Category Archives: Events

Jonathan Kuttab on Defending Palestinian human rights: what role for the U.K.?

Online talk given in October 2021 Jonathan Kuttab is a co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International.  He is Executive Director of Friends of Sabeel North America. Download his book for free. Jonathan Kuttab: … Continue reading

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Hannah Weisfeld of Yachad on Ending the Occupation for the good of all

Online talk given in September 2021 Hannah is the director and a founder of Yachad. Yachad works to mobilise British Jews in support of a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She previously chaired the Jewish Social Action Forum for … Continue reading

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Sir Vincent Fean on Palestine/Israel: Britain’s role, then and now

Online talk given in August 2021 Sir Vincent Fean was a member of the British Diplomatic Service between 1975 and 2014. His last post was as Consul-General, Jerusalem (2010-14). Before Jerusalem, he was Ambassador to Libya, and previously High Commissioner … Continue reading

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Tinderbox Q&A with Gillian Mosely, Robert Cohen and Tim Llewellyn

Click here to visit the official Tinderbox website for information about future screenings. THETINDERBOX – TRAILER from Tinderbox Film on Vimeo. Panel discussion with director of Tinderbox Gillian Mosely, Amos Trust trustee Robert Cohen and Balfour Project executive committee member … Continue reading

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Sophie Bridger on Education Under Occupation – Eyewitness Testimony from the West Bank

July 2021 Sophie Bridger served as a Human Rights Monitor with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel in 2019. During her time in the West Bank, she observed numerous human rights violations, and witnessed the impact of ongoing … Continue reading

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Mapping Palestine: an online exhibition

Click here to read coverage in The National News. The majority of Britons today are ignorant of Britain’s colonial role in Palestine and its impact on the current reality. This is one of the key reasons why some people are … Continue reading

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Eugene Rogan – Neither Pro-Zionist nor Pro-Arab but Pro-Empire: A Re-assessment of British Policy in the Palestine Mandate

Eugene Rogan is Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at Oxford University, where he has taught since 1991, a Fellow of St Antony’s College and Director of the Middle East Centre. He took his B.A. in economics from Columbia, and … Continue reading

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Why the rule of law matters – Rt Hon Baroness Hale of Richmond

Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference. Sir Vincent Fean: Good day, everybody. And welcome to our … Continue reading

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Conference conclusion with Lord Alderdice and Andrew Whitley

Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference.

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Parliamentary panel – Jack Straw, Wayne David MP, Layla Moran MP, Joanna Cherry QC MP, moderated by Lord Alderdice

Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference. Lord Alderdice: Wayne David is Member of Parliament for Caerphilly … Continue reading

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Can international law prevail in Israel/Palestine, and if so, how? The role of the UK – Rt Hon Jack Straw

Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference. Andrew Whitley: I would like to now introduce Lord Alderdice, … Continue reading

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4 case studies from Issam Younis, Hagit Ofran, Sahar Francis & Nada Kiswanson

Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference. Michael Lynk: And I think it is now my happy … Continue reading

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International Law: indispensable in the search for a just Middle East peace – Prof Michael Lynk

Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference. Andrew Whitley: Good afternoon and welcome, everyone. My name is … Continue reading

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A rights-based approach – Zaha Hassan & The dual legal system – Michael Sfard

Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference. Dominic Grieve QC: Good afternoon. We are now going to … Continue reading

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Israel/Palestine: recent developments at the ICJ and ICC – Philippe Sands QC

Speaking at the Balfour Project online 2-day conference “Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law” on 25/26 May 2021. Click here to view the other speakers at the conference. Dominic Grieve QC: Now it’s my great pleasure to introduce … Continue reading

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Nadia Hijab on Moving Beyond Statehood Debates and on to How We Get There

Nadia Hijab is co-founder and President of Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, the transnational Palestinian think tank. She is a writer, public speaker and media commentator. Her first book, Womanpower: The Arab debate on women at work was published by … Continue reading

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John Lyndon – Northern Ireland & Israel/Palestine: what two differing paradigms can teach us about conflict resolution

John Lyndon is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), the largest network of peacebuilding NGOs in Israel/Palestine. He brings with him over a decade of experience leading NGOs concerned with conflict resolution and international development, … Continue reading

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Rev Dr Munther Isaac – Christian Zionism as Imperial Theology

Thank you all for joining us. I’m privileged to speak to you and address this really important and relevant topic of Christian Zionism as an imperial theology. The impact and influence of Christian Zionism have been manifested, especially in the … Continue reading

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Raja Shehadeh on Britain and Palestine, a family history

A live online talk in March 2021. Raja Shehadeh is a lawyer and writer and the founder of the pioneering Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq. Shehadeh is the author of several acclaimed books published by Profile Books including the … Continue reading

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Israel/Palestine: in search of the rule of law

More info to follow. Click here to reserve your free place.

