‘British Christian History and the Jewish People: Recovering an Ancient Spiritual Legacy’ by James E Patrick (2017, Grove Books, E187 in the Grove Ethics Series)
This 28-page booklet by an Oxford-educated Theology researcher, published in recognition of the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, looks at its background in almost two millennia of British history. Patrick acknowledges, as he proceeds, that “the history and identity of Britain has been profoundly shaped by the Bible” and argues that this heritage ought to shape our thinking today.
Though short, the booklet is a well-referenced historical study with chapters ranging from ‘Solidarity with the Israelites: 200-1066’ through to ‘The British Mandate and its Ramifications: 1917-2017’. A short recommended reading list provides opportunities to explore the issue further.
The author does not dismiss our society’s historic anti-Semitism, but also shows how Britain at various stages has supported the Jewish people. It was instructive to read how God’s promises in the Bible to the Jews used to be recognised and taught in this country, were lost during the ‘Enlightenment’ and were rediscovered by evangelicals who then promoted the restoration of a Jewish homeland through the 19th Century.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this booklet listed as part of Grove Books’ output, which is generally much more ‘mainstream’ in terms of churchmanship. I found it a most helpful, concise summary to use as a basis for focussed prayer. It could also usefully be offered to people with little or no real knowledge of Britain’s Judeo-Christian heritage. I heartily commend it to a wider readership.
‘British Christian History and the Jewish People’ is available from the publisher for £3.95 + P&P. Review by Sue Johnston.
‘90 Years On: Legal Aspects of Jewish Rights in the Mandate for Palestine’ by Roy Thurley (2010, Christian Friends of Israel, 10pp)
This short but well-produced and glossy booklet (with colour maps), produced from material presented at the 90th anniversary conference commemorating the San Remo Resolution, is just as relevant this year as we celebrate its centenary. It makes a very worthwhile contribution towards a better understanding of the aftermath of the Balfour Declaration and the subsequent British Mandate. For anyone who has not studied the legal aspect of the latter before, this booklet will be a revelatory discovery.
Its conclusion is that the Jewish state draws its legality from the San Remo Resolution of 1920, a fact that counters much of the misinformation spread in recent times, especially that which uses the United Nations Partition Plan of 1947 (Resolution 181) as its basis.
The only modification to the Mandate for Palestine was the creation of the Emirate of Trans-Jordan in 1946 (now Jordan). Thus, the provisions of the Mandate to the land west of the Jordan remain applicable to this day. It soon becomes clear that the expression ‘illegally occupied territory’ is totally inapplicable to Israel’s presence in what has become known as the ‘West Bank’, as well as other areas that were assigned to Israel under the 1920 San Remo agreement.
The booklet concludes that those who would deny Israel’s right to the territories it recaptured in 1967 should be challenged, and the fallacy of their claims should be countered by the legal case set out in its pages.
‘90 Years On’ is available from the publisher for £2.50 + P&P. Review by Paul Luckraft.
‘The Legal Foundation and Borders of Israel under International Law’ by Howard Grief (2008/2013, Mazo Publishers, 732pp)
For those wanting a more thorough, academic approach to the issues surrounding the San Remo Conference and with the time to explore in detail the matter of Jewish sovereignty over the land of Israel, then Howard Grief’s weighty, comprehensive treatise will appeal. The author was a Canadian Zionist and attorney who in the mid-1980s, as Hugh Kitson acknowledges in his article this week, rediscovered the official records of the San Remo Conference buried deep in the National Archives.
This volume is the result of 25 years of his serious study and analysis of Israel’s legal foundation and rights under international law and has enduring relevance today to arguments surrounding Israel’s sovereignty and borders. Helpfully, the author clarifies the use of the term ‘Palestine’, debates questions regarding the United Nations (especially Article 80) and explains why the San Remo Resolution became obscured and largely forgotten.
Even for those with a limited desire to understand San Remo, and with less time to pursue the topic, it will still be worth getting hold of a second-hand copy or finding it in a library. Rather than plough through it all, certain sections will suffice to clarify the main facts and arguments surrounding this issue. Two stand out, particularly: first, chapter 1 (pp18-44) covers the San Remo Conference and the San Remo Resolution. The other is part of Appendix V (pp702-714, entitled ‘Jewish Legal Rights and Title to the Land of Israel and Palestine’). These two passages will occupy around 30-60 minutes of reading time.
For those wanting to know more, there is a well-stocked index to consult which can open up new avenues of interest. This is an immensely detailed, well-researched reference book which will be a worthy addition to the shelves of anyone desiring to grapple with the legal legitimacy of the Jewish state.
‘The Legal Foundation and Borders of Israel under International Law’ is available from Amazon in paperback, hardback and Kindle forms. Review by Paul Luckraft.
