In the succeeding years.. the movement gathered momentum and the adherence of many prominent personalities. During the First World War. its hopes for an eventual return to the homeland were considerably bolstered by the Balfour Declaration. in which the British Government pledged its support for the "establishment in Palestione of a national home for the Jewish people." With the conclusion of the war. and the incorporation of the Balfour Declaration in the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine. the return to. and reconstruction of. the ancient land of Israel could and did begin in earnest. Under the aegis of the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency. immigrants from Europe as well as other continents poured in. With the assistance of Jewry in more prosperous countries. the economic. cultural. and social life of Israel began anew after a hiatus of almost 2.000 years. Unfortunately. the long struggle for an independent Jewish state was not at an end. Irresponsible leadership in the Arab community of Palestine as well as the neighboring states fostered a spirit of xenophobic nationalism which made fruitful cooperation impossible. At the same time. the restrictive policies of the British Mandatory Administration made it necessary for the Jewish community to establish its own organization to protect the lives and property of its mem* bers. The horror of the Nazi holocaust in Europe. which sent 6 million Jews to their death. made it imperative that those who survived have a place which they could. in truth. call "home." The conscience of the civilized world supported the creation of a Jewish state as a haven for the survivors. as well as for those suffering persecution of any sort in any land.
Keywords matched
immigrants xenophobic