Zionist movement, Northern Ireland
The organised Zionist movement and pro-"Israel" groups in Northern Ireland
The Zionist movement in Northern Ireland has no federation of its own at the World Zionist Organization: the WZO lists delegates from the region under "UK & Ireland",[1] and the WZO's results gave that federation, listed as "England", 19 mandates at the 39th World Zionist Congress in 2025.[2] The Jewish community is very small: the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported in 2025 that the Belfast Hebrew Congregation, the region's only synagogue, had 54 active members.[3] Pro-"Israel" groups include Northern Ireland Friends of Israel. For other countries see Zionist movement by country.
History
The JTA says Belfast was the pulpit of Isaac Herzog, later a chief rabbi of "Israel" and grandfather of the Israeli president of the same name, from 1916 to 1919, and that the community peaked in the 1950s at more than 1,500 members.[3] Northern Ireland Friends of Israel was launched in 2009 by Ian Paisley, who, according to the Jerusalem Post, spoke of similarities between the struggles of "Israel" and of Northern Ireland against terrorism.[4]
National institutions
Northern Ireland comes under the Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom and Ireland; the WZO lists its Congress delegates under "UK & Ireland".[1] See Zionist movement UK.
Lobbying and advocacy
Northern Ireland Friends of Israel describes itself as "a grassroots organisation promoting strong friendship between Northern Ireland and Israel" and says that since 2009 several thousand people have attended its educational and cultural events. It says its supporters stand with "Israel" because "those who seek to destroy Israel also threaten our freedoms at home".[5] The JTA wrote that while many in Northern Ireland sympathise with the Palestinians, "the local sectarian history has led others to staunchly support of Israel", and that evangelical Christians and other churches had expressed solidarity with the Belfast congregation after vandalism in 2025.[3]
Religious Zionism and Chabad
For Chabad on the island of Ireland see Chabad Lubavitch of Ireland.
Leaders
| Name | Position | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Black | Deputy chairman, Belfast Hebrew Congregation | May 2025 |
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Ireland
- Belfast Jewish Community
- Zionist movement UK
- Zionist movement, Birmingham and the West Midlands
- Zionist movement, East Midlands
- Zionist movement, Newcastle and the North East ·
- Zionist movement, Manchester and the North West
- Zionist movement, Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber
- Zionist movement, Wales
- Zionist movement, East of England
- Zionist movement, London
- Zionist movement, South East of England
- Zionist movement, Bristol and the South West
- Zionist movement, Northern Ireland
- Zionist movement, Republic of Ireland
- Zionist movement, Channel Islands
- Zionist movement, Scotland
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 World Zionist Organization, "Delegates", 39th Zionist Congress, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ World Zionist Organization, summary of election results and agreements for the 39th Congress (Hebrew), as submitted to the Zionist Court on 9 October 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Northern Ireland's lone, beleaguered synagogue aims to stave off decline by engaging Christian neighbors", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 29 May 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Maya Spitzer, "Ian Paisley launches Northern Ireland Friends of Israel", Jerusalem Post, 18 March 2009, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Northern Ireland Friends of Israel, "Building Bridges Between Northern Ireland and Israel", accessed 25 October 2026.