Editor’s Note: The following article responds to a previous press release from the Zionist Organization of America.
By Ken Bob
NEW YORK — The Zionist Organization of America’s (ZOA) publicity department is working overtime in attempts to silence the voice of the leading progressive Zionist groups in America. Deploying sensational headlines, coupled with untruths and exaggerations, their claims have been rejected by official body after official body within the World Zionist Organization. Undeterred, they continue in their attacks on the Hatikvah Progressive Zionist Slate running in the World Zionist Congress elections currently underway. These failed attempts to disqualify us from the elections demonstrate the ZOA’s marginal position in the Jewish and Zionist world.
The ZOA’s latest wrongheaded gambit is to claim that our platform falsely states that the Hatikvah Slate works to “combat the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.” In fact, members of the Hatikvah Slate are recognized by those within the Jewish community active in the struggle against BDS as an essential partner in that effort. As Zionists who “speak the language of the left,” we are best equipped to engage in this critical effort on behalf of Israel.
Examples of our work in this area include organizing professors to oppose academic boycotts, engagement with progressives in dialogue around he necessity of a two state solution and lobbying against anti-Israel divestment work on campuses.
We are saddened that the ZOA would choose to continue to invest their time and money to engage in a witch hunt against mainstays of the Zionist movement. We are troubled that they attempted to silence a voice that represents large segments of Israel and the American Jewish community, thus shrinking an inclusive tent. As a response to this misguided effort, we encourage every American Jew to register and vote in the World Zionist Congress elections. Individuals can learn more about the Hatikvah Slate, sponsored by Ameinu, Partners for Progressive Israel, Habonim Dror, and Hashomer Hatzair, at www.hatikvahslate.net.
The Hatikvah slate is comprised of leaders of a variety of organizations, including J Street, New Israel Fund, Americans for Peace Now, Open Hillel and the Jewish Labor Committee along with Rabbis, social and environmental activists, academics, artists and others who have joined with Ameinu, Habonim Dror, Hashomer Hatzair and Partners for Progressive Israel. Details can be found at www.hatikvahslate.net.
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The author is president of Ameinu. Your comment may be posted in the space provided below.