Whereas Jews have come under verbal attack recently questioning their loyalty based on how they choose to vote; and
Whereas such declarations in the past have served as a call to treat Jewish citizens as undeserving of full rights and protections; and
Whereas questioning of Jews’ loyalty – to either the State of Israel or the country in which they reside – brings up historic echoes of antisemitic rhetoric and tropes that could lead to further scapegoating, alienation, additional widespread Antisemitism, and even violence towards Jews; and
Whereas As members of the World Zionist Organization it is our duty to act in the best interest of Jews the world around and to protect the interests of the Jewish State wherever they may be threatened; and
Whereas The State of Israel has proudly stood up against Antisemitism from governments, military threats, non-governmental organizations or private citizens since its founding and has come to the defense of Jews under attack or the victims of persecution wherever they reside; and
Whereas There has been a dramatic uptick in antisemitic attacks in many countries around the world in the last three years, including a Neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, VA, and murderous attacks in two synagogues in Pittsburgh, PA and Poway, CA.,
Therefore it was resolved that:
The Zionist General Council resolves to call on the Government of Israel to strongly condemn any and all declarations or accusations against Jews questioning their loyalty based on their voting patterns in democratically held elections. The Government of Israel – the elected representatives of the Jewish State – must stand up and speak out against any and all threats to Jews, wherever they reside.
Whereas Theodor Herzl, who founded this World Zionist Congress and was instrumental in the rebirth of the Jewish State, wrote in his inspiring famous books, The Jewish State and Altneuland, that anti-Jewish boycotts and imposts (the equivalent of sanctions) were types of persecutions against Jews that made a Jewish State necessary; and
Whereas the Israel Supreme Court called BDS against Jewish and Israeli businesses as "political terrorism" and upheld Israel's anti-boycott law; and
Whereas the Israel Supreme Court’s decision upholding Israel's anti-boycott law further held that BDS directed at territories controlled by Israel is also unlawful; and
Whereas the Israel Supreme Court properly held that BDS is activity, and that penalizing BDS is not a matter of “free speech”; and
Whereas numerous U.S. states have anti-BDS laws or orders; and
Whereas BDS groups also target worldwide Jewry, and coerce, threaten and intimidate others to harm world Jewry; and
Whereas BDS groups admit that their goal is the destruction of the State of Israel; and
Whereas groups and individuals that promote and engage in BDS are causing economic harm to the State of Israel and all its people, and Jews throughout the world; and
Whereas on November 2, 2016, the Zionist Congress XXXVII Zionist General Council resolved:
Therefore, support, directly or indirectly for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) efforts, either directly or indirectly, and either “full” or “partial” BDS, is inconsistent with and shall be deemed a violation of the Jerusalem Program,
And therefore:
Action should be taken so that governments will enforce sanctions against the BDS activists.
Any organization or person supporting BDS must be excluded from the Zionist movement.
Appeals should be made to governments to institute prohibitions on demonstrations and activities of the boycott organizations, similar to the ban in some states of the US.
The Zionist movement will condemn all BDS and anti-Semitic incidents all over the world.
The WZO, the Zionist General Council, and the Inner and Outer Executive, and our representatives in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), and all Zionist Enterprises, the Zionist World Unions, and all other entities described in the WZO Constitution:
The WZO, the Zionist General Council, and the Inner and Outer Executive, and our representatives in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), and all Zionist Enterprises, the Zionist World Unions, and all other entities described in the WZO Constitution:
Whereas the Zionist movement’s very right to existence is dependent upon Aliyah promotion; and
Whereas Aliyah needs to reappear on the public agenda forthwith; and
Whereas the incidence of Antisemitism in France is continually escalating in light of the bureaucracy encumbering the Aliyah process, and the negative impact on potential olim created by returning olim; and
Whereas bureaucracy acts as an encumbrance on the absorption process,
The Zionist General Council requests that the Israel Government, the World Zionist Organization, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (JNF) and all the national institutions to act to remove obstacles in Aliyah absorption and especially towards recognition of non-orthodox conversions.
Whereas olim can expect a long absorption process on arrival in Israel, with the crux being the challenge of integration within the Israeli labor market,
The Zionist General Council calls upon the Israel Government to recognize swiftly diplomas granted by universities overseas and to alleviate difficulties for new immigrants, in terms of the process of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas. Professional licensing examinations shall be set at a high standard but shall correspond to expectations.
