Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland

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Logo of the Zionist Federation, circa 2012, Retrieved from http://www.zionist.org.uk, 24 December 2012

The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, also known as the British Zionist Federation or simply the Zionist Federation (ZF), was established in 1899 to campaign for a permanent homeland for the Jewish people. The Zionist Federation is an umbrella organisation for the Zionist movement in the United Kingdom, claiming, in 2012, to represent 'more than 120 organisations, and over 50,000 affiliated members.'[1]

In 1917, the British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour communicated the Balfour Declaration to the leader of United Kingdom's Jewish community Lord Rothschild for transmission to the Zionist Federation.

In 1920, the Zionist Federation founded Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) and Keren Hayesod. The ZF also founded a number of Zionist youth movements.

Until 1931 the ZF was known as the English Zionist Federation, in which year its name was changed to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. A further name change was made in 1966 to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,[2] though today the former title including the whole thirty two counties of Ireland has been reinstated from around 2006.

Logo from the Zionist Federation website circa 2006.[3]

Aims and objectives

Among its aims and objectives, ZF lists:

  • Support, co-ordinate and facilitate the work of all its affiliates nationwide, and to continue its commitment to the Zionist youth movements.
  • Encourage the participation of Jews in Zionist activities including education, culture, Hebrew language and Israel information, underpinned by the belief that the main goal of Zionism is Aliyah.
  • The Zionist Federation is an umbrella organisation encompassing most of the Zionist organizations and individuals in the country and, as such, represents the Zionist movement in the United Kingdom.

Membership

The ZF does not reveal its membership list on its website. It has given various accounts of the extent of its membership. The holdings of the internet archive reveal that it has given the following accounts on its website. In 2001 it stated that it represented: 'most of the Zionist organizations and individuals in the country'[4] In 2006 the Zionist Federation stated that it 'represents the UK Zionist Movement more than 120 organisations, and over 50,000 affiliated members.'[5] The figure of 120 was still on the website in 2012.[1] However in other sources, the ZF has claimed, by contrast, to have 'over seventy affiliated organisations' in 2010.[6]

Activities

Rewarding Michael Gove's support for Israel

Gove accepting his prize for 'unrelenting' support for Israel from Eric Moonman

In February 2008 Eric Moonman, Zionist Federation President, presented the Jerusalem Prize to Michael Gove MP:

Mr. Gove was given the beautiful silver and glass award for his unrelenting support for the State of Israel. In accepting the Jerusalem Prize, Mr. Gove stressed that his love and passion was for democracy and since Israel was the only democracy in the Middle East, his support came naturally.[7]

Criticism of Amnesty International

The ZF has attacked Amnesty International UK on a number of occasions.

  • In January 2012 ZF chairman Harvey Rose wrote to Amnesty director Kate Allen complaining about a book launch it was hosting with author Ben White, who ZF alleged held 'abhorrent and mendacious views'. Amnesty responded that its work included raising issues about discrimination and that White's book, Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination and Democracy, tied in to this.[8] It did not cancel the event.
  • In May 2012, ZF attacked Allen again after she stated in an interview with the Jewish Chronicle that she had never had a letter of complaint from any member of the Jewish community accusing Amnesty of being biased against Israel. Executive Director Alan Aziz claimed his organisation was still awaiting a reply from Amnesty about the January 2012 Ben White book launch about which ZF had complained, though Allen said the charity had already responded.[9] Aziz also penned a comment piece in the Jewish Chronicle stating: '[I]t is inexcusable for groups to use phrases like "war crimes" with a total disregard to the damage such words can cause. There is an urgent need for NGOs to deal with their blatant anti-Israel bias, a bias that ultimately does damage to their reputations.'[10]
  • In July 2012 the ZF attacked Amnesty campaign manager Kristyan Benedict claiming that he had 'regularly shown a partisan approach' on Israeli-Palestinian issues, for instance by organising the January 2012 Ben White book launch, and had threatened to assault an Israel supporter (Zionist blogger Richard Millett) at an Amnesty event. The charity responded to the ZF claims, saying all its staff members adhered to principles of independence and impartiality in their work. Benedict reportedly apologised to Millett but the ZF turned down the offer of a meeting with him, claiming 'there would be nothing to gain from meeting him'.[11]

People

Circa 2012

Eric Moonman - President | Alan Aziz - Executive Director | Harvey Rose - Chairman

Circa 2010

Andrew Balcombe, Chair | Jonathan Hoffmann, Vice-Chair | Dr Jonathan Smilansky Vice-Chair | Harvey Rose Hon Treasurer | Eric Moonman Co-President | Joy Wolfe Co-President | Alan Aziz director | Tracey Seigal Deputy Director | Gary Sakol Assistant Director/Director of Israel Connect | Ian Crooke Finance [12]

Senior figures

Joseph Edward 'Teddy' Sieff (1906-1982 - hon Vice President, circa 1973, then hon President until his death) | Barnett Janner (1892-1982) | Eric Moonman (ZF chair 1975-80, President 2001-) | Stephen Roth (ZF chair 1985-90) | Brenda Katten (vice-chair in 1989, chair 1992-97) | Andrew Balcombe (chair 2006-10) | Alan Aziz (executive director since 2001) | Howard Schaverien (ZF President in 1994, Chair in 1996-7),

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland About Us, Accessed 24 December 2012
  2. ↑ Chris Cook (ed) The Routledge Guide to British Political Archives: Sources since 1945, London: Routledge, p. 418.
  3. ↑ Zionist Federation About Us, Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 2 February 2006, accessed 24 December 2012
  4. ↑ Zionist Federation Homepage, Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 7 February 2001 on 24 December 2012
  5. ↑ Zionist Federation About Us, Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 2 February 2006 on 24 December 2012.
  6. ↑ The Jewish Yearbook 2010, Edgware, Middlesex: Valentine Mitchell, 2010, p 45.
  7. ↑ Jerusalem Prize Awarded at Annual Zionist Federation Dinner February 17, 2008
  8. ↑ Marcus Dysch, Cancel event, Amnesty is urged by ZF, Jewish Chronicle, accessed 7 August 2012
  9. ↑ Marcus Dysch, Amnesty boss attacked over Israel claims, Jewish Chronicle, accessed 7 August 2012
  10. ↑ We deserve more from Amnesty, Jewish Chronicle, accessed 7 August 2012
  11. ↑ Marcus Dysch, Amnesty International defends official accused of anti-Israel bias, Jewish Chronicle, accessed 7 August 2012
  12. ↑ Elkan Levy and Derek Taylor The Jewish Year Book 2010, London: Valentine Mitchell, p. 45.
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