The Eretz Hakodesh Movement in the Zionist Congress
by Attorney Eliyahu Kaplan et al.
Plaintiffs
- V. -
Respondents
Submitted a response
Following cases 004/2024 and 009/2024 and the respondents' appeal to the District Court in hearing in Tel Aviv 46340-08-24, the District Court (Honorable Justice Oded Gordon) returned the dispute to the Zionist Supreme Court.
At the hearing held at the Supreme Zionist Court, the Court made a proposal and requested the Zionist General Council's announcement on the matter.
- V. -
The WZO executive decided to limit the number of reserve delegates authorized to participate in congressional committees. The WZO management also required delegates who wish to participate to pay a fee of $250.
The court ruled that the decision did not contradict a provision of the Constitution and that it was made with authority. The petition is dismissed.
-V-
In Uganda, one delegate was elected to the Congress, on behalf of the Mercaz Olami Uganda movement. The area election committee requested to appoint an alternate delegate on its own initiative. Mercaz claimed in its petition that this was not within the authority of the Uganda area election committee.
The court accepted the Merkaz claim. Uganda will not be able to submit an alternate delegate.
-v-
Mizrahi Belgium claimed that the World Zionist Organization's election regulations contradict the election regulations in Belgium.
The general regulations prevail and although it did not pass the threshold, it claims because it has a surplus agreement with Eretz HaKodesh, they are counted as one list and Mizrahi is entitled to one delegate. In addition, claims were made of irregularities in the election process.
The court rejected all claims. First, it was determined that the agreement between the lists was not legally concluded and has no validity. Second, it was determined that their interpretation of the election regulations is incorrect. In addition, the court rejected the claim of irregularities due to the lack of substantive evidence.
Eretz Hakodesh
-v-
The Area Election Committee in England
The Area Election Committee in England approved an electoral system that limits the number of seats a list can win to five. This is to ensure diversity in the identity of the elected seats. Eretz Hakodesh argued that this de facto nullifies the surplus agreements signed by the lists.
The parties reached an agreement that the limitation will apply from the sixth seat. That is, a list that wins six seats will lose the sixth seat.
However, to the extent that there is a share of votes that represents parts of a seat (between 5-6), this share will go to the list with which it signed a surplus agreement. This is to the extent that this will complete the number of votes needed for the other list for an additional seat.
The agreement was given binding force in the ruling.
Herut Movement France
-V-
Herut France argued that the measures ordered by the Central Election Commission were insufficient to remedy the deficiencies discovered in the conduct of the area election committee in France. The court rejected the claims and ruled that no intervention was required in this case.
Shas Olami
- V. -
Likud Olami
Shas Olami claimed that Likud Olami should pay its debt to it. At the request of the parties, the court postponed the hearing to give the parties time to litigate.
On June 21, 2025, the parties announced that they had reached an agreement.
The court confirmed the agreement in its ruling and congratulated the parties for their willingness to compromise.
The Eretz HaKodesh movement at the Zionist Congress
-V.-
The Eretz HaKodesh movement claimed in its complaint that Dr. Yizhar Hess, the vice chairman of the World Zionist Organization, and his movement financed a negative campaign denouncing the World Zionist Organization, in order to convince the ultra-Orthodox public to refrain from voting in the elections for the 39th Zionist Congress. Eretz HaKodesh demanded the imposition of sanctions for violating Article 49 of the Constitution and Regulation 41 of the Election Regulations.
Yizhar Hess and the other respondents claimed that in the absence of the WZO attorney, there is no authority to file a complaint and the right to dismiss the complaint. The court accepted the defendants' argument, but offered the defendants alternative mechanisms instead of a complaint, a means that requires a serving WZO attorney.
In addition, as a prospective statement, the court recommended that the WZO consider formulating a binding code of ethics for all activists and bodies within the framework of the Congress and the WZO. The court also emphasized the importance of appointing the WZO attorney within the framework of the 39th Congress.
- Versus -
Eretz Hakodesh Movement
The request was rejected by majority decision.
