2025-06-15 16:22 <br/> Tags: #organization #AmericanJewry #Media #EarlyZionism #Lobby #KeyOrganizations ![[image-115.png|524x297]] # Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) - The ZOA is a major American Jewish group. - The ZOA is the most notable right wing American Zionist group. - The ZOA is among the most hardline, anti-Palestinian, territorial maximalist, hawkish of the major Jewish organizations. #### Early History 1897-1948 - The ZOA was founded New York in 1897 as the Federation of American Zionists (FAZ). - The ZOA replaced the FAZ in 1917. - Although the ZOA was its own separate organization, it was founded as the American wing of the [[World Zionist Organization]]. - The ZOA initially worked to plant the ideological seed of Zionism in the Jews of America. - Its early activities included media and publication, political lobbying, and funding the Zionist movement in Palestine. - In 1912 influential lawyer and future Supreme Court Justice [[Louis Brandeis]] became heavily involved in American Zionism and the ZOA. - Brandeis led the ZOA from 1912-1921. - Brandeis' faction within the ZOA included: [[Stephen S. Wise]], [[Julian Mack]], [[Felix Frankfurter]]. - The ZOA through Brandeis and his associates was the lynchpin in securing the [[Balfour Declaration]]. - His involvement increased ZOA membership ten fold to ~150,000 members. - He transformed the ZOA into a vast financial network able to raise huge amounts of money for Zionist purposes (Immigration to Palestine, propaganda, etc.). - In 1918 the ZOA took part in the [[Zionist Commission]] which evaluated the land and situation in Palestine. - In 1921 the factions of [[Louis Brandeis]] and [[Chaim Weizmann]] clashed resulting in the resignation of Brandeis. - [[Louis Lipsky]], a Weizmann guy, became ZOA leader from 1922-30. - The ZOA worked with [[Religious Zionists of America (Mizrachi)]], and the [[Jewish National Fund]] to support the Jews in Palestine. > [!info] FARA Registration > - From 1938-1948 the ZOA was ordered seven times to register as a foreign agent under FARA (Foreign Agent Registration Act). They refused the order each time. > - The first registration order from the State Department came on September 6, 1938, the very first day FARA was enacted. > - The State Department was concerned about the ZOA's close relationship with the [[Jewish Agency]]. The Jewish Agency was the quasi government of the [[Yishuv]], and has been a quasi governmental agency in Israel since 1948. - In 1940 the ZOA partnered with [[Hadassah]] to sponsor the Jewish youth program [[Young Judaea]]. - The ZOA was allied with [[Stephen S. Wise]]'s [[American Jewish Congress]]. - The ZOA was involved in the WWII era American Zionist Emergency Council (AZEC). - The ZOA connection came from AZEC founders [[Emanuel Neumann]] and [[Abba Hillel Silver]]. - The AZEC became the [[American Zionist Council (AZC)]] in 1949. - In 1949 the ZOA was organized under the umbrella of the AZC. - The AZC became [[AIPAC]] in 1959. - Immediately after WWII ended the ZOA began working in full force for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. - In October 1945, the ZOA organized a massive 150,000-250,000 person rally at Madison Square Park in NYC. - The rally's speakers + speeches included: - ZOA president [[Israel Goldstein]] - *We refuse to recognize as illegal any Jewish immigrant who enters Palestine without a certificate.* - [[Abba Hillel Silver]] - *Any Jew in Palestine who resorts to any weapon is a patriot and a free man.* - [[Emanuel Neumann]] - *You are not only the [[Haganah]] of Palestine. You are our Haganah… We thank God for Haganah.