious way of presenting empire steers us through a significantly new understanding of … Continue reading →

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Ardi Imseis – Unfinished Business: Why the United Kingdom Must Now Recognise the State of Palestine

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Diana Safieh

A live online talk given on 5 January 2021. Ardi Imseis: Thank you. I have been requested to address the issue of why now is the time for the United Kingdom to recognize the State of Palestine. My remarks will … Continue reading →

Posted in Past, Recordings | Comments Off

Seeking cooperation in order to achieve a two-state solution – Ambassador Barbara Woodward

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Diana Safieh

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East. Published 21 December 2020 Thank you, Mr President, and thank you to Special Coordinator Mladenov for his briefing. As others have done, I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain's current role, News, Recognition | Comments Off

2024/25 Fellows

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Diana Safieh

Fellows Advocacy Fellow Name: Breshna Rani University Course: LLB with International Law and Bar Vocational Studies, City St George’s, University of London Why did you join the Fellowship? Being a Pakistani and growing up with exposure to the Kashmir conflict and instability … Continue reading →

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How Israel’s Settlement-Separation Roads Speed Towards One State

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Diana Safieh

The rapid integration of the settlers and their roads with pre-1967 Israel means a workable two-state solution becomes more impossible by the minute. By Ahmad Al-Bazz and Edo Konrad, published on +972 on December 31, 2020. How Israel’s road projects are ensuring apartheid is … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, News | Comments Off

A scion of Zionist aristocracy wants to quit the Jewish people. Will Israel let him?

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Diana Safieh

Why Avraham Burg, who has served as Knesset speaker, interim president and head of the Jewish Agency, is asking Israel to annul his registration as a Jew Ravit Hecht | Jan. 2, 2021 (From Haaretz) Avraham Burg has been a … Continue reading →

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Former Jerusalem archbishop: How long will Catholics keep ignoring the suffering of Palestinians?

Posted on January 2, 2021 by Diana Safieh

By Michel Sabbah on 22 December 2020. Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah served as the archbishop and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from 1987 to 2008, the first native Palestinian to hold the office for centuries. He is a co-author of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, News, Recognition, USA | Comments Off

The lost potential of Jenin

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Diana Safieh

By Ahmad Al-Bazz and Sarah Abu Alrob for The Electronic Intifada, 23 October 2020. In the northern West Bank city of Jenin, there was once an airfield, a train station, three cinemas and two major roads connecting the town with the neighboring cities … Continue reading →

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Letter from European Parliamentarians to President Elect Biden

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Posted in News, USA | Comments Off

In Conversation with Leila Sansour

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Diana Safieh

You can watch Open Bethlehem on Vimeo. Below is the excerpt of Open Bethlehem about Rachel’s Tomb, shown during the event. Leila Sansour is a Palestinian/British filmmaker with more than 24 years of experience working in television as a producer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, Past, Recordings | Comments Off

Palestinians Condemn British Colonialism for their Plight

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Diana Safieh

In a rare and outspoken item for British broadcasting media on Monday night (Dec.4, 2020}, Channel 4 news tackled the question of British colonialism and its responsibility since 1917 for the dispossession of the Palestinian people and their mass expulsion … Continue reading →

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Souvenir Booklet from our Jerusalem Conference 2020

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Britain's current role, Current Positions, News, Past | Comments Off

In Conversation with Leila Sansour – Bethlehem at Christmas 2020

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Thursday 17th December 2020 at 3pm UK time. All our talks are free, but please do consider a donation to support our work.

Posted in Future | Comments Off

Policy Working Group’s Call For Global Recognition of the State of Palestine

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Published November 29, 2020 Today, as the world marks the anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption ofResolution 181, which calls for the establishment of two states – one Jewish and one Arab —on the territory that constituted Mandatory Palestine, … Continue reading →

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Why the World Should Recognize Palestine Now’

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Diana Safieh

By Susie Becher, published in Times of Israel on Nov 27, 2020. I recently came across an article by the renowned Israeli author A.B. Yehoshua explaining his call for recognition of the State of Palestine back in 2014. One of … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Recognition | Comments Off

ONE STATE: the Most Natural Outcome Of Unjust Circumstances

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Diana Safieh

This is an except from an interview with the U.S.-based Palestinian writer, journalist and editor (of Palestine Chronicle), Ramzy Baroud, by Linda Ramsdens, director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolition. It appears in ICAHD’s November, 2020, newsletter, and is … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Recognition | Comments Off

