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The WZO Constitution and the Zionist Movement

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The WZO Constitution and the Zionist Movement 1 Proceedings of the Zionist General Council 37/3 The WZO Constitution and the Zionist Movement Submitted to the 37/4 ZIONIST GENERAL COUNCIL October- November 2017 2 Meeting of the Presidium of the Zionist General Council XXXVII/3 Helena Glaser, Chair: I express my apologies for late arrival, welcome those present to the Presidium of the Zionist General Council and invite them to view the scenery of the Jerusalem hills. I hope this will be an interesting, challenging and productive Zionist General Council with many disagreements, as experienced during the course of its preparation. I wish to return your attention to the 120th anniversary celebrations of the First Zionist Congress at Mount Herzl, attended by the Israeli Prime Minister and thousands of participants, including youngsters. It was a most memorable event and it presented intricate organizational challenges: it brought together people from all the streams of Judaism who cooperated to make it happen and stood together in song: a truly heart-warming experience. I wish to thank Eli Cohen for his logistical organization of this complex event, which was successful and had a positive outcome. To quote Karma Feinstein Cohen, if one says that the Almighty is found in the tiniest details, everything worked smoothly – from the most complicated aspect to the minutiae – in perfect synchrony and order. Congratulations to you and all the team, it was an uplifting event and impressive in every way. Since we were unable to complete the discussion of all the resolution proposals from the committees at the last Zionist Congress, it was resolved to review all the proposals this year. The previous Zionist General Council session was dedicated to the theme of the 120th anniversary of the birth of the Zionist movement, which is why it was decided to address the review this year. The material we bring you is not perfect: each year we can improve on the past, submit new resolution proposals and add materials towards the following Council session. This year, over and beyond the central theme of the Jubilee of the Reunification of Jerusalem, we shall also be addressing the theme of the Constitution within the Zionist movement: we will begin the voting process on the resolution proposals tomorrow. This will be preceded by an instructional briefing from the Legal Advisor on the subject of due and orderly procedure in accordance with the WZO Constitution. Tzahi Hanegbi, the Minister for Regional Cooperation and former Minister of Justice has been invited to attend. We had wanted to invite a current Minister of Justice to address insights on the constitutional issue, but Minister Ayelet Shaked was unfortunately unable to accept, due to other commitments. There are two committees, which more or less represent the table here today: the Inner Executive and the Outer Executive, which is also present here today in full: both met on a number of occasions, until 3 the materials as presented here were all approved. I would especially like to thank Attorney Fern Braniss whose encyclopedic knowledge of the World Zionist Organization’s Constitution, professional assistance and first class legal counsel remain unmatched. Mikhail Chlenov: I represent here not only Russia or the Commonwealth of States (FSU) but also the Confederation faction. The Confederation is an issue of great importance – it was once a kind of grouping within the World Zionist Organization and very important in terms of certain regions, including the FSU and Latin America, because it is the faction of the General Zionists, without political affiliation to politics, political parties and all of that. Eli Cohen: Welcomes the two young female members from the Reform Movement and wishing them every success. Gives a brief outline of the planned tour of the Kotel Tunnels after the Plenary, but emphasizes that the issue of major importance is the Constitution and if it proves necessary to prolong the discussion after dinner to enable members to speak, the Plenary will resume, even at the expense of the tour. Subject: Incoming and Outgoing Members Maccabi – Ofir Shinhertz, as deputy member of the Zionist General Council in the case of a vacancy. MERCAZ – Nola Lazar, as deputy member of the Zionist General Council in the case of a vacancy and Sandy Starkman as incoming member instead of Ariela Rosemberg, who has resigned. Bnai Brith – Tzila Shalom as incoming member of the Zionist General Council instead of Ruth Bessekri, who has resigned, and Eden Naftali Adler as incoming member of the Zionist General Council instead of Felicia Waldman, who has resigned. Naamat – Doris Wexler as incoming member of the Zionist General Council instead of Sarah Morgan- Beutel, who has resigned. Hanoar Hatzion – Gabriel Schack as incoming member of the Zionist General Council instead of Bendeguz Moldovan, who has resigned. Arzenu – Reeva Forman as incoming member of the Zionist General Council instead of Antony Arkin, who has resigned; Mallory Kahn-Johnston as deputy member in the case of a vacancy and Omri Stark as deputy member in the case of a vacancy. Meretz – Simon Wasserman as deputy member in the case of a vacancy. Hadassah – Sue Polansky as deputy member in the case of a vacancy. 