The Seventeenth Zionist Congress

Convened in Basle, Switzerland, the Congress is engulfed with fierce debate towards Weizmann’s policy of cooperation with the British Mandate authorities, especially since their issuance of an anti-Zionist White Paper based on the recommendations of British Colonial Secretary Lord Passfield. Immigration and Jewish land purchase restrictions are to be applied and stop the growth of the Jewish national home. Since these are the core ingredients in fulfilling the Zionist objective, Weizmann is considered inept. The opposition to Weizmann is led by Ze’ev Jabotinsky, who calls for the creation of a Jewish State on both sides of the Jordan River. Weizmann tenders his resignation and is succeeded by Nahum Sokolov.