* - During the 1945-48 period, ZOA allies and associates were involved in illegal arms smuggling to the [[Haganah]] in Palestine. - [[David Ben-Gurion]] established the US network of arms smugglers in 1945 in anticipation of the [[1948 Arab Israeli War|war he would trigger]]. - The ZOA via Silver, Neuman, Wise, Lipsky, was extremely influential in lobbying Truman for the recognition of a Jewish State. - This group among others was key in securing the 1947 [[UN Partition Plan]]. #### ZOA And Organized Jewry (Post 1948) - In 1953 the ZOA was a founding member of the [[Conference of Presidents|Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations]]. - The CoP is the umbrella organization for all the major American Jewish groups. - In the years after Israel was founded, the ZOA began to wane in influence. - The 50 year mission of the organization had been the creation of Israel. Now that Israel was formed, the ZOA had to re-find its lane. - In the 1957 internal ZOA disputes led to a split in the organization. - Many of the centrists left to form/join other groups, with the right wing core of the ZOA remaining. - The ZOA is active on college campuses often partnering with [[Hillel International]] chapters. - The ZOA offers assistance to Jewish students including free legal assistance for Jewish students "facing antisemitism." - In 1993 [[Morton Klein]] became president of the ZOA. He is still president as of 2026. - In the 90s Klein established a full time ZOA office in DC. - Klein brought the ZOA back to the DC lobbying world to represent the hardline Zionists. - Klein was largely elevated in objection to the [[Oslo Accords]] "peace process" in Israel. - Klein represented the American and Israeli Jewish hardliners in opposition to [[Yitzhak Rabin]]. - Klein's tenure as president has brought the ZOA further to the right and increased the ZOA's hawkish inclinations. - The ZOA has partnered many times with [[Christians United For Israel (CUFI)]], a Christian Zionist organization. - The ZOA hosts annual galas/award ceremonies where it awards notable figures in politics/media who are adequately pro Israel. - The ZOA is mostly involved in right wing Republican politics, however Democrats like Senator Joe Biden and [[Alan Dershowitz]] have been involved with the ZOA. - Through the [[World Zionist Organization]], the ZOA is a member of the [[World Jewish Congress]], where it advocates for hawkish anti-Palestinian Israeli policies. #### ZOA in Israel - 1952 the ZOA opened its ZOA House in Tel Aviv. - The ZOA House is a Jewish community center for Israelis and recent Jewish immigrants. - The ZOA operates Kfar Silver, a youth village in Israel near Ashkelon (slightly north of Gaza). - Kfar Silver was opened in 1957 and is named after [[Abba Hillel Silver]]. - The ZOA, being organized under the umbrella of the [[American Zionist Council (AZC)]], was indirectly involved with concealed Israeli funding campaigns. - The AZC was receiving millions of dollars in the 40s-60s from the [[Jewish Agency]]. The ZOA would have been receiving some of this money. The ZOA has been able to use plausible deniability in matters like this. - American Jew and asset of Israel [[Nahum Bernstein]] was involved in the legal defense of the ZOA against the FARA demands. - The ZOA strongly opposed the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. They actively lobbied in Israel against it. - The ZOA coordinates with the Israeli Foreign Ministry on [[Hasbara]] (pr) matters. - The ZOA has hosted numerous Israeli intelligence and military officials. - [[Rafi Eitan]], the [[Mossad]] spy who stole the nuclear bomb from Pennsylvania and ran the [[Jonathan Pollard]] espionage operation, had a warm relationship with the ZOA. - Eitan attended a ZOA event discussing the Pollard case. - *Eitan who ran the Pollard scheme and the ZOA who lobbied for Pollard to be pardoned.* - The ZOA and its president [[Morton Klein]] are very warm with Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]. - In 2018 a few Israeli government officials and Syrian-American-Jewish lobbyist for Qatar Joey Allaham secretly paid Morton Klein to visit Qatar. - The ZOA was paid $100,000 for the trip, half of which went to Klein personally. - On his trip Klein met with the Emir of Qatar - [[Caroline Glick]] was awarded the ZOA's *Ben Hecht Award For Outstanding Journalism* in 2005. She has made various ZOA appearances over the years. - Glick is: - A US born American-Israeli dual citizen. - A former IDF officer. - An Israeli propagandist working in Israeli and US media/think tanks. - The newly appointed International Affairs Advisor to Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]. - A quote from Glick posted on *X* a few hours ago as I write this; "Jew hatred is an annihilationist obsession. Once you allow it to take root in your heart, it devours your brain and blackens your soul." - #RedPill *And we should never claim these "American" Jews have an innate dual loyalty to Israel.* - The ZOA has long supported [[Israel Bonds]]. - The ZOA has hosted an annual Israel Bonds Breakfast. - From 1973-74 it is reported ZOA members bought $8 million in Israel Bonds. #### ZOA, Donald Trump, and the American Right Wing ![[image-118.png|596x456]] *Donald Trump and Morton Klein 2022. Trump is awarded the ZOA's Theodore Herzl Gold Medallion. Abba Silver in the background photo.* - The ZOA under [[Morton Klein]] lobbies for legislation often too controversial or too far right for groups like [[AIPAC]]. - The ZOA successfully lobbied for the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (*JEA*). - The JEA recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. - The JEA was postponed by successive presidents until [[Donald Trump]] recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US Embassy there in December of 2017. - Klein attended the 2019 ceremonial opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. - Beginning in the 90s, and strongly after 9/11, the ZOA aligned with the Bush era [[Neoconservatism|neoconservatives]]. - [[Douglas Feith]] - honored at the 1997 100 year ZOA anniversary dinner. - [[Bill Kristol]] - received the ZOA's *[[Ben Hecht]] Award* in 2010. - [[John Bolton]] - Received the *Defender of Israel Award* in 2004 and in 2018 when [[Donald Trump]] appointed him to NSA. - Morton Klein and the ZOA were strong cheerleaders for the [[Iraq War]], promoting nonsense about WMDs and Saddam Hussein's terrorist connections. - The ZOA was involved with the "Tea Party" of the late 2000s and early 2010s. - The ZOA hosts many Republican politicians at its events including [[Ted Cruz]], Ron Desantis, Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo, etc. - The ZOA and its leaders are commonly featured on [[Fox News]]. - [[Mark Levin]] of Fox News was honored by the ZOA in 2018 with an "Outstanding Journalism Award." - Levin has also served on the ZOA's board of directors. - [[Glenn Beck]] founder and CEO of [[Blaze Media]] has been invited to (and attended) ZOA events. - At a 2013 ZOA dinner, billionaire ZOA donor [[Sheldon Adelson]] presented former Arkansas governor and Ambassador to Israel under [[Donald Trump]], [[Mike Huckabee]], with the "Adelson Defender of Israel" award. --- - The ZOA is a huge supporter of [[Donald Trump]]. Morton Klein goes out of his way to constantly defend and promote Trump as a great friend to Israel. *"Friend of Israel" is a recurring term used by Israeli and Jewish propagandists.* - Donald Trump's first term delivered many of the ZOA's top wishes. - Trump was the first sitting President to pray at the Western Wall. - Trump moved the Embassy. - Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. - Trump left the [[Iran Nuclear Deal]], which the ZOA always hated. - Trump cut aid to the Palestinian Authority. - Trump brokered the Abraham Accords. - Trump cut diplomatic ties with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). - Trump's Ambassador to Israel during his first term [[David Friedman]], was a former member of the ZOA's board of directors. - Friedman was "ZOA's guy" in the White House. - The ZOA is supportive of Trump's immigration henchman [[Stephen Miller]]. - *Miller, a Zionist Jewish hardliner, is flaunted as some sort of a nativist anti-immigration representative. This is a true illusion. Miller is not our guy.