Union of Progressive Zionists

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The Union of Progressive Zionists (UPZ) was a

Palestine
. The UPZ provides guidance, education, and resources to students who seek to contribute a progressive voice into the campus debate concerning Israel and Palestine.

As of January 2007, the Union of Progressive Zionists had chapters at 60 colleges and universities.[1]

In May 2009, the Union of Progressive Zionists affiliated itself with

J Street U
.

History

The Union of Progressive Zionists was created in the early 2000s by college-age members of

Meretz USA (now Partners for Progressive Israel), two US Progressive Zionist organizations. UPZ's first national conference, held in October 2004, drew more than 100 students from 40 schools.[2][3][4]

From its founding, the stated intention of the group was to create a network of student activists who supported Israel and opposed the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories but felt alienated by both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian extremists.[2][3][4]

Activities

The Union of Progressive Zionists has brought prominent

Amjad Atallah, the Palestinian-American legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team in peace talks with Israel, and Rafi Dajani, Executive Director of the American Task Force on Palestine.[5]

Controversy within the Israel On Campus Coalition

In late 2006 and early 2007, the campus activities of the Union of Progressive Zionists created a stir within the

Breaking the Silence, former soldiers who speak out against human rights abuses they have witnessed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.[1][6][7][8][9][10]

In December 2006, the ZOA called for the Israel On Campus Coalition to expel the Union of Progressive Zionists. Although the coalition's steering committee voted 9–0 against expulsion in January 2007, the issue resulted in a debate among major Zionist organizations. The Jewish National Fund joined the ZOA in demanding that the UPZ to end its relationship with Breaking the Silence (but not in calling for the group's exclusion from the coalition), and the World Zionist Organization supported the UPZ, as did a group of 100 academics from Israel. The AJCongress threatened to quit the coalition out of dissatisfaction with the decision to allow the UPZ to remain.[1][6][7][8][9][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Spence, Rebecca (January 19, 2007). "Campus Coalition Split Over Progressive Union". The Forward. Archived from the original on May 8, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Porter, Ethan (August 13, 2004). "Progressive Zionists Go Back to School". The Forward. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Pomerance, Rachel (October 26, 2004). "New Campus Group Gives Voice to 'Progressive' Zionist Students". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Lightman, Naomi (November 2004). "Progressive Campus Zionists Unite in New Group". Canadian Jewish News. Archived from the original on May 5, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  5. ^ Previous Events Archived June 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Union of Progressive Zionists.
  6. ^ a b Paul, Ari (January 4, 2007). "Zionist Vs. Zionist". The American Prospect. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Harris, Ben (January 24, 2007). "Focus on Issues Group That Criticized Israel to Stay". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Spence, Rebecca (January 26, 2007). "Coalition Votes Not To Toss Liberal Zionists". The Forward. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Spence, Rebecca (February 2, 2007). "Groups Flip Flop as Controversy Over Liberal Zionists Continues". The Forward. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Zeller, Shawn (February 12, 2007). "U.S. Zionist Groups Facing Potential Rift". CQ Weekly.
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