Whereas the Jewish communities worldwide are under increasing danger, and have been experiencing increased attacks on synagogues, Jewish schools, Jewish groceries, rabbis and other individual Jewish men, women and children,
The World Zionist Organization, the Zionist General Council and the Inner and Outer Executive shall prioritize rescuing endangered Jews, above all non-emergency priorities, including by increasing the funding allocated for this purpose, and recommend to our representatives in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), the Jewish Agency for Israel, and all Zionist Enterprises, the Zionist World Unions, and all other entities described in the WZO Constitution, to prioritize such rescue.
Whereas Zionism is a movement which adheres to the basic principles of justice, equality and democracy, as specified in the World Zionist Organization Constitution [Article 2A]; and
Whereas the Zionist movement arose as a democratic movement in its substance and conduct, and was as such the Jewish people’s first democratic mass movement after 2,000 years of exile; and
Whereas civil society organizations (non-profit associations, voluntary organizations and the like) represent a central instrument in terms of young generation activities in Israel and the Diaspora; and
Whereas there is today greater articulation from within society that seeks partnership in the process of shaping the face of society and state, rather than relinquishing this solely to the hands of the formal establishment,
The Zionist General Council resolves:
To instruct the Zionist Executive to establish a forum of Civil Society organizations engaged in spheres relevant to the World Zionist Organization’s activity;
To instruct that preference be given to contractual engagement with civil society organizations over entities whose raison d’être resides in profit lines, where both provide the same service, at the same price and quality.
Whereas there is a historic, natural and national relationship between the Zionist enterprise in Israel and world Jewry and, in order to maintain this relationship, it is necessary that there be strong, proud and engaged Jewish communities around the globe with close ties to Israel; and
Whereas, in recent years, the gap between Israel and world Jewry has been widening and has manifested itself in different spheres of life- due, in part, to a lack of knowledge and familiarity between the two sides - and whereas there exist many diverse Diaspora educational programs for learning about the State of Israel and very little educational content for Israeli society about world Jewry; and
Whereas the World Zionist Organization is a connecting factor between Israel and world Jewry and sometimes even represents the State of Israel to world Jewry, and its mission is, in part, to bring Israel and the world Jewry closer together and to encourage the national value of unity of the Jewish People worldwide,
The Zionist General Council resolves:
Whereas a number of countries, first among these being the USA, have made declarations about the transfer of their Embassies in Israel to Jerusalem; and
Whereas the process of transferring Embassies to Jerusalem is a declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city,
The Zionist General Council calls upon the Executive of the World Zionist Organization to lead a campaign to promote the transfer to Jerusalem of Embassies of countries around the world, and thus recognize and reaffirm Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital.
Whereas the name “Judea” dates back to the Jewish Kingdom of Judah (928-527 BCE), and the name Samaria dates back to the areas of Judea resettled by Samaritans, and as such, are the proper historical names for these areas; and
Whereas United Nations Resolution 181 (passed on November 29, 1947) referred to the area as “the hill country of Samaria and Judea” and never used the term “West Bank” – which was not yet invented at that time; and
Whereas, in order to try to de-Judaize these areas, Jordan renamed Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem the “West Bank” in 1950, shortly after Jordan conquered and began Jordan’s 19-year illegal occupation of these areas in 1948; and
Whereas, the proper names used by the Israeli government are Judea and Samaria,
Therefore, the World Zionist Organization, the Zionist General Council, and the Inner and Outer Executive, will use and will recommend to our representatives in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL) and all Zionist Enterprises, the Zionist World Unions and all other entities described in the WZO Constitution, to use the names “Judea and Samaria” in their statements, publications and maps, rather than the name “West Bank.
Whereas Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) have caused losses of businesses and jobs and livelihoods in Israel throughout all sectors of Israeli society; and
Whereas “Buy Israel” programs are an important method of combatting the loss of businesses and jobs and livelihoods in Israel; and
Whereas companies in the Diaspora that do business with Israel are also targets of, and have been harmed by BDS,
Therefore, the WZO, the Zionist General Council, and the Inner and Outer Executive, will promote and adopt, and will recommend to our representatives in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), and all Zionist Enterprises, the Zionist World Unions, and all other entities described in the WZO Constitution, to promote and adopt, “Buy Israel” programs in the Diaspora, encouraging their members and the public to purchase products manufactured in Israel and products made by companies in the Diaspora that do business with and in Israel.
