NEW YORK, NY… Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations commended Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) for introducing a concurrent resolution commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, which expressed the consensus of Britain’s allies, including the U.S., is support of “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.”
Stephen M. Greenberg, Chairman and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of the Conference of Presidents said, “The resolution introduced in Congress today represents a direct link to the 1922 resolution approving the Balfour Declaration unanimously adopted by Congress sponsored by Rep. Hamilton Fish in the House of Representatives and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge in the Senate.
The Balfour Declaration was included in the Treaty of Sevres that ended World War I and later codified in resolutions by the League of Nations. It was a decisive statement that renewed and energized the ages old dream of the Jewish people to re-establish an independent Jewish state in the place inhabited by Jews since ancient times.
Over one hundred years ago, President Woodrow Wilson committed U.S. support for the British initiative in favor of the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in the historic homeland of the Jews. President Warren Harding endorsed it in September 1922 when he signed the Lodge-Fish resolution.
From the Balfour Declaration to President Truman’s recognition of the State of Israel to today, steadfast U.S. support for the national aspirations of the Jewish people and the State of Israel has been a most critical element in achieving every milestone.
We thank Sen. Lankford and Sen. Manchin for introducing the Balfour Declaration resolution, and the Members of Congress from both parties who continue to demonstrate the deep commitment of the American people to maintaining and strengthening the U.S. – Israel bilateral relationship.”
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