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The
"Basel Program" |
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First Congress - Basle [Basel], 1897
The first Zionist Congress
was to have taken place in Munich, Germany. However, due to considerable
opposition by the local community leadership, both Orthodox and Reform,
it was decided to transfer the proceedings to Basle, Switzerland.
Herzl acted as chairperson of the Congress which was attended by some
200 participants. The major achievements of the Congress were its formulation
of the Zionist platform, known as
the Basle program and the foundation of the World
Zionist Organization. The program stated,
"Zionism seeks for the Jewish
people a publicly recognized legally secured homeland in Palestine."
This gave clear expression to Herzl's political Zionism in contrast with
the settlement orientated activities of the more loosely organized Hibbat
Zion. Herzl was elected President of the Zionist organization and an Inner
Actions Committee and a Greater Actions Committee were elected to run
the affairs of the movement between Congresses.
In his diary Herzl wrote,
"Were I to sum up the Basle Congress in a word - which I shall
guard against pronouncing publicly - it would be this: At Basle I founded
the Jewish State."
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