“Night after night the city sighed, as if its pulse was
fading away, weaker and weaker, night after night. And with it sighed every
nation and every people in the Holy City.”
David Kimche, in The Last Year of
the World War.
In 1917, the British Empire issued what became known as the
Balfour Declaration, which stated that there was going to be a National Home
for the Jewish people. At that time, England was the greatest empire in the
whole world.
1917. Jerusalem’s occupants were desperate. Since the
beginning of the Great War, three years earlier, they had been subjected to
famine, epidemics and destruction. This period of starvation and deprivation
under Turkish rule in the final days of Ottoman authority was now coming to an
end. After 400 years of Ottoman rule, Jerusalem had passed into British hands.
In the night of December 8, 1917, the Ottoman Turks
abandoned the city of Jerusalem.
The Turkish governor handed a letter of
surrender to the mayor, Hussein al-Husseini. Carrying a white flag, accompanied
by high ranking officers, the mayor eventually found the right British officers
to hand over Jerusalem. (There are different accounts and myths on what
actually happened.)
December 9, 1917, he first day of Hanukkah and two weeks
before Christmas, the British Imperial Army entered Jerusalem under the command
of General Edmund Allenby.
It was the beginning of a new chapter in the history
of Jerusalem.
On December 10, a formal announcement was made in the British
parliament. Throughout Europe, church bells (Bells of Redemption) pealed in
thanksgiving and special prayers were held in synagogues. In the eyes of Jews
and Christians, Allenby’s entry into Jerusalem was a historic event. The Jews
called it a “Hanukkah miracle” while the Christian world regard it as a “Christmas
present”.
On December 11, people streamed toward Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate.
Cheering crowds packed the roofs
Link to historic footage: http://www.colonialfilm.org.uk/node/6131
“Not a trumpet was sounded as the English army entered the
Holy City. […] Hush! To avoid desecrating the sanctity of the Divine presence
hovering over the Holy City. “ The Palestine News.
Standing above the steps at the entrance to the Citadel of
David, General Allenby was flanked by military officers and religious and
civilian dignitaries. His proclamation, issued in several languages, was read
out in English, Arabic, French and Italian.
The Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts literally ‘beat swords
into plowshares’ by embellishing used shell cases with different decorative
motifs. Christmas cards and souvenirs were sent out from the Holy City.
The British military administration took steps to establish
new order and restore normal life. By imposing military administration (martial
law, issues in seven languages) they also supplied food and water and began to
collect taxes. As the Turkish postal services had collapsed, the British
offered free civilian postal services in Jerusalem. They also outlawed Turkish
money and introduced British coinage.
In December 1918, The Palestine News wrote:
“The Jewish neighborhoods are lit up tonight, the first
candle of Hanukkah dancing joyfully in every window […] This time, they say the
English were the Hasmoneans and general Sir Allenby was Judas Maccabeus.”
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1918 Christmas card:
Residents of Jerusalem emerge from hiding at the sight of British warplanes hoeriing over the city. Associated with Isaiah’s vision, symbolizing the city’s miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian army in 701 BC and the sanctitiy of Jerusalem “As birds flying, so shal the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem.” Isiaiah 31:5
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Conquest Babylonia – deliverance by the R.A.F.
7 times – 2520 years
“I will punish you yet seven times for your sins.” Lev.
26:24
“As birds flying, so shall the Lord of Hosts defend
Jerusalem.” Isaiah 31:5
Exactly 100 years later, December 11, 2017, we had the privilege to witness the historic re-enactment of Allenby's entry into Jerusalem. Actors mingled with the many tourists and Israelis, and family members of the people who had been part of this event in 1917, were also in attendance.
In Genesis 12:3 we read what God promised Abraham:
“I will
bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you…”
However, instead of continuing to be a blessing to the Jewish people,
the British Empire opted to become a curse to them by issuing the “White Paper”
and giving 77% of the promised territory to the Arabs.
Obadiah 1:15 says “The
day of the Lord is near for all nations. And as you [nations] have done, it’s
going to be done unto you. Your deeds will return upon your own head.”
From
1948 onwards, the once powerful British Empire eventually lost everything.
But that’s another story...
