Controversial Painting of Lord Balfour Defaced in England Amidst Renewed Criticism

A painting of Lord Balfour, whose eponymous declaration is linked to the establishment of Israel and the Palestinian Nakba, faced defacement in England recently. The incident, captured in a video shared by activist group Palestine Action, showed an unidentified protester vandalizing Balfour’s portrait with red spray paint and slashing the canvas nearly to pieces. The painting, a 1914 work by Philip Alexius de László, is housed at Trinity College, part of the University of Cambridge.

The Balfour Declaration of 1917, which declared support for a Jewish national home in Palestine, remains a contentious document in 20th-century history. Addressed to a prominent figure of the British Jewish community, it formed the basis for the British Mandate for Palestine and the eventual establishment of Israel. However, it has been condemned by Palestinians for initiating the displacement of their community.

The defacement of the painting also brought attention to the University of Cambridge’s ties with Israel. Investigative reports have revealed significant investments by the university, including Trinity College, in defense companies with contracts in Israel. Notably, Trinity College’s investments in Israel’s leading arms company, Elbit Systems, have drawn criticism and prompted legal action. The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians has issued a legal notice warning that such investments could implicate individuals associated with Trinity College in potential Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.