“Zionism is part of Jewish identity. We will not allow others to define it for us.”
By United with Israel Staff
Jewish organizations and community leaders from around the world have issued a sweeping joint declaration affirming Zionism as an integral part of Jewish identity and calling for anti-Zionism to be confronted when it is used to discriminate against or exclude Jews.
The J50 Declaration on Zionism and Antisemitism, adopted by participants in the third J50 Forum in Jerusalem and released ahead of Rosh Hashana, was signed by dozens of major Jewish organizations and communities spanning North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.
“Zionism is the national movement of the Jewish people and the expression of our right to self-determination in our ancient homeland, Israel,” the declaration states. “It is deeply rooted in Jewish history and tradition.”
The signatories warned that efforts to delegitimize Zionism have increasingly spread into governments, international institutions, universities, political parties, media and cultural institutions, professional associations and other areas of public life.
They argued that such campaigns are increasingly being used to marginalize Jews and pressure them to distance themselves from Israel and Zionism.
Citing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism, the declaration states that denying Jewish self-determination, demonizing or delegitimizing Israel or applying double standards to the Jewish state can, depending on the context, constitute antisemitism.
“Anti-Zionism, as manifested today through efforts to deny the Jewish people their right to self-determination or demand that Jews renounce Zionism as the price of acceptance in political, academic, professional or cultural life, is antisemitic,” the declaration states.
“We call for anti-Zionism to be recognized and confronted when it is used to marginalize, exclude or discriminate against Jews.”
The declaration concludes with a rejection of attempts by outside groups to redefine Zionism on behalf of Jews.
“Zionism is part of Jewish identity. We will not allow others to define it for us.”
Among the global organizations backing the declaration are the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, B’nai B’rith International, World Jewish Congress and European Jewish Congress.
National Jewish organizations and communities from dozens of countries also signed, including groups representing Jews in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine and numerous other countries.
The declaration emerged from the third J50 Forum, an initiative established by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to strengthen ties between Israel and Jewish communities around the world.
Sa’ar hosted participants in Jerusalem earlier this month, where discussions focused heavily on rising antisemitism and its connection to increasingly hostile rhetoric against Israel.
Sa’ar said at the time that participants shared a “deepening concern over the global rise in antisemitism” and what he described as a clear connection between obsessive anti-Israel rhetoric by governments and growing attacks on Jewish communities.
The forum was chaired by William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt described the gathering as an opportunity for Jewish leaders to strengthen cooperation between Israel and Diaspora communities, including efforts aimed at “confronting the evil of anti-Zionism.”
The new declaration turns those discussions into a collective statement from Jewish communities worldwide, asserting their right to define Zionism and drawing a clear line between criticism of Israel and efforts to deny Jews the right to national self-determination.
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