29. The Nature of Zionism, according to an English Christian (1749)

To the arguments drawn from prophecy, we may add some concurring evidences, which the present circumstances of the Jews suggest.
First, then, The Jews are yet a distinct people from all the nations amongst which they reside. They seem therefore reserved by Providence for some such signal favour, after they have suffered the due chastisement.
Secondly, they are to be found in all the countries of the known world. And this agrees with many remarkable passages of the Scriptures, which treat both of their dispersion, and of their return.
Thirdly, thy have no inheritance of land in any country. Their possessions are chiefly money and jewels. They may therefore transfer themselves with the greater facility to Palestine.
Fourthly, they are treated with contempt and harshness, and sometimes with great cruelty, by the nations amongst whom they sojourn. They must therefore be the more ready to return to their own land.
Fifthly, they carry on a correspondence with each other throughout the whole world; and consequently must both know when circumstances begin to favour their return, and be able to concert measures with one another concerning it.
Sixthly, a great part of them speak and write the Rabbinical Hebrew, as well as the language of the country where they reside. They are therefore, as far as relates to themselves, actually possessed of an universal language and character; which is a circumstance that may facilitate their return, beyond what can well be imagined.
Seventhly, the Jews themselves still retain a hope and expectation, that God will once more restore them to their own land.
(David Hartley, Observations on Man)

32. France Will Aid the Restoration of Israel (From a Jew’s call to his brethren, 1798)

Brothers, you who for many generations have groaned under the oppression of most cruel persecutions, do you not want to be rid of a condition of vile humiliation inflicted on you by intolerant and cruel religions? Contempt goes with us everywhere, our suffering brings us not pity but loathing. The steadfast loyalty with which we have kept our fathers’ faith, far from bringing us the admiration such conduct deserves, has only increased the unjust hatred all nations feel for us. Only by keeping an appearance of humility and poverty do we protect our property and maintain our wretched existence. The time has finally come to unburden ourselves of the unbearable load. The time has come to return to our rightful place among the nations of the world. Despicable thieves have possession of the Holy Land, which we protected so bravely. - - Our bravery is only dormant. The time has come to awaken it. Oh, my brothers! Let us rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem! An unvanquished nation that now fills the world with its glory has shown us what can be accomplished by a love of homeland. Let us plead to its generous spirit and ask for its assistance; and we may be sure that the philosophy that guides the leaders of that nation will cause them to cordially grant our wish.
We are more than six millions, scattered over the whole earth; we possess great riches. Let us use all the means at our disposal to rebuild our land. This is the hour of grace, and it is imperative upon us to use it.
(After The Book of Zionism)

34. Rumors of Napoleon’s Call for the Reestablishment of a State for the Jews (4.17.1799)

Bonaparte has ordered to issue a proclamation calling all Jews of Asia and Africa to assemble under his flag and reestablish ancient Jerusalem. He has already armed a great number of them, and their forces are threatening Aleppo. Inhabitants of the region around Damascus are rising against the Sultan. The Great One is about to set off for Syria to head the battle against Bonaparte.

35. Proclamation of Bonaparte, Commander-in-Chief of the French Republic’s Armies in Africa and Asia, to the Rightful Heirs of the Land of Israel (4.20.1799)

O Israel, the Chosen People! The conquering tyrants have robbed you of your ancestors’ land, but could not erase the memory and the existence of your nation! - - You who are exiles, awake with joy! A war such as there has never been in world history, a war of defense for a nation whose enemies conspired to take its inherited lands like spoils for the sharing, cruelly and maliciously, by a mere stroke of a cabinet’s pen. Now it takes vengeance for its own humiliation and that of all the banished nations long enslaved – the humiliation imposed upon you for two thousand years. And now, when it seems that the time is not favorable for the reclaiming of your rights - - just at this time - - you are offered the land of your fathers! - -
Rightful heirs to the land!
That great nation that will not barter in people and lands, as did those who sold your ancestors (Joel 4:6), calls to you. It is not by conquest that you will take the land of your fathers, but rather you shall receive the land that has already been conquered by this nation. With this nation’s protection and support you shall dwell in the land as masters and defend it against all who assail it.

