The 39th Zionist Congress held in Jerusalem was a disappointment for the nationalist camp. Anti-Zionist resolutions passed, the left wing delegates had a loud presence, and coalition negotiations and agreements took place which saw liberal delegates issue an ultimatum that they won't sit in a coalition with Itamar Ben-Gvir, and, sadly, both Likud leaders agreed.
While negotiations for the many important roles in the Zionist institution were severely complicated due to internal Likud conflicts and the first coalition agreement collapsed after midnight when the left objected, now there's a second proposed agreement between a fragmented Likud, Mizrachi and the left. Despite the fact that the right has the most votes and the majority in the Zionist institutions, the current proposed agreement sees Likud losing KKL and the first rotation of the WZO.
Leaders agreed to a boycott of the Ben Gvir movement. However, Betar Worldwide, the proud national Zionist movement founded by Ze’ev Jabotinsky, will not accept the exclusion of any nationalist faction from the institutions of Zionism.
That movement, with representation across multiple Zionist lists, will oppose and block any coalition agreement that betrays the nationalist camp. The World Zionist Congress - which directs billions in funds and thousands of positions throughout the Zionist system, from the World Zionist Organization to Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and beyond - must represent all branches of the Zionist family.
Through a fair and democratic process, Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit, whose political party won seven seats in the Knesset and acts within the law, earned twelve seats and is therefore fully entitled to equal representation, no matter what one's own opinion is.
Yet, on the eve of the Congress’s conclusion, a political boycott was quietly imposed. The Left and Center refused to sit with Otzma Yehudit - and, shockingly, elements within the Zionist establishment, including Hagoel, Zohar, Rabbi Peretz, and the Mizrachi leadership, followed along. Delegates and voters were kept in the dark while coalition agreements were signed that traded principles for positions.
We urge Mizrachi and World Likud voters to vote NO and to reject any deal on “Zionist unity” that excludes Zionist patriots. To boycott Itamar Ben-Gvir and Otzma Yehudit while rewarding Meretz and ADL-linked figures is a moral and ideological collapse - a surrender to the Hellenists of Israel and the Diaspora.
This boycott, marks a dark precedent: for the first time in the history of the Zionist movement - which has always prided itself on broad, wall-to-wall unity - a Jewish Zionist faction has been officially banned. It is a stain upon the Zionist endeavor itself.
The Zionist Congress exists to represent the full spectrum of Jewish national voices, not to silence voices. We call upon Prime Minister Netanyahu, Likud, Rabbi Peretz, and all national Zionist leaders to form a coalition which does not boycott our natural partners on the right. No agreement is better than one which puts the KKL in the hands of the left.
Ronn Torossian serves as Vice Chairman of Betar and is a longtime Likud leader.