Zionist Congress
Quick Summary
The Zionist Congress, primarily from 1897 to 1905, was a pivotal period for the political movement of Zionism, founded by Theodor Herzl. Herzl, driven by his experiences with antisemitism, proposed that the "Jewish question" was a political one requiring a Jewish homeland.
The First Zionist Congress convened in Basel, Switzerland in August 1897. This gathering established the World Zionist Organization with Herzl as its first president. The congress adopted the Basel Program, which declared Zionism's aim to create a "publicly guaranteed homeland for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
Herzl dedicated his remaining years to organizing and promoting the Zionist cause, engaging in diplomatic efforts and establishing a Zionist newspaper. Despite facing opposition and setbacks, his work laid the foundation for the eventual establishment of the State of Israel.12
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