Jewish organisations from around the world signed the J50 Declaration on Zionism and Antisemitism in Jerusalem on Thursday, which states unequivocally that “Zionism is part of Jewish identity”.
William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations, chaired the J50 Forum gathering, saying that the declaration “affirms Zionism as the national movement of the Jewish people and the expression of our right to self-determination in our ancient homeland, Israel”.
The document calls for antizionism “to be recognised and confronted when it is used to marginalise, exclude, or discriminate against Jews”.
It further states: “Antizionism, as manifested today through efforts to deny the Jewish people their right to self-determination, or demand that Jews renounce Zionism as the price of acceptance in political, academic, professional, or cultural life, is antisemitic.”
The declaration ends by stressing that “Zionism is part of Jewish identity” and that “we will not allow others to define it for us”.
The declaration, endorsed by 59 signatories, including the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) in the UK, says that the erosion of the right of the Jewish people to self-determination is “increasingly challenged and denied,” adding that “governments, international institutions, municipalities and political parties, media and cultural institutions, universities and educational institutions, professional associations, and civil society are increasingly becoming arenas for the delegitimisation and distortion of Zionism, serving to marginalise and exclude Jews”.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar hosted the third meeting of the J50 Forum in Jerusalem on September 1. The assembly, composed of 50 core Jewish organisations, focused on the worldwide rise in antisemitism and the connection between obsessive anti-Israel rhetoric and increasing attacks against Jewish communities in the Diaspora.
Organised by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the forum includes presidents of Jewish communities, CEOs, chief rabbis and other senior Jewish leaders, from organisations such as the Conference of Presidents, the Jewish Federations of North America, B’nai B’rith International, the Anti-Defamation League, the Conference of European Rabbis, the Board of Deputies, including leading Jewish organisations from Europe, North and South America, Australia and South Africa.
Sa’ar founded the J50 Forum in May 2025 at the International Conference against Antisemitism held at the ministry in Jerusalem. The forum receives regular briefings from the foreign minister and ongoing updates, and maintains daily contact with ministry officials.
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