THE COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR THE JEWISH HOMELAND / ERETZ HAKODESH, AMIT, RELIGIOUS ZIONISTS OF AMERICA, ZOA COALITION, SHAS OLAMI, HERUT ZIONISTS, VISION, and AMERICANS4ISRAEL
appellants
Affiliates to the appeal
- Versus -
United States Area Election Committee
Respondent
The court discussed the paths open to the appellants according to the type of relief requested:
The court specifies the paths and decides to transfer the case to the Central Election Committee.
The Eretz Hakodesh Movement in the Zionist Congress
Plaintiffs
- Against -
Respondents
Submitted a response
Following decisions made at the Zionist General Council 38/4 held in February 2024, a request was submitted to cancel some of the decisions.
These are decisions regarding changes to the WZO Constitution and bylaws.
The court ruled to accept the petition in the part that refers to the registration of individual Zionists through the offices of the World Zionist Organization in Jerusalem.
The court also decided that the other articles of the constitution and bylaws that were the subject of the petition will remain as amended during the ZGC session.
The World Herut movement
The Herut movement - France
- against -
Zionist Federation in France
Dr. Robert Zbili- President of the Zionist Federation in France
The court determines that the Herut-France movement is a member of the Zionist Federation in France, and the respondents are obliged to act accordingly.
Publication of the statutes of the Zionist Federation in France: The Department for Irgoon and Connection with Israelis Abroad in the World Zionist Organization must ensure orderly management in the Federation.
ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA (ZOA)/ZOA Coalition
COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR THE JEWISH HOMELAND (CCJH)
SHAS USA
- against -
the World Zionist Organization
The court did not accept the petitioners' arguments and rejected the request.
The court also stated that the Zionist Organization must establish rules and instructions governing online voting in the event that it becomes necessary in the future.
Roy Schindler, member of the Zionist Executive of the World Zionist Organization
- against -
Yaakov Hagoel, chairman of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization,
the World Zionist Organization,
Brit Etz faction (World Zionist Labour),
Silvio Hoskowitz, member of the Zionist Executive of the World Zionist Organization and head of the department of Zionist Enterprises
An issue in the financing of world unions and the number of members of the Zionist Executive who need to sign the application submitted to the WZO.
Later, the applicant withdrew the appeal - see other decisions in the case.
The Eretz Hakodesh Movement at the World Zionist Congress
The Holy Land Movement England
- against -
The Zionist Federation of England and Ireland
Mr. Richard Wolfe, Chairman of the British Zionist Federation
Mrs. Ruth Neyman, Chairman of the Constitution Committee, The English Zionist Federation
The Zionist Executive of the World Zionist Organization
The court rules that the Zionist Federation of England and Ireland must accept the Holy Land Movement England as a full member.
World Merkaz
Arzenu
World Union of Yesh Atid-Meretz
The World Federation of the Spanish Communities
World Na'amat
The Liberal Center Movement - Hanoar Hatzioni
- Against -
Ms. Helena Glazer - Chairperson of the Presidium of the Zionist General Council
In the Zionist General Council 38/2, the votes on the resolution proposals took place virtually.
The court is required to decide on the issue of publishing how the delegates voted on each one of the resolution proposals.
The World Zionist Union Blue-White Beyond the Rainbow
- Against -
Racheli Baratz - Rix
The Secretariat of the World Zionist Organization
Resilience to Israel Faction in the WZO
Yael Ron Ben Moshe
The petition is dismissed. The court decided that this was not a dispute concerning the World Zionist Organization.
The Zionist Organization of America
- Against -
Arza USA
Hatikvah USA
and
The Eretz Hakodesh Organization USA
- Against -
Hatikvah USA
The Area Election Committee, USA
The first appeal of the Zionist Organization of America against Arza USA and Hatikva USA, regarding the unreasoned decision of the Area Election Commission, USA of July 20, 2020.
The second appeal of Eretz Hakidesh USA vs. Hatikvah USA regarding the the unreasoned decision of the Area Election Commission, USA of August 12, 2020.
The subject of the appeals is the requests to disqualify Arza USA and Hitikva USA:
(a) from participating in the Zionist Congress that is to be held in the month of October, this year;
(b) to disqualify certain members of these organizations from participating in that congress;
(c) and to exclude Arza USA and the Hatikvah USA from the Zionist movement.
All this, because they violated and are violating the policy of the World Zionist Organization to act against the boycott organization known as BDS.
