Actions Committee Discusses New Constitution for Zionist Movement

The Zionist Actions Committee, now in session here today discussed the draft for a new constitution for the World Zionist Organization, as well as recommendations concerning the distribution of mandates to the Zionist Congress

The draft of the new constitution, as presented to the session, is built on the concept that the Zionist movement is composed of territorial organizations with each organization authorized to determine its own structure in accordance with local conditions. The draft, thus, envisages that organizations, and not individuals, will be the members of the world Zionist movement. It also provides for non-Zionist bodies, with smaller influence, to join the movement in accordance with agreed representation.

The draft proposes the abolition of the Small Zionist Actions Committee, which is not authorized to adopt any decisions. It limits the number of delegates to the World Zionist Congress to 360, and reduces the number of members of the Zionist Actions Committee to 96. The Jewish Agency executive is to be composed of 15 members only, and would have no deputy members. The seat of the executive is to be in Jerusalem, and the executive will have the right to establish an additional head office abroad.

Dr. Nahum Goldmann, in expressing his view on the draft of the constitution, said that the Shekel will no longer be sacred under the constitution as drafted, and will serve for purposes of local elections only. At the same time, the Noy Committee, which deals with reorganization problems facing the World Zionist Organization, today presented recommendations to the Actions Committee, suggesting that 40 per cent of the mandates to the World Zionist Congress should be allocated for delegates from Israel, 28 per cent for delegates from the United States, and 32 per cent for other countries.