Final answer:
The Balfour Declaration was a statement by the British government in 1917 supporting a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which later led to conflicts due to contradictory promises made to Arab leaders by the British.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was a significant statement issued by the British government through its Foreign Secretary, Arthur James Balfour. This declaration indicated the British government's support for the establishment of a "national home" for the Jewish people in Palestine. It marked a key moment in the pursuit of a Jewish state by Zionist organizations, especially given the predominantly Arab population in Palestine at that time. Contrarily, the British government had also made commitments to Arab leaders promising support for Arab sovereignty in the region, setting the stage for future conflicts. Post-World War I, as Palestine's administrator, Britain was caught between these conflicting promises, Jewish immigration, Arab nationalism, and their own interests in Middle Eastern stability and oil resources.