The Balfour Declaration and Sykes-Picot Agreement

As the First World War raged across Europe and the Middle East, the fate of the vast Ottoman Empire hung in the balance. For centuries, Palestine had been an integral part of this empire, experiencing periods of both relative autonomy and centralized control. The war's outcome would dramatically reshape the region, ushering in a new era defined by external powers and competing national aspirations.

Amidst the conflict, Great Britain, alongside its allies, began to make plans for the post-war division of Ottoman territories. These plans were often contradictory, reflecting the complex and sometimes conflicting goals of the Allied powers. Two key documents emerged from this period that would have profound and lasting consequences for Palestine: the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration.