Political Zionism stressed
the importance of political action and deemed
the attainment of political rights in Palestine
a prerequisite for the fulfillment of the Zionist enterprise.
Political Zionism is linked to the name of Theodor
Herzl, who considered the Jewish problem
a political one that should be solved by overt
action in the international arena. His aim
was to obtain a charter, recognized by the
world leadership, granting the Jews sovereignty
in a Jewishowned territory. The Basle
Program, drawn up in accordance with these
principles, states that Zionism aims to establish
“a secure haven, under public law, for
the Jewish people in the Land of Israel.”
Organizational and economic mechanisms (the
Zionist Organization [ZO], the Jewish National
Fund [Keren Kayemet L'Israel], the
Jewish Colonial Trust and so on) were established
to carry out this program.