World Zionist Congress – What We Achieved
We made a difference
Thanks to your support in the World Zionist Congress (WZC) election, ARZA Canada had a strong delegation at the Congress in Jerusalem. We were part of a large faction of Reform Zionist organizations from around the world. And, by combining forces with other liberal organizations, we succeeded in promoting our Reform values of pluralism, equality and justice.
How do we continue to make a difference?
The Congress determines policy and leadership in the National Institutions – the World Zionist Organization, Keren Kayemet L’Israel (KKL/JNF) and Jewish Agency.
These institutions have a large budget and a high level of influence in some areas, such as land development.
Our two main objectives at the WZC were:
- Define important policy based on Reform, liberal values
- Establish Reform representation in the National Institutions to implement our values and to provide funding to Reform causes in Israel
Resolutions – a big success
Many resolutions submitted by the Reform movement and our liberal partners were passed at the Congress.
These resolutions represent policy for which National Institutions have at least some influence:
- Transparency in budgeting for the National Institutions to ensure, for example, equitable distribution among Jewish streams
- Security for liberal Jewish communities in Israel
- Halting the establishment of settlements in area E1 of the West Bank
- Prevention of participation of the WZO in financing or implementation of settlement activity in the Gaza strip
- Promotion of women’s leadership in Israel and the Diaspora
- Embracing the diversity of Zionist expression and banning hate speech, including support for initiatives that encourage dialogue among Jews and non-Jews living in Israel
- Repairing and re-opening direct public access to the egalitarian section of the Kotel
These resolutions are declarative, but they establish the majority view of a broad cross-section of world Jewry:
- Call for the establishment of a State Commission of Inquiry to investigate the events of October 7, 2023
- Support for an equitable military draft system in Israel
- Strengthen civil society, including encouraging the Knesset not to pass pending legislation that seeks to impose a tax on donations received by Israeli NGOs from foreign governments.
We also blocked resolutions in support of:
- Extending sovereignty over the Temple Mount
- Extending sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (the West Bank)
World Zionist Congress – Impact for the Next 5 Years
The Congress has now agreed on the leadership of the National Institutions for the next 5 years – the World Zionist Organization, Keren Kayemet L’Israel (KKL/JNF) and the Jewish Agency.
Thanks to your support in the WZC elections, and the success of our sister Reform organizations around the world, the Reform faction (ARZENU) will continue to be well represented in the leadership of the National Institutions.
This is critical to provide funding to Israel’s Reform movement, and to ensure that the work of the National Institutions reflects our commitment to democracy and equality.
Key ARZENU achievements:
Keren Kayemet (KKL/JNF):
- KKL Vice Chair
- 4 Reform members on the KKL Board of Directors
- Chair of the KKL Finance Committee (for 2.5 years; Conservatives for the other 2.5 years) – ensuring liberal oversight of every shekel spent by KKl/JNF
- Chair of the KKL Lands Committee (for 2.5 years) – ensuring supervision over KKL activity in the West Bank
World Zionist Organization:
- WZO Department Head role
Jewish Agency for Israel:
- JAFI Vice Chair
The liberal bloc as a whole (ARZENU plus our liberal partners) had important wins, such as:
- KKL Chair for the first 2.5 years
- WZO Chair for the last 2.5 years
- Majority on the KKL Board of Directors
- Budget increase for liberal streams