In an act of protest, members of the Palestine Action group targeted Trinity College Cambridge, destroying a painting of Lord Arthur Balfour.
The incident, captured in a video shared by the protest group, shows a demonstrator using a sharp object to deface the portrait and spraying it with red paint.
Lord Balfour, a Conservative politician, is known for his association with the Balfour Declaration of 1917, a pivotal moment in British history.
Balfour Declaration and its Historical Significance
The Balfour Declaration, named after Lord Balfour, was a public statement by the British government in 1917, endorsing the creation of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
This declaration laid the groundwork for the establishment of Israel in 1948. Lord Balfour, who served as the UK Foreign Secretary, conveyed this declaration in a letter to Lord Rothschild, a prominent British Jewish leader.
The consequences of the Balfour Declaration included increased support for Zionism within the Jewish community and played a role in the founding of Mandatory Palestine.
Lord Balfour’s Political Career and the Defaced Portrait
Lord Balfour succeeded his uncle, Lord Salisbury, as Prime Minister in 1902 and served until his resignation in 1905. Later, he became the Foreign Secretary under David Lloyd George.
The defaced portrait, an oil on canvas painting by artist Philip Alexius de Laszlo, was completed in 1914 and is currently housed at the University of Cambridge.
The destruction of this historical artwork is a stark manifestation of the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Protesters’ Perspective and Criticism
The Palestine Action group, in response to the presence of Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms supplier in Britain, justified their actions.
They pointed to Lord Balfour’s role in giving away the Palestinian homeland through the Balfour Declaration, describing it as a betrayal of a land that was not his to give.
The group accused the British of initiating ethnic cleansing in Palestine, referencing arbitrary killings, arrests, torture, sexual violence, and home demolitions as collective punishment during the period from the Balfour Declaration until 1948.
Focus on Elbit Systems and Continued Protest
The protesters specifically targeted Elbit Systems, accusing them of using captive Palestinians in Gaza as a human laboratory for developing weapons.
They asserted that Britain’s collaboration with Elbit Systems and its complicity in the colonization of Palestine must end.
The group vowed to persist in their direct campaign until Elbit is shut down, emphasizing their commitment to ending British involvement in the alleged colonization.
Broader Pro-Palestine Activism in the UK
The destruction of the Balfour portrait is part of a larger wave of pro-Palestine activism in the UK, marked by demonstrations and rallies across the country.
Since the Israel-Hamas war, activists have been expressing their solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
However, Britain’s counter-extremism tsar, Robert Simcox, has raised concerns about the rise of extremism, stating that London is becoming a ‘no-go zone for Jews’ and criticizing the government for allowing extremists to go unchallenged.
Response from Trinity College and Ongoing Investigations
Trinity College expressed regret over the damage caused to the portrait of Lord Balfour during public opening hours.
The police have been informed, and support is being offered to members of the college community affected by the incident. The University of Cambridge and Cambridge Constabulary are yet to comment on the situation.
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