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Arabella Dorman on The Audacity of Hope

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

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

Cick 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

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

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

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In Conversation with Leila Sansour

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

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Souvenir Booklet from our Jerusalem Conference 2020

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In Conversation with Leila Sansour – Bethlehem at Christmas 2020

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

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

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

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Conference on Jerusalem – Closing Remarks & Statement

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

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Conference on Jerusalem – Session VI: Questions and Answers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Jerusalem: from Past Divisions to a Shared Future?

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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Unseen question? Zionism and the Palestinians under the British Mandate

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

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

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

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John McHugo on Why Britain has a Special Responsibility to the Palestinian People Today

A talk given online on 30th June 2020. John McHugo is a trustee of the Balfour Project and a board member of CAABU, The Council for Arab British Understanding. This paper is the edited text of a Balfour Project talk … Continue reading

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Evaluating the Balfour Declaration: Breaking the Deadlock in the Middle East

On Saturday May 18th 2013, the Balfour Project held a one day conference at The Stripe, University of Winchester exploring the different legacies of the Balfour Declaration and how a greater understanding of history can contribute to justice and peace … Continue reading

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Tim Llewellyn on The Crafting of the News: the British media and the Israel-Palestine Question

A talk given online in August 2020. Tim Llewellyn: Hello, everyone. I want to start by saying two basic things to plan out, to map out my thesis, if you like, about the British media coverage, particularly the broadcasting media … Continue reading

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Toppling Balfour, a talk by Sarah Helm

A live online talk given in July 2020 Welcome everyone. Sarah Helm was a staff correspondent for The Sunday Times and a foreign correspondent for The Independent and she’s written two books, most recently, If This is a Woman about … Continue reading

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Navigating Isolation Through Music – A PalMusic Online Event with Sir Vincent Fean – 26th July 2020

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Andrew Whitley on The UN, Britain and Palestine/Israel – 1947 to Present Day

A talk given online in June 2020. Andrew Whitley: My thanks to so many of you for taking the trouble today to attend this online talk from the Balfour Project, I hope you will find it stimulating and thought-provoking. It … Continue reading

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Vincent Fean on Illegal Settlements and UNRWA

Q&A Session with Sir Vincent Fean, Chair of the Balfour Project Vincent Fean: It’s a pleasure to be with you. I think it’s important for us to address questions raised by participants at the 2 April talk. We will try … Continue reading

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Screening with Q&A – Britain in Palestine: 1917-1948

3pm UK time, Thursday 7th May 2020 Click here to register. 

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Palestine/Israel: Britain’s role, then and now

Online talk by Sir Vincent Fean, Balfour Project, 2 April 2020 Read the transcript below: Vincent: A welcome to all. Thank you all for joining the Balfour Project today. I think it’s important to have this discussion to keep the … Continue reading

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Tragedy in Gaza: Britain’s legacy Scotland’s role

Conference Edinburgh March 2019 Gaza, under Israeli military occupation since 1967, is home to two million Palestinians. Most are there because in 1948, when Britain abandoned its Mandate for Palestine, Gaza gave refuge to Palestinians forced to flee from the … Continue reading

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‘The news from Gaza: dispelling myths and telling the truth’

The Glasgow Balfour Project event. March 14, 2019. ( Held at the Sir Charles Wilson Building, Glasgow University, 7.30pm-9.30pm Thursday March 14, 2019) Hala Safadi, a film-maker from Gaza, made the essential point: “The truth is always censored for the … Continue reading

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Conferences in Glasgow and Edinburgh

 March 14th and 17th 2019 On March 14th at  300 people at Glasgow University heard former British and Israeli diplomats and distinguished journalists speak on ‘The news from Gaza: dispelling myths and telling the truth’.  The following Sunday at Edinburgh University … Continue reading

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Britain Palestine Israel – 70 years on

Donate A  20-page booklet is now available containing the speeches at the conference of the Balfour Project in partnership with King’s College London (see below). The booklet also includes the Balfour Centenary Declaration, which has now been signed by 141 … Continue reading

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