The appeals were rejected.
Likud Canada
World Likud
- against -
the Canadian Zionist Federation
Area Elections committee of the Canadian Zionist Federation
The appeal was rejected by the majority opinion: See the judges' reasonings for rejecting the applicants' appeal as well as a minority opinion for accepting the appeal
The Area Election Committee of the Zionist Federation in the USA
the Zionist Federation in the USA (AZM)
- against -
the Shas Olami Faction
The Ohavei Zion List at the 37th Zionist Congress
The Central Election Committee of the 38th Zionist Congress
The appeal was rejected by a majority of opinions.
The reasons for the rejection are detailed in this document.
Kol Yisrael
- against -
The American Zionist Movement
US area election committee of the Zionist federation in the USA (AZM) for the 38th Zionist Congress
The appeal was accepted - Kol Israel will be registered as a list in the US elections
Over The Rainbow
- Against -
Canadian Zionist Federation
The court decides that the method of indirect elections approved for Canada remains in need of review regarding its applicability for the next Zionist Congress.
In addition, the court decides to grant two representatives with an advisory opinion for Over the Rainbow and Kadima Canada, one representative from Canada for each organization.
Approval of some of the delegations to the Zionist Congress; and requirement for completion and/or correction regarding the lists from other areas of election.
Arzenu France
- against -
The appeal was erased after the Zionist Federation in France accepted the Arzenu movement as a member.
And the global Likud movement in France gave up a mandate in favor of the Arzenu movement.
Meser - The Renewing Zionist Movement (Tnua Tzionit Hamechadeshet)
- Against -
The Zionist Federation in Argentina
The Area Elections Committee
The election procedure for the Congress was not implemented in Argentina.
The court distributes the mandates in the framework of the judgement.
Over the Rainbow - the Zionist Movement
- against -
The Zionist Federation of Switzerland
The plaintiff withdrew the appeal.
Over the Rainbow - the Zionist movement
- against -
The Zionist Federation of the Netherlands
In light of the annulment of previous elections held in the Netherlands by the court, the court decided that the federation will not have delegates in the Zionist Congress, but will have five representatives in an advisory opinion, one representative for each member of the federation.
Over The Rainbow - Zionist Movement
- Against -
The Zionist Federation in Italy
The Court states that avoiding the process of holding elections by the Zionist Federation is against the rules.
The Court distributes the mandates of this Zionist Federation.
The Court strongly criticizes the practice of not holding elections in the federations.
- against -
The court rules that out of 6 mandates assigned to the Zionist Federation in Hungary, 4 will be assigned to the "Keset" list, and two additional mandates will be assigned, one to the World Likud and the other to the World Mizrachi.
- Against -
The Zionist Federation of Germany (ZF)
The Court states that the division of mandates made by the management of the Zionist Federation in Germany is annulled.
The Coutt also determined that the mandates will be distributed to each of the existing bodies, including those who requested to join.
These representatives will have an advisory opinion.
The Court orders that the Zionist Congress put on its agenda the amendment of the constitution and the regulations regarding the period of eligibilty for bodies that wish to join the federations, and the criteria for reviewing the activities of the new organizations that wish to join, to the extent required.
- Against -
The court approves the area election committee's course of action and rejects the appeals.
The Meretz World Alliance
- against =
The Zionist Federation in Ukraine
The Court did not accept the request since it did not find that the deficiencies indicated are substantial and go down to the root of the elections and the principles laid down in their infrastructure, to the point of canceling the elections.
Over The Rainbow - The Zionist Movement
The Zionist Spring
- Against -
South African Zionist Federation
The tribunal accepts the requests and assigns an additional mandate to South Africa for a new list.
Over the Rainbow - The Zionist Movement
- Against -
The Zionist Federation of Switzerland
The Court states that the claims brought forth by the Zionist Federation of Switzerland are rejected.
The tribunal court that the plaintiff should be accepted as a member of the Zionist Federation in Switzerland.
This case was later discussed in case 2809/2015.
World Likud
- against -
The Zionist Federation of the Netherlands
The court accepts the request and orders the Zionist Federation in the Netherlands to accept the World Likud as a member of the federation.
