I am assured that the solution of the problem of Palestine which would be much the most welcome to the leaders and supporters of the Zionist movement throughout the world would be the annexation of the country (Palestine) to the British Empire. I believe that the solution would be cordially welcome also to the greater number of Jews who have not hitherto been interested in the Zionist movement.

Herbert Samuel (Jewish politician in Britain) “The Future of Palestine” memorandum, 1915 (This memorandum promised Jewish support for the British war effort against Germany for the price of Palestine. It was the precursor for the Balfour Declaration. Jews initially opposed an U.S. entry into the war because they opposed Tsarist Russia. However, this resistance collapsed when they saw the possibility of using the war to demand a state of Israel.)