Today marks 103 years since the infamous Balfour Declaration. Tomorrow, people around the world will be awaiting news of the most consequential U.S. presidential election in generations. Two events, 103 years apart, different contexts, yet where Palestine is concerned, the result is the same.

In 1917, white supremacist and anti-Semite Arthur Balfour, declared against the will of indigenous Palestinians: “His majesty’s government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” Balfour’s words were nothing short of a declaration of war, as historian Rashid Khalidi chronicles in his latest work, The Hundred Years War on Palestine.

At the core of Balfour’s declaration was a deeply rooted anti-Semitism that would soon claim the lives of millions across Europe. After all, the colonial campaign that ensued against Palestine was, in part, a solution to the so-called “Jewish Problem” in Europe – dating to 1750 in Great Britain and later propagated by staunch anti-Semites.

More than a century later, the campaign to strip Palestinians of their land and freedom continues. Under the Trump administration, we have seen efforts to vilify Palestinians, stifle Palestinian-American life, de-fund aid supporting Palestinian refugees, and a plan to complete the erasure of Palestine under the guise of peace and the support of some Arab regimes.

As historian Nur Masalha reveals in his work, Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History, Palestinians are no strangers to the tug and push of colonialism. A people whose history and affinity to Palestine spans 4,000 years, their land has been colonized and occupied by numerous powers.

At UPA, we know that all attempts to erase Palestine from the memory of its indigenous inhabitants have proven futile. And we wholeheartedly believe that Israel’s ongoing attempt is no exception. Therefore, we remain committed to transforming Palestinian lives, and empowering their communities in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and in refugee camps throughout the Middle East.

Our work strives to help the communities we serve rise above the tide of erasure.

Please join us by becoming a Lighthouse of Hope for those communities! You can do so by donating to our year-end campaign, attending our first-ever virtual Open House on December 5, featuring musician Huda Asfour; or fundraising on behalf of UPA in support of the campaign.

As a top fundraiser, you will have a chance to win a signed copy by the authors of the books mentioned above, as well as other awards!