Those who fought to establish the State of Israel not only relied on historical justice, but also on the San Remo Resolution, which affirmed in international law the Jewish right to self-determination in our homeland.
More than 4,000 years ago, God promised Abraham he would inherit the Land of Israel and 101 years ago, the San Remo conference helped fulfill this promise.
Holocaust Remembrance Day last month and the anniversary of the San Remo conference, remind us of the miracle of Israel, the need for Israel and our absolute commitment to ensure its eternal survival.
The San Remo conference is the single most important event in post-World War I history that made our return to Israel possible.
The decisions at the San Remo Conference recreated the Jews' sense of ownership, in the positive sense of the world. A right greater than any other allowed us to plant roots in the Land of Israel and lead a fitting life there.
For 20 years, Dr. Jacques Gauthier has been working on his doctoral dissertation on the legal aspects of the San Remo Conference. Now considered the world's leading expert on the subject, he explains the significance of the decisions made at the conference and talks of the special connection with the state. "I am not connected to a particular religion, but when I travel to Israel, I connect to the beauty of the land and to the trinity of God, the land and the people.
Chaim Weizmann defined the San Remo Conference as one of the most significant events in the history of Zionism. The Balfour Declaration laid the foundations for the powers to support the establishment of a Jewish home in Israel. The French tried to challenge the move, but the conference gave the green light to establish a national home for Jews in Palestine.
For centuries, the Christian world has recognized the connection that Jews have to the Land of Israel. Many tied Jesus' second coming to the political-sovereign restoration of the Jews, others saw the establishment of the state as part of Christian redemption. In modern times, this has had political implications that underpinned the success of Zionism.
Israeli governments have largely failed to state forthrightly their rights over all parts of the country, leaving their opponents in the international community free to make statements and carry out measures, such as the disengagement from Gaza.
The resolutions of the San Remo Conference are valid and relevant to this day, but despite its crucial importance – this important chapter in our history has been forgotten. As chairman of the World Zionist Organization, a position held by Chaim Weizmann during the conference, I am determined to ensure that the chapter of San Remo is properly incorporated into the school curriculum.