COPY_ Israel – Palestine: Equal Rights for lasting Peace #2

Posted on November 25, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Click here to read the British Governmanet’s position on Jerusalem. Julie Elliott MP, with seven other signatories of the Balfour Project statement ‘Israel-Palestine: Equal Rights for lasting Peace’, has conveyed its five requests to the Prime Minister and the Foreign … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Positions, Misc, News | Comments Off

Statement for Conference on Jerusalem

Posted on November 25, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Israel/Palestine: Equal Rights for lasting Peace We acknowledge Britain’s historic responsibilities for inequality and discrimination in Jerusalem and across the Holy Land. They stem from the last century, through the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate for Palestine, with consequences … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Positions, Misc, News | Comments Off

Israel Eases Path to Citizenship for 20,000 East Jerusalem Palestinians

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Diana Safieh

By Nir Hasson, Nov 25, 2020 from Haaretz, the Israel daily newspaper. Around 20,000 young Palestinians will be eligible to expedite their requests for Israeli citizenship after a court forced the Interior Ministry to publish guidelines for the scheme on Monday. … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, News | Comments Off

Sir Vincent Fean – How will the US Presidential Elections Affect the Israel/Palestine Conflict?

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Talk given on 12 November 2020. Vincent Fean is a retired member of the British Diplomatic Service. His last post was Consul General, Jerusalem, from 2010 to 2014. Before that he was the UK Ambassador to Libya and also High … Continue reading →

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Past, USA | Comments Off

Conference on Jerusalem – Closing Remarks & Statement

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Closing Remarks and StatementHE Khaled Al-Duwaisan -Kuwaiti Ambassador to the UKSir Vincent Fean Click here to read the statement. Sir Vincent Fean: I now welcome His Excellency Khaled Al-Duwaisan, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom for the last 27 years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, Past, Recordings | Comments Off

Conference on Jerusalem – Session VI: Questions and Answers

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Session VI: Questions and AnswersModerated by Ian BlackPanellists: Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Daniel Seidemann, Daniel Levy, Rula Salameh, Sir Vincent Fean Ian Black: A question from Andrew Wilkinson, Oxford University: “Does the continued focus on the Balfour Declaration – which … Continue reading →

Posted in Past, Recordings | Comments Off

Conference on Jerusalem – Session V: Britain’s Role in the Coming Years

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Session V: Britain’s Role in the Coming YearsChair: Sir Vincent FeanKeynote Speaker: Rt Hon Alistair BurtPanellists: Julie Elliott MP (Labour), Tommy Sheppard MP (SNP), Rt Hon Baroness Lindsay Northover (LibDem) Sir Vincent Fean: We are going to talk about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Past, Recordings | Comments Off

Conference on Jerusalem – Session IV: Contemporary Realities and Plans to Share the City

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Session IV: Contemporary Realities and Plans to Share the CityChair: Dr Imad Karam (BP Trustee)Keynote Speaker: Daniel LevyPanellists: Ariel Caine, Rula Salameh, Yudith Oppenheimer Conference on Jerusalem Session IV: Contemporary Realities and Plans to Share the City Dr Imad Karam: … Continue reading →

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Conference on Jerusalem – Session III: Religion and Holy Sites

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Session III: Religion and Holy SitesChair: Bishop Michael Doe (BP Executive Committee)Keynote Speaker: Daniel SeidemannPanellists: Imam Monawar Hussain, Bishop Christopher Chessun, Rabbi Jeremy Gordon Bishop Michael Doe: Good afternoon and welcome back to this Balfour Project Day Conference on Jerusalem: … Continue reading →

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Conference on Jerusalem – Session II: International Law and Human Rights

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Session II: International Law and Human RightsChair: John McHugo (BP Trustee)Keynote Speaker: Baroness Helena Kennedy QCPanellists: Iain Scobbie, Daniel Seidemann & Victor Kattan John McHugo: Good morning, everyone. My name is John McHugo. I’m a trustee of the Balfour Project … Continue reading →

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Conference on Jerusalem – Introduction & Session I: History

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Introduction Welcome: Sir Vincent Fean (BP Chair of Trustees) Video Message from HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan Session I: History Chair: Andrew Whitley (BP Trustee) Keynote Speaker: Avi Shlaim Panellists:Menachem Klein, Mick Dumper, Salim Tamari Sir Vincent … Continue reading →

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Time to recognise the state of Palestine

Posted on October 15, 2020 by Diana Safieh

By Richard Burden, October 20, 2020 This week marks six years since the House of Commons voted, by 274 to 12, for Britain to recognise the State of Palestine alongside Israel. It was the first time in decades that Parliament … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Recognition | Comments Off

A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the Struggle That Shaped the Middle East by James Barr

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Review by Patrick Seale, originally printed in The Financial Times, 2011. The story of how Britain and France carved up the Arab world between them after the first world war has often been told but James Barr’s new book, A … Continue reading →

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Why Does Annexation Look Like a Problem and Not an Opportunity?