Awake, awake! Prove that the crushing power of your oppressors has only encouraged the descendants of those heroes with whom Sparta and Rome were honored to be allied (Maccabees 12:15). Show that even your treatment as slaves for thousands of years has not suppressed this courage.
Make haste! Here comes the moment that may not come again for thousands of years, to demand the reinstatement of those civil rights so shamefully denied you – your right to exist as a nation among nations, and your natural, unrestricted right to worship according to the laws of your Torah, before the eyes of the whole world, in truth and for all eternity (Joel 4:20).
Chief Headquarters, Jerusalem

36. Rabbi’s Call to Enlist in Napoleon’s Army

From Aharon son of Levy, Rabbi of Jerusalem, to the Jews in exile in the lands of the west and the east, the south and the north (1799, Month of Nissan 5559).
It is excessive to add to the letter sent you by Providence’s chosen, Bonaparte, most enlightened Commander-in-Chief of France’s troops in Africa and Asia. But I, Aharon son of Levy from the tribe of Levy – who by the grace of our God the Lord of Hosts, after there had been no rabbi here for many generations, have the honor of being Chief Rabbi of the Holy City – have seen fit to encourage the timid by reminding you of chapter four in the book of Joel son of Pethuel, chapter two in the book of Zephania, and chapters two and three of the book of Malachi.
My brothers and friends! Lo, the great prophecies that are recounted there have already been largely fulfilled by the victories of the great nation’s armies. Today it is for us to choose not to be as children of harlotry (Hosea 1:2) but faithful children of Israel, who aspire to dwell in the land of God’s people, so that we may behold the graciousness of the Lord and visit in His temple (Psalms 27:4).
Be you light as eagles and strong as lions, as our fathers were in the days of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah and Ezra son of Seraiah, so that you may raise the walls of the bereaved city and build the temple of the Lord now and forever.
Proclaim this among the nations, wherever the children of Israel are scattered. Prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all weapon-wielding men go forth; let even the weak say: “I am strong.” (Joel 4).
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless the work of your hands and fulfill His promise to our fathers. May He remember all that the great nation has done for us, and may the whole nation declare, as Gideon declared in the days of Joash (Judges 7):
The sword for the Lord and for Bonaparte!

47. Excerpt from the memorandum of Lord Ashley (Shaftesbury) to British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston (9.25.1840)

- - Without going into the reasons for the Hebrew race’s desire and hope of returning eventually to its ancestors’ land, one may safely say that its people do think of their return to Palestine. Moreover, they believe that this return is imminent. All the reminiscences of the past and all the opportunities of the future increase their hope; and it is only fear for their persons and estates that hinders their efforts. If the Governing Power of the Syrian provinces were to offer equal laws and equal protection to Jew and Gentile and declare this under the guarantee of the Four Powers, ratified by an article in the treaty, then the way would immediately be cleared, confidence would be restored and would spread throughout these regions, bringing with it some of the world’s wealth and enterprise, and calling forth - by assuaging their fears - the hidden wealth and industry of the Jewish people.
There are numerous reasons to expect greater things of them than of any other nation that would settle there. They have ancient reminiscences and deep affection for their land: it is connected in their minds to all that was bright in ages past and all that shall be bright in the future. Their industry and perseverance are prodigious; they can subsist on a pittance; they are accustomed almost everywhere to arbitrary rule, and since they are indifferent to all political ends, their hopes are concentrated in deriving pleasure from what they can accumulate. Many years of suffering have accustomed them to patience and self-denial; they would rejoice at the opportunity of dedicating their strength to settling and serving their ancient land.
If we consider their return in light of the resettlement of Palestine, we shall see that this will be the cheapest and safest mode of fulfilling the needs of these unpopulated provinces. The Jews will return at their own expense with no hazard but to themselves; they will submit to the existing form of government, since they have no set theories that must be implemented. And since they are accustomed, almost everywhere, to submit to autocracy, they will recognize the present ownership of the land and be content to obtain part of its produce by the legitimate means of rent or purchase. Being detached from all the nations of the land, they will demand no national or political sympathies to assist them against unjust acts. The guarantee I propose to include in the treaty will be reinforced by the personal protection of the Four Powers’ consuls and vice-consuls, and will suffice to protect the Jews and their rights.
The plan proposed here is supported by the argument that it guarantees prolific results with very small expenditure; that no pecuniary outlay is required of the participating states; and that disappointment will bring no dire consequences except to those who reject the proposal, whereas the benefits to be derived from it would belong to the whole civilized world.

