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571 Basel Congress Basel Program

THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

571

second day of the first Congress, after a report byMax Nokdau, chairman of the executive committee. " Zionism aims at establishing for It is as follows the Jewish people a publicly and legally assured home in Palestine. For the attainment of this purpose, the Congress considers the following means serviceable (1) the promotion of the settlement of Jewish agriculturists, artisans, and tradesmen in



Palestine (2) the federation of all Jews into local or general groups, according to the laws of the various countries (3) the strengthening of the Jewish feeling



and consciousness

(4) preparatory steps for the attainment of those governmental grants which are necessary to the achievement of the Zionist purpose. In the course of the proceedings it was found necessary to explain, first, that the struggle for a publicly and legally assured home was meant to be only for those Jews who either could not or would not

way resembled

a territorial menace to the Ottoman hoped to achieve its goal by rendering service to Turkey thus procuring a Turkish charter, in order that it might secure for the Jewish Agkicultueal Colonies in Palestine already existing, and to be established there, an autonomous government under the suzerainty of Turkey. The second statement was due to some fears expressed by the Basel rabbi Br. Cohn. He voiced the sentiments of the Orthodox, and said " that the party, of which it is known that it does not subscribe to the opinions of Orthodoxy, might oppress the Orthodox. " To this is due the declaration, made by the chairman of the Congress and reenforced on

empire.

It



every occasion, that political Zionism aims exclusively at the improvement of the political condition of the Jews. It thinks that this improvement is to be found if those Jews who only possess political

Bronze Medal Struck at the Second Zionist Congress at Basel. assimilate in their respective dwelling-places; secondly, that (political) Zionism did not intend to take any steps that would offend the religious sentiment of any Jew, whatever his opinions. The first statement was made for the reason that the opponents of the movement had used all con-

ceivable means to prevent and to discredit the ConThey had succeeded in frustragress and its aims. ting the original intention to hold the Congress in Munich, and they made it a prominent argument that the assertions of the anti-Semites were confirmed by the holding of this Congress. They held that the

was Utopian that a transfer of all Jews to Palestine would be materially impossible if for no entire idea



other reason than that Palestine could not hold them Furthermore, that in some countries Jews enjoy that the emigraall political rights and privileges tion of these Jews would be therefore not only unnecessary, but highly ungrateful toward those coun-

all.



which they enjoy such rights, etc. Others thought they found in the Basel Program a menace directed against the independence of Turkey. It was, however, repeatedly emphasized in precise terms by the leaders of the movement that political Zionism had nothing in view which in any tries in

(Exact Size.)

privileges in a limited measure or not at all, or who in any other way occupy an inferior position with respect to their fellow-citizens of other religions, are provided with better political, and thereby better social, conditions. The satisfaction of religious needs is left

to the individual. of a question addressed to the presi-

On account

dent as to the meaning of the term " expedient settlement of Palestine " (Point 1 of the Basel Program), it was found necessary to discuss the question of This was colonization in the second Basel Congress. done through a resolution brought up by the Zionist executive committee and accepted by a maj ority vote. The resolution referred to a plan drawn up by the colonization committee, which was as follows "This Congress, in approval ol tie colonization already inaugurated in Palestine, and being desirous of fostering further efforts in that direction, hereby declares, that 1. For the proper settlement of Palestine, this Congress considers it necessary to obtain the requisite permission from the Turkish government, and to carry out such settlement according to the plan, and under the direction of a committee, selected by

this Congress.

This committee to be appointed to superintend and direct matters of colonization it shall consist of ten members, and have its seat in London. England shall send three delegates 2.

all

to this



committee



Russia,

two



Galicia,

one



Germany, one