The Balfour Declaration (1917)

The British government's promise to support "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine set in motion the political process that led to the creation of Israel in 1948 — and the displacement of 700,000 Palestinians in what they call the Nakba. This single 67-word letter proved more impactful than the entirety of the League of Nations mandates system, directly catalyzing 75 years of ongoing conflict. It remains one of the most consequential documents of the 20th century and the foundational grievance of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that continues to this day.