Posted on October 12, 2020 by Diana Safieh

By Ian S. Lustick from Logos, a journal of modern society and culture. For more than forty years experts and politicians have warned of Israel’s creeping de facto annexation of the West Bank. In 1982 Meron Benvenisti and Thomas Friedman … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, News | Comments Off

Illusions and Delusions about Peace in the Middle East

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Diana Safieh

A commentary by Andrew Whitley, with introduction by Sir Vincent Fean I commend to you Andrew Whitley’s thoughtful analysis, below, of current British Government policy on the Israel/Palestine conflict. Andrew asks if our Foreign Secretary’s recent visit signals sustained Government … Continue reading →

Posted in Balfour Project viewpoint, News | Comments Off

Labour MP Stephen Kinnock initiated debate on the settlement and annexation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Thursday 24 September 2020 Click here to view video. 3.13 pm Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon) (Lab)I beg to move, That this House has considered settlement and annexation of the Occupied Palestinian territories. This country has a unique place in history and … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, Britain's current role, Current Positions, News | Comments Off

Jerusalem: from Past Divisions to a Shared Future?

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Below you will find both audio and video recordings, as well as transcripts, of each session of our Online Conference on 27 October 2020. Click here for conference brochure. Click here to read the statement. IntroductionWelcome: Sir Vincent Fean (BP … Continue reading →

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Palestinian Christian leaders criticise Israel-UAE agreement

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Diana Safieh

“Real peace begins in Palestine” An Open Letter to The Most Reverend David Malloy, Bishop of Rockford, Illinois, ChairUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on International Justice and Peace They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, “Peace, peace,” … Continue reading →

Posted in News, USA | Comments Off

Palestinian clergy: ‘Annexation could be the final straw for a viable Christian presence in Palestine’

Posted on September 2, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Published by Mondoweiss on 20 August 2020 by Jeff Wright “Annexation could be the final straw when it comes to a viable Christian presence in Palestine,” declare pastors representing four of the Holy Land’s historic denominations. “For Palestine, Bethlehem and … Continue reading →

Posted in Annexation, Current Positions, News | Comments Off

Palestine: 1947 escape from British prison exposed as inside job

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Published in The Guardian, 30 Aug 2020 by Oliver Holmes, Jerusalem Correspondent Exclusive: architect leaked plans to Jewish militants leading to raid seen as signifying London’s declining control The family of a decorated British civil servant who built a notorious … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Post-Mandate Period | Comments Off

Unseen question? Zionism and the Palestinians under the British Mandate

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Diana Safieh

A live online talk given in October 2020. Ian Black: Thanks very much for inviting me to give this talk. It is based on the research for my book, Enemies and Neighbours: Arabs and Jews in Palestine and Israel, 1917-2017, … Continue reading →

Posted in Nakba, Past, Recordings | Comments Off

Resources for Educators

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Guidance for Teaching Controversial Issues Advice from the National Education Union – Conflict in the Middle East: Issues for Schools. National Education Union (NEU)This guidance identifies challenges which teachers may face teaching this topic and provides guidance on how to approach … Continue reading →

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Former Israeli Ambassador Dr. Alon Liel – Is the failed formal annexation attempt a regional turning point?

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Diana Safieh

A talk given online in September 2020. Alon Liel is a courageous man. He dares to speak truth to power, and knows the cost of this in his own life. While calling for an end to occupation and for equal … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Past, Recordings | Comments Off

The British Government’s current position on Israel and Palestine

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Question by Baroness Northover (Lib Dem) on 24th September 2020 (HL8468) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made ofreports that the government of Israel is demolishing water, sanitation and hygiene structures used by Palestinians in the West … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, Misc | Comments Off

The British Government’s current position on Israel and Palestine: Recognition of Palestine as a state

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Question by Baroness Janke (lib Dem) on 7th February 2022 (HL6030) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to recognise Palestine as an independent state. Answer from Lord Ahmed (Conservative) on 21st February 2022 We continue to work … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions, Recognition | Comments Off

The British Government’s current position on Israel and Palestine: Living conditions in Gaza

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Diana Safieh

Question by Baroness Sheehan (Lib Dem) on 21st May 2021 (HL535) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of reductions in the Overseas Development Assistance Budget on donations to organisations bringing humanitarian aid to … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain's current role, Current Positions | Comments Off

Author Archives: Diana Safieh

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