1. "Kadima" - the Zionist youth, the global movement
- against -
The Zionist Federation in Canada
2. "Over the Rainbow" - the Zionist movement
- against -
The Zionist Federation in Canada
3. "The Zionist Spring" - HaAviv HaTzioni
- against -
The Zionist Federation in Canada
The court decides by majority opinion that the Zionist Federation of Canada must accept the three appellant bodies.
Arza, the reformist Zionist organization in the USA
- against -
The Central Election Committee
The Area Election Committee - AZM
The court decides by majority opinion to accept the appeal to invalidate the decision of the Central Election Commission that elections will not be held on Shabbat in the USA.
The Zionist Organization of America - ZOA
The Petitioner
- against -
1. The Hatikvah slate
2. The USA Area Election Committee
3. The Central Elections Committee, WZO
The Respondents
The Appellant (The Zionist Organization of America - ZOA) was unable to prove its principal claim against Respondent No. 1 (The Hatikvah slate). Thus, the Appeal to obtain the disqualification of Respondent No. 1 and prevent the latter's participation as a legitimate list in the forthcoming Zionist Congress is rejected.
Israel Solidarity Campaign
- Against -
The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland
Israel Solidarity Campaign (the "Appellant") is deemed to have been admitted as a member of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland (the "Respondent").
- Against -
Substantiation for the decision given in the files on June 5, 2006, in which it was determined that the "elections" in France were flawed by so many fundamental deficiencies that they did not allow the court but to state that they are invalid and that as a result the important Zionist community in France will be forced to lose its representation in the Zionist Congress of Israel .
1) World Herut
2) Herut Canada
- against -
The Zionist Federation in Canada
The appeal was rejected due to non-compliance with the conditions of the federation's regulations for joining.
Revava Olami - USA
- against -
The area election committee in the USA
and the Zionist movement in the USA
The request was rejected on the grounds of non-compliance with eligibility and delay.
The essential issue - the nature of the list and its right to be elected was not examined.
The World Mizrahi movement
The new faction in the World Zionist Organization
The Zionist Federations in Germany
The Zionist Federation in Austria
- against -
the Committee for Determining the Mandates for the XXXV Zionist Congress
The court decided that the committee would examine the comments made by the applicants to allow for a more balanced decision.
Due to non-utilization of a mandate assigned to India, the mandate was given to Hungary
The request was rejected because this was not supported by the WZO constitution
Due to an unexpected and unusual situation in Argentina, the Court approved the participation of the delegation, approval to take effect upon the implementation of the conditions as defined in the rule 22 of the Rules for Election of Delegates to the Zionist Congress.
Ms. Karen Paikin
- versus -
World Zionist Organization
A matter of examining the connection of Jewish National Fund registered in the USA and Keren Kayement Le'Israel and its implications regarding the applicant's registration as a delegate to the Congress.
The percentage of young delegates is set at 25%; the list submitted by the Organization of Sepharadic Communities to the 34th Zionist congress lacked the required percentage. The Court decided to allow the organization to fulfill the obligation.
Gesher
Meimad
The Committee to determine the number of delegates to the 34th Zionist Congress
The Likud
The Court decides to postpone its decision regarding approval of the Israeli delegation to the Congress until the lifting up of the injunction.
The decision refers to file no 0007/2002.
Le tribunal reporte la décision d'approuver le concordat jusqu'à ce que les paiements aux fonds soient terminés.
Central Elections Committee in Brasil
- against -
World Zionist Organization
The court decides that the election process in Brazil was not according to the rules. The court assigned an additional mandate to Brazil, which makes it possible to reach a 100% agreement.
Rami Kornblum, Secretary of the Zionist Congress and Director General of the Department of Zionist Activities
Michael Landsberg, Secretary General of the Zionist Labor Movement
Solly Sachs, Secretary General of the World Mizrahi Movement
- against -
The World Zionist Organization
The court decides that the recognized Zionist Federation in India, as well as other people who claim to represent the unrecognized federations, do not meet the constitutional requirements of the Congress elections.
Eli Eyal
- against -
World Zionist Organization
A query addressed to the court on the interpretation of the decision of the Zionist Executive Council. The court decided not to discuss the petition, and that the competent interpretation is that of the Zionist General Council itself.
