From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Union of Progressive Zionists
Union of Progressive Zionists
The Union of Progressive Zionists (UPZ was a North
UPZ)
American network of Jewish student activists who have
Controversy within the Israel
organized around principles of social justice and peace in On Campus Coalition
Israel and Palestine. The UPZ provides guidance, educa-
In late 2006 and early 2007, the campus activities of the
tion, and resources to students who seek to contribute a
Union of Progressive Zionists created a stir within the Is-
progressive voice into the campus debate concerning Is-
rael On Campus Coalition, an organization that seeks to
rael and Palestine.
promote a "pro-active pro-Israel agenda on campus," of
As of January 2007, the Union of Progressive Zionists
which the UPZ is a member. Some of the coalition’s more
had chapters at 60 colleges and universities.[1]
conservative members, including the American Jewish
In May 2009, the Union of Progressive Zionists affili-
Congress (AJCongress) and the Zionist Organization of
U.
ated itself with J Street and renamed itself J Street U
America (ZOA), criticized the UPZ for sponsoring speech-
es by members of an Israeli organization called Breaking
History the Silence, former soldiers who speak out against al-
The Union of Progressive Zionists was created in the ear- leged human rights abuses in the Israeli-occupied West
ly 2000s by college-age members of Habonim Dror and Bank and Gaza Strip.[1][6][7][8][9][10]
Hashomer Hatzair, with the support of the Labor Zionist In December 2006, the ZOA called for the Israel On
Alliance (now called Ameinu) and Meretz USA, the orga- Campus Coalition to expel the Union of Progressive Zion-
nization of US supporters of the Israeli social democratic ists. Although the coalition’s steering committee voted
Meretz political party. Its first national conference, held 9-0 against expulsion in January 2007, the issue resulted
in October 2004, drew more than 100 students from 40 in a debate among major Zionist organizations. The
schools.[2][3][4] Jewish National Fund joined the ZOA in demanding that
From its founding, the stated intention of the group the UPZ to end its relationship with Breaking the Silence
was to create a network of student activists who support- (but not in calling for the group’s exclusion from the
ed Israel and opposed the Occupation but felt alienated coalition), and the World Zionist Organization supported
by both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian extremists. [2][3][4] 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 re-
Activities main.[1][6][7][8][9][10]
Speakers
See also
The Union of Progressive Zionists has brought prominent
leftist Israeli politicians to speak on North American • Habonim Dror
campuses, including Yossi Beilin, chairman of the • Hashomer Hatzair
Meretz-Yachad party and one of the architects of the Os- • Labour Zionism
lo Accords and the Geneva Accords; Yael Dayan, Deputy • Zionist youth movement
Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo and an advocate for women’s • Ameinu
rights and gay rights; Daniel Levy, the lead Israeli drafter • Meretz-Yachad
of the Geneva Accords. Its speakers have also included
prominent Palestinians such as Amjad Atallah, the References
Palestinian-American legal advisor to the Palestinian ne-
[1] ^ Spence, Rebecca (2007-01-19). "Campus Coalition
gotiating team in peace talks with Israel, and Rafi Dajani,
Split Over Progressive Union". The Forward.
Executive Director of the American Task Force on Pales-
tine.[5] Archived from the original on 2007-01-22.
http://web.archive.org/web/20070122104733/
http://www.forward.com/articles/campus-
coalition-split-over-progressive-union/. Retrieved
2007-03-20.
[2] ^ Porter, Ethan (2004-08-13). "Progressive Zionists
Go Back to School". The Forward.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Union of Progressive Zionists
http://www.forward.com/articles/progressive- Telegraphic Agency. http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/
zionists-go-back-to-school/. Retrieved 2007-03-20. iowa/news/article/
[3] ^ Pomerance, Rachel (2004-10-25). "New campus 20070124Groupthatcriticize.html. Retrieved
group gives voice to ‘progressive’ Zionist students". 2007-03-20.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency. http://www.jta.org/ [8] ^ Spence, Rebecca (2007-01-26). "Coalition Votes
cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/ Not To Toss Liberal Zionists". The Forward.
Newcampusgroupgiv.html. Retrieved 2007-03-20. http://www.forward.com/articles/coalition-votes-
[4] ^ Lightman, Naomi (November 2004). "Progressive not-to-toss-liberal-zionists/. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
campus Zionists unite in new group". Canadian [9] ^ Spence, Rebecca (2007-02-02). "Groups Flip Flop
Jewish News. Archived from the original on as Controversy Over Liberal Zionists Continues".
2007-05-05. http://web.archive.org/web/ The Forward. Archived from the original on
20070505143014/http://www.cjnews.com/ 2007-02-06. http://web.archive.org/web/
viewarticle.asp?id=4702. Retrieved 2007-03-20. 20070206094027/http://www.forward.com/
[5] Previous Events, Union of Progressive Zionists. articles/groups-flip-flop-as-controversy-over-
[6] ^ Paul, Ari (2007-01-04). "Zionist Vs. Zionist". The liberal-zioni/. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
American Prospect Online Edition. [10] ^ Zeller, Shawn (2007-02-12). "U.S. Zionist Groups
http://www.prospect.org/web/ Facing Potential Rift". CQ Weekly.
page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12360. http://public.cq.com/docs/cqw/
Retrieved 2007-03-20. weeklyreport110-000002449615.html. Retrieved
[7] ^ Harris, Ben (2007-01-24). "Group that criticized 2007-03-20.
Israel to stay in campus coalition". Jewish
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Union_of_Progressive_Zionists&oldid=465547520"
Categories:
• College religious organizations
• Student political organizations
• Jewish anti-occupation groups
• Jewish youth organizations
• Zionist youth movements
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