4 Over the Rainbow – Zvi Avisar as incoming member of the Zionist General Council instead of Assaf Barr, who has resigned. World Mizrachi – Itzhak Dei as incoming member of the Zionist General Council instead of André Elmalek, who passed away. WUJS – Samantha Miretzky as deputy member in the case of a vacancy. Kulanu (We’re All Zionists) – Adv. Sahar Pinto as a member of the Zionist General Council and member of the Presidium instead of Shalom HaLevi, who has resigned. WIZO – Zohar Shalhevet as incoming member of the Zionist General Council instead of Beto Maya, who has resigned and Liana Halpern as incoming member of the Zionist General Council instead of Shani Moshe, who has resigned. All the above exchanges of members were approved. Dario Teitelbaum: Reports that on the previous evening, the International Council of World Zionist Movements met for the first time, an initiative developed by Karma Feinstein and Sergio Edelstein, led by Danny Liberant from Mexico. This Jewish Zionist event was attended by all the youth movements. Helena Glaser, Chair: The voting system at the Council will not be electronic: every Council member will have a voting card, as in previous sessions. The system will be to proceed to vote on issues appearing in the Constitution that have not been in dispute. In relation to following three issues there will be no vote: individual membership, elections and mandates: the floor will be open for discussion. I request that any proposals that are prepared be brought to the next session of the Council; the Committee will address all the proposals brought to it, work on the drafting and submit them for approval. Adv. Fern Braniss: Explanation of the quorum requirement to vote on a constitutional amendment: at least one half of all the members of the Zionist General Council are required to be present in the hall. Of the 187 members, 94 are required to be in the hall at every plenary meeting. Numbers have been rounded upward. Members of the Zionist General Council hold the right to vote at all ballots. Of those present, there must be at least a two-thirds majority among those voting, both for a regular vote and a votum separatum; where a resolution is adopted by more than a two-thirds majority, the votum separatum requires the same majority. Lea Muehlstein: Two questions for clarification. So my first note of clarification is regarding the issues that we wouldn't be voting on. I think it would be really important that we actually list which articles in the Constitution we're referring to, so that there is no doubt. 5 Eli Cohen: Everyone has received a copy of the existing Constitution, without the deletions, as well as the copy of the Constitution with the amendment proposals, with all the additions or deletions marked in two colors. The documents are available in both languages, for the purpose of clarity and ongoing reference. Lea Muehlstein: My second question is about voting yes or no on the things that are not a votum separatum. Are we going to go through each insertion and deletion separately, not by article? Because I think that is going to make a difference, because sometimes we will agree to the first part of a change, but another part of the suggested change is not acceptable. And I think it's important that we entertain those separately. Adv. Fern Braniss: It is possible to vote by section, at the judgment of the Chairman or the Committee Chair. There is also the option to submit a request to do so as a Point of Order. Eli Cohen: A more detailed briefing will be given on the constitutional aspects and the issues presented for vote, but the Plenary Chairs have their authority – while you have the authority to agree or otherwise. An orderly and clear instruction session will explain how the proceedings should be conducted. We remain open to all options and the Legal Advisor will be obliged to furnish answers as required; when there is a Point of Order, there is also the Presidium, which is available specifically to address matters requiring any other decision. Helena Glaser, Chair: Thank you to everyone, I declare this meeting closed. * * * Plenary No. 1 Opening, Greetings, Comptroller’s Report Dina Hahn: As Plenary Chair extends a welcome to those present from the Holy City, where we celebrate the Jubilee of the city’s reunification. Introduces the Chair of the Zionist General Council, Helena Glaser.
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