Balfour's Shadow

'His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object...' This is the opening sentence of the Balfour Declaration, written by the British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour in 1917. Its impact on history has been immense and still emanates one hundred years later, starting what has been referred to as a hundred years of war against the Palestinian people. For this controversial, fast-paced history, David Cronin traces the story of the rhetorical and practical assistance that Britain has given to the Zionist movement and the state of Israel since 1917. Focusing on important historical events such as the Arab Revolt, the Nakba and establishment of the state, the 56 and 67 wars, the Cold War and the Oslo period, as well as controversial figures such as Tony Blair, this book provides a fascinating take on this much-maligned, important history.