48. To the Children of the Maccabees.

Excerpt from a speech made by Charles Henry Churchill, British Consul in Syria, at a Damascus banquet (1940)
Indeed, my friends, there once was a Jewish nation in this world, renowned for its wisdom and honored in its wars. These delightful prairies and valleys, now inhabited by barbarous nomads and having become a terrible wilderness, once flourished abundantly, yielded profuse harvests and rang with the singing of the daughters of Zion. May the time of Israel’s redemption be approaching. May Western civilization draw nearer and bring to this desirable land the dawn of its revival, the beginning of its life as a state; may the Hebrew nation reclaim its erstwhile standing and honor among the world’s nations. The children of the Maccabees’ children will be worthy of their exalted ancestors.

49. Resolutions taken by the Christian Congregations of Carlow and Dublin, under the Presidency of the Dean of Leighlin (2.22.1841)

1. Since the mighty Lord, in his kindness, has freed Palestine by British weapons from Egyptian rule, we believe that Her Majesty the Queen will wish to apply her considerable influence and extend to the Jews her protection against the terrible hardships which they have been suffering in their fathers’ land for centuries. - -
3. Since it has been Divinely decided that the Jews return to their land and that the Gentiles assist them in their return, we consider it Her Majesty’s duty to labor towards the realization of these desired goals.
4. Just as we deem it Her Majesty’s duty to use all means at her disposal to protect God’s ancient people and return them to their ancestors’ land, we consider it no less her sacred duty to rally the Jews to this honorable cause and encourage them to realize it. - - We therefore resolve to transmit the enclosed memoranda to Lord Palmerston, Her Majesty’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs, as an expression of our views.

65. “Time to Raise the Banner of Judah”, from a proclamation issued by the Bilu movement (1882)

- - We turn to you, nobles of the children of Israel, and call from the depths of our hearts: carry a flag to Zion, and under your banner shall we go forth! Too long have we wandered in foreign lands, forever hearing voices of abuse. Let there be an end to our bitter exile, and after thousands of years’ travels let us find rest for our weary souls in the land of our fathers. There we shall dwell in dignity, peace and quiet upon our own land, and by the labor of our hands shall we have our fill of bread, and know no evil. There we shall be strangers no longer. There we shall work with industrious hands. And little by little the nation of Israel shall rise again, restored after its terrible defeat, and once again become a great, free nation, as in the days of yore. There and only there shall we fix our gaze on the days yet to come. The land is exceedingly close to our hearts, and together with the exiles of Babylon we cry: “If we forget thee, O Jerusalem, may our right hand forget its cunning!” We will sacrifice our very life-blood for the sake of our ancestors’ land. - -

To Zion! To Zion! To the land of our fathers, the land of Israel! It is time to raise the banner of Judah!
(Odessa, Nissan 5642)

66. A Call, by David Gordon

Awake, our brothers! For two millennia you fought and did not perish, and still you shall live! – There is hope for your work, you will yet flourish and prosper, and they that hate you shall be clothed with shame! Look to your wondrous history, O nation of Israel! Thrice you were exiled, twice you have already been redeemed, from Egypt and from Babylon, and you shall be redeemed a third time. Now our brethren have made the first step, establishing farming colonies for our persecuted, afflicted kinsmen. And if you fulfill your task then the Rock and Redeemer of Israel will fulfill his, and will aid you. Be not afraid of this generation’s jesters, the traitors of your people who abuse us, for even when Israel came out of Egypt did Pharaoh say: See ye that evil is before your face; and when Ezra the Scribe came to Jerusalem, the Samaritans came to discourage the builders of its walls and mock them. But our fathers did truly wish to be redeemed, and paid no heed to their words. You too, brethren, if you are truly weary of hearing the curses of those who hate you, then you will not heed the words of our foes within and without. Revive, our brethren, and live! For the desire for life is life itself!
(“To the scattered nation of Israel”, Hamagid)

674. Outright Rejection of Balfour Declaration

From the petition of Amin Husseini, President of the Arab Higher Committee, to the Mandate Commission (7.23.1937)
Since the publication of the Balfour Declaration in 1917 the Arabs have not ceased to repudiate it forcefully, using every congress, every political plan and delegation, to declare their adamant rejection of it. They have always emphasized its invalidity, its self-contradictory nature, its unjust approach and its one-sidedness. The formula it proposes means the betrayal of Arabs in Palestine. Accordingly they have continually demanded the withdrawal of this declaration, and have not ceased to warn the authorities of the trouble it may bring to Palestine.