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World Zionist Congress

The Zionist Congress was established in 1897 by Theodor Herzl as the supreme organ of the Zionist Organization (ZO) and its legislative authority. In 1960 the names were changed to World Zionist Congress (Hebrew: הקונגרס הציוני העולמי HaKongres HaTsioni HaOlami) and World Zionist Organization (WZO), respectively. The World Zionist Organization elects the officers and decides on the policies of the WZO and the Jewish Agency,[2][3] including "determining the allocation of funds."[4] The first Zionist Congress was held in Basel, Switzerland in 1897.[3] Any Jew over age 18 who belongs to a Zionist association is eligible to vote, and the number of elected delegates to the Congress is 500.[5][6] 38% of the delegates are allocated to Israel, 29% to the United States of America, and 33% to the remainder of the countries of the Diaspora.[2] In addition there are about 100 delegates which are appointed by International Organizations (e.g. B'nai B'rith, see below) affiliated with WZO.[6]

After the First Zionist Congress in 1897, the Zionist Congress met every year until 1901, then every second year from 1903 to 1913 and 1921 to 1939. Until 1946, the Congress was held every two years in various European cities, save for interruptions during the two World Wars. Their goal was to build an infrastructure to further the cause of Jewish settlement in Palestine. Since the Second World War, meetings have been held approximately every four years. Also, since the creation of the State of Israel, the Congress has met every four or five years in Jerusalem.[7]


The 38th World Zionist Congress took place in 2020.

World Zionist Union: Movement – Arzenu – World Union of Meretz

Labor Zionist

United Faction: –HaNoar HaTzioni– MERCAZ

Kadima

World /Ichud Le'umi/Herut/Yisrael Beytenu/Moledet/Tkuma

Mizrachi

World /Shas

Likud

/Confederation

Hadassah

– the Zionist movement

Over The Rainbow

Opening of the Congress, including a speech by the Chairman of the Executive, and other speeches determined in the agenda, election of the Congress Presidium, the report of the President of the Zionist Supreme Court on the election results, reports of the members of the Zionist Executive in supplement to the printed report, election of the Congress committees.

Election of the new Executive, according to the proposal of the Congress Standing Committee.

Meetings of the committees.

Reports of the committees and voting on the draft resolutions presented by them. The report of the Standing Committee and voting on its proposals for members of the Zionist General Council, the Comptroller and the Legal Institutions.

Congress closing ceremony.

The Zionist Congress is conducted by the Congress Presidium. Congress deliberations are divided into five stages:[2]

The , held in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland, had Theodor Herzl acting as chairperson. The Congress was attended by some 200 participants who formulated the Zionist platform, known as the "Basel programme", and established the Zionist Organization (ZO). In contrast with the older Hibbat Zion movement, the ZO took a clear stance in favour of political Zionism, stating in its programme that

First Zionist Congress

First Zionist Congress

Sixth Zionist Congress

World Zionist Organization

Jewish Agency for Israel

List of Jewish leaders in the Land of Israel

Official website

in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW

Newspaper clippings about World Zionist Congress