The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) recently hosted a virtual panel discussion titled "Britain and Palestine: 107 Years of the Ramifications of Balfour," bringing together distinguished voices to explore the lasting impacts of the Balfour Declaration on Palestinian rights, British colonialism, and ongoing global ramifications. Moderated by activist Farrah Kouteineh, the event featured renowned speakers including Irish socialist and human rights advocate Tommy McKearney, political expert Saeb Shaath, investigative journalist David Cronin, and human rights advocate Maryam Al Dossari.

The speakers provided insightful analysis and engaged in critical reflection on the declaration’s legacy, detailing how it set a foundation for systemic oppression that still affects Palestinians today. The discussion was enriched by a thorough examination of historical resistance movements, the British colonial strategy, and international policies toward Palestine.

The panel opened with David Cronin, an acclaimed Irish journalist and editor with The Electronic Intifada, who is also the author of Balfour’s Shadow: A Century of British Support for Zionism and Israel. Cronin examined the Balfour Declaration as a deliberate political move that disregarded Palestinian self-determination, paving the way for the systematic disenfranchisement of the Palestinian people. He traced how British support evolved into full-scale assistance, pointing out that Britain’s strategic decisions during its mandate in Palestine created conditions for the mass displacement of Palestinians. Cronin also highlighted recent media silence on Britain’s ongoing role, including surveillance operations over Gaza, revealing the extent of complicity and reinforcing the urgent need for accountability.

Following Cronin, Saeb Shaath, a Middle Eastern political expert, former Palestinian diplomat, and co-founder of Irish Medical Aid for Palestine, presented a detailed historical account of settler colonialism, positioning Zionism within a broader context of imperialism that had its roots in British colonial strategies tested first in Ireland. Shaath explained that the British mandate built political structures to support Zionist settlement, a form of colonialism intended to dispossess and replace indigenous Palestinians. Shaath called for legal accountability for British and Western leaders involved in sustaining policies that continue to oppress Palestinians.

Tommy McKearney, an Irish socialist, former IRA member, and lifelong human rights activist, shared his insights on parallels between British colonial practices in Ireland and Palestine. Drawing from his personal experiences, McKearney discussed how the British Empire historically used settler-colonial tactics to create divisions, an approach also applied in Palestine to establish control over strategic regions. McKearney emphasized that Britain’s and the U.S.’s continued support for Israel, as a colonial outpost in the Middle East, mirrors the imperial intentions seen in Northern Ireland, asserting that the "divide and rule" strategy is designed to keep colonizers and native populations at odds to benefit imperial interests. He predicted that without imperial support, Israel could eventually face a fate similar to that of the British presence in Northern Ireland.

The final speaker, Maryam Al Dossari, a human rights advocate, highlighted the direct human impact of British and Zionist policies on Palestinian communities. Al Dossari focused on the ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza and the West Bank, pointing to the daily challenges Palestinians face under occupation, including home demolitions, restricted access to essential resources, and an overall erosion of rights. She urged the international community to recognize and address the humanitarian toll of these policies, describing the suffering of Palestinian families as a tragic consequence of colonial ambitions that began with the Balfour Declaration.

During the Q&A, the panelists addressed Britain’s current involvement in the crisis, notably its provision of military and surveillance support to Israel. They also discussed Ireland’s solidarity with Palestine, while critiquing the Irish government for its limited action in enforcing policies that would effectively counter the Israeli occupation. Cronin and Shaath highlighted recent discoveries of Irish airspace being used to transport munitions to Israel, revealing the depth of Western complicity in what the panelists described as “a modern-day genocide.”

The PRC emphasized the need for awareness, advocacy, and legal accountability. The organization encourages the public to engage with their efforts by following PRC on social media and supporting upcoming events aimed at amplifying Palestinian voices and advocating for justice.

Watch the discussion

https://youtube.com/live/nss9QBoPCSc