Whereas anti-Israel initiatives have arisen in many countries that have been debated in international forums, including UNESCO, and in light of the anti-Israel declarations,
The World Zionist Organization and the Zionist General Council hereby condemn actions of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for denying the millennia-long Jewish connection to Jewish holy sites, including the Temple Mount, the Kotel, and Hebron, including placing Hebron on UNESCO’s list of endangered sites.
Whereas the State of Israel’s landmark document is the Israel Declaration of Independence; and
Whereas it has emerged that – with the passage of over seventy years since its proclamation at the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel – there is insufficient familiarity with this complex and impressive document in Israel and among Diaspora Jewry,
The Zionist General Council instructs the Zionist Executive to charge the Education Department and the Department for Diaspora Affairs with joint development of an educational program in Hebrew, English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Amharic, with the aim of teaching about the Israel Declaration of Independence, laying emphasis on the principles and values enshrined therein. The Zionist Executive shall dedicate a budget line in the 2020 World Zionist Organization budget, this being the year of the Zionist Congress XXXVIII, to provide the required funding to enable distribution of this program throughout Zionist Federations worldwide and across the formal and informal education system in Israel.
The Zionist General Council further recommends that the central theme for the XXXVIII Zionist Congress shall be: “The State of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.”
“Zionism is a movement which adheres to the basic principles of justice, equality and democracy and which rejects discrimination based on origin, nationality, race, gender or sexual orientation.” [Article 2A of the WZO Constitution]
Whereas there has recently been an upswing in the number of instances of intolerance and inequality in the Zionist and Jewish educational systems (both formal and informal) worldwide; and
In view of the increase in the number of incidences of inter-personal violence, both physical and verbal, expressed in the general and social media, which represent an expression of prevailing intolerance for others and special people within Israeli society and Jewish communities, such as: LGBTQ (the gay community), people with disabilities, special needs, and others,
The Zionist General Council resolves that the World Zionist Organization shall act, initiate and fund projects to promote education for all towards tolerance and equality within the Zionist-Jewish informal and formal education systems in Israel and the Diaspora.
Whereas it is clearly evident from their protest that this community, and the young generation in particular, are in need of support and advancement of their integration as equal citizens in the State of Israel; and
Whereas there resides an unfulfilled potential among members of the Ethiopian Jewish community, due to their absorption conditions,
The Zionist General Council resolves to focus on this community in its activities, through direction of funding for programs for the promotion and empowerment of young people within this community.
Whereas Zionism is a movement which adheres to the basic principles of justice, equality and democracy, as specified in the Constitution of the World Zionist Organization [Article 2A]; and
Whereas there is a commitment in the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel to “ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex”; and
Whereas the LGBT community represents an integral part of Jewish and civil society in Israel and the world; and
Whereas Zionist activity in the Diaspora and the possibility of Aliyah to Israel have the potential to help the LGBT public to preserve their gender / sexual identity,
The Zionist General Council resolves to create a special unit in the World Zionist Organization, to promote activity of the LGBT population. A pilot will be conducted prior to the Zionist Congress in 2020.
Whereas the historical and ethical justification of the Zionist movement throughout the generations has been based on Jewish people’s the roots and heritage; and
Whereas the strengthening of this awareness of heritage in Israel and worldwide are crucial to the continued existence and activity of the Zionist movement,
The Zionist General Council calls upon the Israel Ministry of Education to incorporate visits to the Jewish people’s Heritage sites into school study tours.
Whereas Jerusalem is Israel’s eternal capital; and
Whereas the history of Jerusalem and its importance to the Jewish people do not form part of a regular curricular program in Israeli schools; and
Whereas many dates in the Hebrew calendar relating to Jerusalem are absent from the curriculum in mamlachti [general stream of] state schools, for the most part,
The Zionist General Council calls upon the Israel Ministry of Education to include a regular curricular program, to be integrated within the education system and laying emphasis on the importance of Jerusalem in the Jewish people’s history and upon its unity.
