About JNF News

Vision Statement

It is possible that Zionism cannot be defeated; thus it remains a work in progress. There are clearly contradictions with Judaic law, which is pertinent, and international law. Its war crimes against the Palestinian people include population transfer (ethnic cleansing) and wilful killing (massacres). Its crimes against humanity include genocide and apartheid (supremacism). However, Zionism does not equate with these crimes, neither with the colonialism and racism that it is also responsible for. It has brushed aside feudal landowners and eschewed private landholdings and brought most of the land of Israel-Palestine under public/charitable control (albeit Jewish). Perhaps it should remain so (though not exclusive), which would enable a more rapid and organized return and rehabilitation of refugees.

Working entirely in polarity with Zionism has not been an effective programme for Palestinian liberty; there is a spiritual and cultural deficit. Anti-Zionists are inspired by a political ideology, having an aversion to religion, believing their political ideology to be superior, whereas this project contends that indigenous cultures are inseparable from their belief systems. Political ideologues do not relate to Israel-Palestine as a holy land, bringing a contempt into the equation that prolongs the ordeal. This political supremacism polarizes every encounter, stifles creativity and individual agency, and lends itself to factionalism, centralisation and egotism, even an irreligious messianism. Its adherents are blind to the record of genocidal outcomes of their ideology world-over, often belittling these other peoples’ struggles. It is untenable for Palestinians on the front line for their cause to be kept within this political ghetto.

What is required to engage with Zionism? The Jewish National Fund is perhaps the foremost agent of Zionism. Here is a vehicle that may be redirected – the aim of this project is to make it a vehicle for offsetting its own crimes to a reasonable extent. Its liabilities to the Palestinian people are immeasurable, but its considerable assets (such as its ideas, technical knowhow, investments, offices, fundraising infrastructure, and its very brand) could be brought to their service. More broadly, we may be able to leverage the JNF’s IP to highlight colonial, apartheid and environmental crimes taking place elsewhere in the world, making beneficial connections. This is the purpose of our house journal where we review its colonial methods and relate them to other struggles.

A key objective is to annul the JNF Covenant – of land held in perpetuity for Jews. Nevertheless, as suggested, it may be desirable to deny private claims on moral grounds, the land remaining for the public benefit, a place of refuge, asylum, rehabilitation etc. The repatriation of refugees should not be of demographic concern. While JNF offices have proved inefficient in the marketing of aliyah, we may continue to attract millions of otherwise objectional Jews to Israel-Palestine with more progressive citizenship plans. In relation to the refugees, we may raise funds for their rehabilitation through JNF offices around the world. As indicated, its work does not easily conform to colonial era theory. Likewise we may deliver a programme of redistribution by zakat from the Muslim world that we would administer through the Jewish National Fund of Palestine to further its goals.

Organisational Structure

JNF News is a dormant company based in London and registered with Companies House, Cardiff. It is the international media arm of the worldwide offices of JNF and KKL. Our house journal is Transactions of the Jewish National Fund (editorial board Ghada Karmi and Eurig Scandrett). For further information about our journal, please go here. Mortaza Sahibzada is director of JNF News and editor of Trans JNF (info@jnf.news). He is also the administrator at JNF HQ on the Gaza Strip (info@jnf.org.ps). Another project in the pipeline is our environmental satellite JNF Earth. Situations vacant!