A “Balfour Declaration” Needed for the Displaced Arabs of Palestine
His Majesty King Saud ibn ʿAbd al‑ʿAzīz never allows an opportunity to serve the Arab causes to pass without seizing it— even while residing in Athens for a period of rest. His Majesty observed that the press of the Greek capital often drifted into the orbit of Zionist influence, obscuring the truth of the Palestinian cause and drawing a veil over the tragedy of the displaced Palestinian people who lost their homeland, preventing the realities of this catastrophe from reaching the conscience of Europe.
His Majesty resolved to counter this propaganda with decisive and effective action. He ordered the publication, in Acropolis, the widest‑circulating newspaper in Greece, of the same advertisement that had previously appeared in The Times of London—an advertisement whose cost had been jointly covered by several Lebanese, Arab, and international cultural and national institutions.
Needless to say, His Majesty King Saud commanded that the advertisement be published in the major Greek newspaper at his own personal expense. The text stated that Lord Balfour had issued his well‑known declaration in 1917, promising the establishment of a national home in Palestine for Jewish refugees from all parts of the world. But today—after Zionist aggression has revealed its true colonial, expansionist nature—what is required is a new “Balfour”, one that promises the establishment of a national home for one million Palestinian Arabs who have been driven from their homeland and their homes by Zionist aggression.
The publication of this advertisement in Athens caused a considerable stir and provoked the anger of Zionist circles there, yet its impact on Greek public opinion was highly favorable.
Thus, His Majesty King Saud remains the great Arab leader who has fought Zionism throughout every stage of his political and royal life. He stands forever as a steadfast champion of Arab rights in Palestine, an opponent of Zionist oppression, and a defender of every Arab liberation cause.
May God preserve His Majesty the great King for the Saudi people and for the Arab nation, which cherishes his sincere pan‑Arab positions and the noble services and wise guidance he has always offered for the good of the Arab world and its just causes.
Source: Al‑Sharq
Date: 3 July 1968