Whereas we shall mark the centenary, this year, of the San Remo Conference; and
Whereas it was resolved at the San Remo Conference to incorporate the Balfour Declaration and to charge Great Britain with responsibility for the implementation of the Declaration, in order to secure the establishment in Eretz Yisrael of a “national home” for the Jewish people; and
Whereas the Conference laid the foundations for the Jewish people’s right over Eretz Yisrael in International Law,
The Zionist General Council calls upon the Israel Ministry of Education to incorporate an educational program about the San Remo Conference as part of the educational curriculum.
Whereas the Settlement Division constitutes the World Zionist Organization’s focal instrument in the implementation of settlement policy;
The Zionist General Council resolves that the Settlement Division shall present a detailed program to the Zionist General Council; it shall similarly present a six-monthly update on additional and / or shortfall of activity in respect of said program.
Whereas it is essential to reinforce the Jewish majority in the State of Israel; and
Whereas it is essential to reinforce settlement throughout the State of Israel; and
Whereas it is essential to alleviate difficulties in the absorption of olim,
The Zionist General Council calls upon the Israel Government, the Settlement Division, and all bodies involved therein to promote Aliyah to settlements, through provision of incentives for settlement.
The Zionist General Council calls upon the Israel Government to apply Israeli sovereignty to the Jordan Valley, and also to act to promote settlement in these areas.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 17, Section 2 of the Constitution of the World Zionist Organization, the Zionist General Council resolves to increase the number of delegates to the 38th Congress by 5%, so that the number will be 525.
Whereas Article 2A of the World Zionist Constitution addresses “The Nature of Zionism”,
A proposal is hereby submitted to append a point to said Article, as follows:
Zionism is committed to the State of Israel’s landmark document, namely, the [Israel] Declaration of Independence, and the State of Israel’s fundamental values, as enshrined therein.
"The Nature of Zionism - is a movement which adheres to the basic principles of justice, equality and democracy and which rejects discrimination based on origin, nationality, race, gender or sexual orientation.Article 2A"
Zionism is committed to the State of Israel’s landmark document, namely, the [Israel] Declaration of Independence, and the State of Israel’s fundamental values, as enshrined therein.
the World Zionist Organization – Emergency Provision Regarding Determination of
the Number of Delegates for Argentina at the Zionist Congress XXXVIII
It is hereby proposed to determine an emergency provision under Article 7 (b) (4) of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Constitution of the World Zionist Organization in respect of the number of delegates from Argentina to the forthcoming Zionist Congress (XXXVIII), so that the calculation of the average shall be according to the previous three Congresses preceding the Zionist Congress XXXVII (XXXIV, XXXV, XXXVI).
Whereas, from concern about the continuity of its activity, the Executive of the World Zionist Organization is interested in promoting participation by the young generation in its activity; and
Whereas at the meeting of the Executive in February 2018, the Executive of the World Zionist Organization adopted a proposal according to which, for the purpose of encouraging young people to participate at the meetings of the Zionist General Council, Council Members between the ages of 18 and 35 would be entitled “to full subsidy of flight costs, in accordance with a chart of tabulated flight costs from points of destinations around the globe, as set by the Finance Department”; and
Whereas, it has emerged that this resolution ignored the issue of board and lodging of said young delegates, and is thus detrimental to the likelihood of its implementation by the respective organizations,
The Zionist General Council therefore resolves as follows:
Members of the Zionist General Council and Members of the Outer Executive between the ages of 18 and 5 shall be entitled to full subsidy towards flight and accommodation costs incurred by participation at meetings of the Outer Executive and the Zionist General Council Session, as appearing on the approved, tabulated chart, as updated on an ongoing basis and in terms of real and valid costs for the purpose of covering said expenditures.
It was resolved that Article 7 (f) of the Constitution be amended as follows:
(f) Determine in its Constitution a method of electing its governing bodies consistent with accepted democratic principles. Whoever deems that the method of electing a Federation’s governing bodies is not consistent accepted democratic principles shall have the right of appeal thereon to the Zionist Supreme Court. A Zionist Federation may determine that elections to its management entities shall be held concurrently with elections for the Zionist Congress, in which case the composition of its management bodies shall be comprised in accordance with the election results for the Zionist Congress in said Area, as approved by the Zionist Supreme Court, and consistent with the provisions of Article 24A below.
Elections
In accordance with Article 32, Section 3 f of the Constitution, the Zionist General Council elects the following Honorary Fellows:Reeva Forman, Nechemia Gang, Dalia Hibner, Marlene Post, Leon Reich, Annabelle Yuval.
