patriotism, that it has brought inspiration to the Jews in the Diaspora, and that three million American Jews—a fifth of all the Jews in the world—may well insist that
Jews are a distinct nationality, of which every Jew, whatever his country, his station or shade of belief, is necessarily a member. Let us insist that the struggle for liberty shall not cease until equality of opportunity is accorded to nationalities as to individuals. Let us insist also that full equality of opportunity cannot be obtained by Jews until we, like members of other nationalities, shall have the option of living elsewhere or of returning to the land of our forefathers.
§ 12. The Basel Programme
The First Zionist Congress established the Zionist Organization and laid down its programme, known as the Basel programme, in the following terms:
Zionism strives to create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law. The Congress contemplates the following means to the attainment of this end:
- The promotion on suitable lines of the colonization of Palestine by Jewish agricultural and industrial workers.
- The organization and binding together of the whole of Jewry by means of appropriate institutions. local and international, in accordance with the laws of each country.
- The strengthening and fostering of Jewish national sentiment and consciousness.
- Preparatory steps towards obtaining Government consent where necessary to the attainment of the aim of Zionism.
As has been seen, the second and fourth parts of this programme almost monopolized attention in the earlier years. But, later on, after political conditions had changed in Turkey, the first and third parts of the programme assumed greater importance. Practical work in Palestine and the education of the national sentiment in the younger generation came to the front.
§ 13. Organization
The Zionists form an organized democratic electoral system. All Jews become members on payment of
