Conservative delegates dominate Australia delegates to World Zionist Congress

The results of the first direct elections ever held in Australia for Zionist delegates show the community has swung to the right but remains deeply divided.

Conservatives scraped in ahead of progressives, with Mizrachi, Eretz Hakadosh and Likud combining to elect seven delegates while progressive slates ARZA-Masorti and Hatikvah Australia elected six.  

At the last World Zionist Congress in 2020 Australia was represented by five conservative delegates (four Mizrachi, 1 Likud) and eight progressive delegates ( 4 ARZA, 2 Masorti and 2 from Meretz and Ameinu, now united as Hatikvah Australia)

Sometimes referred to as the "Parliament of the Jewish People", the World Zionist Congress is a gathering of Diaspora Jews which sets policies for the international Zionist movement and, importantly, allocates funds raised in the Diaspora.

In the past Australian delegates have been nominated through their movements, but this year direct elections were held and voting was open to all Australian Jews, provided they endorse the Jerusalem Program, the ideological platform of the Zionist movement.

The result was fierce campaigning among delegates and unprecedented engagement by Australian Zionists ahead of October's 39th World Zionist Congress.

This Congress is expected to be controversial because of deep conflict over both the war in Gaza and the assault on democracy by the Netanyahu government. In 2023, delegates displayed unprecedented divergence from Israeli government polices. Delegates voted against Netanyahu's moves on judicial reform, conversion, and the law of return.

A survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) published last month revealed a deepening rift between Israeli and American Jews over Israel’s war in Gaza and its broader security policy, including the recent campaign against Iran’s nuclear program. Almost half (45%) of American Jews think Israel is too aggressive in Gaza and only a third think Israel is winning the war.

While current data is not available for Australia, there is good reason to believe Australian Jews are similarly concerned. Australian Jewish advocacy groups, community leaders and politicians have rejected the Israeli government’s denial that people in Gaza are starving, with responses across the political spectrum calling for urgent assistance to Palestinians who are suffering from lack of food and medicine.

Before October 7 and the war in Gaza, The Jewish Independent's Crossroads 23 survey showed deep concern about Israel's democratic functioning, with 77% of respondents believing there is too much corruption in Israel; 85% thinking Orthodox Jews have too much influence; and a whopping 86% troubled by the Netanyahu government's anti-democratic judicial reforms. (The latest iteration of this continuing crisis is a unanimous vote on Monday to dismiss independent Attorney-General, and thorn in the government's side, Gali Baharav-Miara, a move currently frozen by the High Court). 

Crossroads 23 also showed deep divisions in the Australian community over the Israel-Palestine conflict, with a close split between those who believe Israeli control of the West Bank is vital for Israel's security (48%) and those who consider it dispensable (41%).

This difference is reflected in this week's Congress results. The conservative/right delegates from Mizrachi (modern Orthodox religious Zionist), Eretz Hakodesh (Haredi/Torah values) and Likud (Israeli right) support increasing settlement in the West Bank. They will also vote to increase funds for Yeshivot, oppose support of Reform Judaism, and focus heavily on antisemitism in the Diaspora.

ARZA-Masorti (representing Progressive/Masorti Jews) and Hatikvah Australia (pluralist, democratic) oppose West Bank settlement, and want funding diverted to rebuilding communities in the Western Negev and away from illegal settlements. They will also vote to support religious pluralism and fight against the anti-democratic trends inside Israel.

Conflict among Zionists is nothing new. Divisions between secular and religious Jews, between socialists and capitalists, between Ashkenazim and Mizrachim have plagued the state from the outset. They reflect a Jewish culture that has always been pluralistic and argumentative. Indeed it would be tempting to suggest that Zionism would not be a very Jewish movement if everyone agreed.

The question is whether the delegates now elected to represent Australian Zionists will be able to find enough common ground to make a productive contribution to the forthcoming Congress.

Diaspora Jews, whatever their ideological orientation, share certain experiences that Israelis lack. Australians can bring their experience of multiculturalism, democratic safeguards, and even (inadequate though it is) tentative moves towards reconciliation for historic wrongs to the Zionist discourse. Heaven knows, Israel could benefit.