THE BEGINNING OF ZIONISM: THE BASEL PROGRAM

The Basel Program

While we are all engrossed in our local politics and such foreign issues as the Euro crisis and threats of military conflict in Iran, Syria and elsewhere, the issues of Palestine and Zionism seem to have been forgotten. So lest we forget, let's take a peek at how Zionism and the state of Israel came into being.

The Basel Program was formulated at the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland in 1897. The Congress was convened by the then small minority of Jewry led by Theodor Herzl, the founder of the modern Zionism movement. The Zionist Organization was founded at the Congress, and the Basel program became the platform and foundation for the movement. Today's Zionists use the Basel program as the blueprint for their movement.

The Basel program (top image) was originally written in German. The English translation is as follows:

Program

Zionism seeks to establish a home for the Jewish people in Palestine secured under public law. The Congress contemplates the following means to the attainment of this end:

1. The promotion by appropriate means of the settlement in Palestine of Jewish farmers, artisans, and tradesmen.

2. The organization and uniting of the whole of Jewry by means of appropriate local and overall events, in accordance with the country's laws.

3. The strengthening and fostering of Jewish national sentiment and national consciousness.

4. Preparatory steps toward obtaining the consent of the government, where necessary, in order to reach the goals of Zionism.

The following three-part video provides an account of the Basel program and how it eventually led to the creation of the State of Israel.

Part 1: Zionism: The Beginning - The Basel Program

Source: YouTube

Part 2: Zionism: The Basel Program Part II - The British Mandate

Source: YouTube

Part 3: Zionism: The Basel Program Part III - The Creation of Israel

Source: YouTube