Determination to make Labor the decisive force at the next Zionist Congress in an effort to “capture” the Congress, and the preparedness of the Zionist Labor movement to assume responsibility for the Zionist leadership was expressed at a special Conference of the Palestine Jewish Labor Party held here lasting two days. Zionist Labor organizations throughout the world are urged to mobilize their whole strength for the coming contest.
The Conference demanded the reorganization of the Zionist movement through the establishment in each country of a single united Zionist Organization, embracing members of all Zionist factions, such as the General Zionists, Labor, Mizrachi, etc., believing this to be the best means of strengthening the forces of constructive Zionism.
Among the resolutions on colonization and economic policy the most important is one to create an independent labor colonization fund at the disposal of the Nir, the co-operative colonization instrument of the Histadruth, which would act as a working class agency in matters of agricultural settlement, in co-operation with national or private institutions. The Conference has issued a call to all Jewish workers and friends of Palestine Labor to subscribe to the shares of the Nir.
Another resolution condemns the attempts to weaken or discredit the national funds. Without the Keren Kayemeth and the Keren Hayesod, it says, there can be no mass immigration or settlement.
The Conference has passed a resolution protesting against land speculation in Palestine, which is now on the increase, declaring that it is bound to
defeat the prospects of large scale immigration, and pointing to the Jewish National Fund as the only effective safeguard against this peril.
A special resolution pledges the Labor Party to assist all Jewish immigrants striving to establish themselves productively in Palestine, in agriculture or industry.
The new Local Government Bill was rejected by the Conference as reactionary, because it excludes workers and women from the municipal franchise, and diminishes municipal autonomy. The Conference decided to demand universal franchise in the Municipalities, based on proportional representation, the extension of municipal powers and a system of progressive taxation.
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