American Zion Commonwealth
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The American Zion Commonwealth (Hebrew: קהילת ציון אמריקאית) was a
The American Zion Commonwealth company was founded in the United States in 1914 by American Zionists with the purpose of acquiring lands for Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel.[1] During World War I, the company's activities were suspended, but with the conquest of the land by the British and the establishment of the British Mandate, the company returned to full operation. It was most active in the 1920s.
Activities and acquisitions
The company acquired land in the heart of the western
In 1924, the company purchased the lands of the village of
In western Jezreel, the company purchased the lands of the village of
In the
The jewel in the crown of the group's activities was the acquisition of a barren piece of land north of
Investors and later history
The company sold the lands it purchased to Jews in the United States and
The company was unique among similar organizations in that it transferred full ownership rights to its buyers - as opposed to the Jewish National Fund which granted leasing rights only. As the years passed, the company became less active and its management was transferred to the government. In 1983, the company was dispersed. Land purchasers and their descendants who did not receive ownership of the lands by that year became creditors of the company. Since many of these buyers were considered missing, their litigation rights were transferred to the public trust. With this, the important role the company played in the history of the Zionist settlement came to an end.
Other
In the two largest cities founded by the company, Afula and Herzliya, there are streets bearing the name קהילת ציון (Zion Commonwealth) in commemoration of its achievements.
References
- ISBN 978-1-58465-439-1.
The American Zion Commonwealth (AMZIC) was established in 1914 to aid in the settlement of Jews in Palestine and to secure for its members and their descendants rights, interests, and privileges in lands occupied by the AMZIC.