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The
Zionist Century - Concepts - Zionist Congresses
This was the first Congress
to be held in the State of Israel and it opened symbolically with a gathering
at Herzl's grave in Jerusalem. This had been effected following the execution
of Herzl's last will and testament, in which he requested that -- if and
when a Jewish State be established -- his remains be transferred from
Vienna.
The central question debated at the Congress was the definition of Zionist
goals, given that the Basle program had been realized.
Congress passed the Jerusalem program, which defined the future tasks
of Zionism as:
"consolidation of the State of Israel, the ingathering
of the exiles in Eretz Yisrael and the fostering of the unity of the Jewish
people."
Questions also emerged concerning the relationship of the new State with
the Zionist Organization. The Congress adopted a resolution calling
on the State of Israel to recognize the WZO as the representative body
of the Jewish people in all matters that involved the organized participation
of Diaspora Jewry in the upbuilding of Israel. In 1952 the Knesset acted
upon this resolution, when it passed the WZO and Jewish Agency for Israel
(Status) Law.
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