Centrist Israeli Party Quits World Zionist Organization, Citing Corruption and Political Favoritism
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid announced that his centrist Yesh Atid party is withdrawing from the World Zionist Organization, alleging that the 127-year-old body has become deeply entangled in corruption and political cronyism.
“Corruption is driving Diaspora Jews away from Israel,” Lapid said, emphasizing that Israel’s national institutions have come to serve political interests rather than the public good.
Lapid added that his party will advocate for the nationalization of the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (JNF), which manages more than 13% of Israel’s land. His remarks underscored growing frustration among Israeli centrists regarding the influence of party politics within these historic organizations.
The announcement disrupted weeks of sensitive negotiations at the World Zionist Congress, an international gathering in Jerusalem held every five years. Delegates from Israeli political factions and major Jewish communities abroad had been working toward a new power-sharing arrangement.
Background
Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid spoke at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly in Tel Aviv on April 24, 2023, where he emphasized transparency and accountability in public institutions. The recent decision marks a rare instance of a major party severing ties with one of the Zionist movement’s foundational institutions.
“These organizations were built to unite the Jewish people, not to divide them by politics,” Lapid stated.
Context and Political Implications
- The World Zionist Organization was established in 1897 and plays a quasi-governmental role in coordinating Jewish and Zionist activities globally.
- Lapid’s withdrawal challenges the balance of influence between Israeli political blocs and international Jewish groups.
- The fallout may reshape future cooperation with Diaspora leadership within Israel’s institutional framework.
Author’s Summary
The withdrawal by Lapid’s Yesh Atid party from the World Zionist Organization reflects rising demands for transparency and signals a deeper crisis of trust in Israel’s traditional Zionist institutions.