* --- >[!Info] Steve Bannon Friend of the ZOA >- After the 2016 election, left wing Jewish groups were attacking [[Steve Bannon]] as an antisemite after his appointment by Trump. > - ZOA president [[Morton Klein]] strongly defended Bannon, "[Bannon] is an American patriot who defends Israel and has deep empathy for the Jewish people." > - Klein continued, "The ZOA welcomes the appointment of Stephen Bannon as chief strategist... We wish Mr. Bannon every success in his new position. We urge the Jonathan Greenblatt/ADL to withdraw and apologize fore their inappropriate character assassination of Mr. Bannon and [[Breitbart]] Media." > >- Klein's *Forward* article on the controversy produced these gems; > - "Particularly ugly lies and outright character assassination have been directed at Zionist Steve Bannon." > - "In fact, Bannon loves Israel and the Jewish people, and hates anti-Semites and racists." > - "A well-known top-level Israeli official told me privately: “Mort, you know from the outside that Bannon is a friend of Israel. I can tell you as an insider that he is the greatest friend of Israel imaginable.” > - "Bannon despises bigots, and has never allowed bigots, racists or neo-Nazis to publish in Breitbart. Breitbart’s articles defend Israel and fight the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism." >- At the end of the article regarding the ZOA's annual Superstar Gala Dinner; > - "The ZOA is proud that another great Zionist, Steve Bannon, will be there, too." > > - ![[image-117.png|562x334]] > - *Bannon at the ZOA dinner mentioned above. * > - In contrast to Bannon, these were Klein's comments after Trump dined with Ye and Nick Fuentes in 2022: "I have become very frightened for my people ... Donald Trump is not an antisemite. He loves Israel. He loves Jews. But he mainstreams, he legitimizes Jew hatred and Jew haters. And this scares me." #### Funding and Donors ![[Pasted image 20250907145543.png|550|520x398]] *1973 annual ZOA "bowtie" dinner. These events are a staple of ZOA fundraising with each table holding a high price tag. Notice Brandeis, Herzl, and Silver on the wall.* - ZOA funding comes from a mix of membership dues, donor-dinners with expensive table fees, and billionaire Jewish donors. - [[Sheldon Adelson]], [[Miriam Adelson]] and the [[Adelson Family Foundation]] - Huge ZOA donors in the 21st century, Adelson was arguably the most prolific pro Israel megadonor. Adelson was honored with the rare *Theodore Herzl Gold Medallion.* - The medallion has rarely been awarded, its recipients include: Winston Churchill, Arthur Balfour, and Donald Trump. - [[Irving Moskowitz]] - American ZOA megadonor and Israeli settler activist. - [[Nina Rosenwald]] Via the Abstraction Fund. - [[James Tisch]] and [[Merryl Tisch]] - [[Bernard Marcus]] - [[Bob Shillman]] - sits on ZOA board; large ZOA sponsor. ![[Pasted image 20250907150513.png|450|432x576]] *James Tisch, [[Shabbos Kestenbaum]], and Morton Klein at the 2024 ZOA annual gala.* #### Notable Leaders - [[Louis Brandeis]] - Most notable early American Zionist. ZOA leader from 1912-21. - [[Julian Mack]] - ZOA president 1918-21 - [[Louis Lipsky]] ZOA president 1921-30. - [[Stephen S. Wise]] served as founding secretary in 1897. - Wise later served as ZOA president from 1936-38. - [[Abba Hillel Silver]] ZOA president 1945-46. - [[Emanuel Neumann]] - ZOA president 1947-49 and 1956-58. - [[Irving Miller]] - ZOA president 1952-54. - [[Morton Klein]] - ZOA president since 1993. #### References - “ZOA Ordered to Register as a Foreign Agent Seven Times,” Israel Lobby Archive, Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), U.S. Department of Justice case file 149-1603, [https://www.israellobby.org/ZOA/DOJ-149-1603-ZOA/default.asp](https://www.israellobby.org/ZOA/DOJ-149-1603-ZOA/default.asp?) - “Zionist Organization of America.” _Wikipedia_, last updated 2025. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionist_Organization_of_America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionist_Organization_of_America?) - “AIPAC Seeks ‘Action’ Against ZOA Amid Debate over Lobbying on the Hill.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, August 10, 1994. [https://www.jta.org/archive/aipac-seeks-action-against-zoa-amid-debate-over-lobbying-on-the-hill](https://www.jta.org/archive/aipac-seeks-action-against-zoa-amid-debate-over-lobbying-on-the-hill) - Harris, Ben. “At ZOA dinner, Glenn Beck dishes out the pro-Israel meat.” _JTA_, November 21, 2011. [https://www.jta.org/2011/11/21/politics/at-zoa-dinner-glenn-beck-dishes-out-the-pro-israel-meat](https://www.jta.org/2011/11/21/politics/at-zoa-dinner-glenn-beck-dishes-out-the-pro-israel-meat?) - “1200 at ZOA Gala, Headlined By Amb. David Friedman; Sen. Tom Cotton; Sen. Joe Lieberman; Alan Dershowitz; Chris Ruddy; Steve Bannon; Bruno Wu.” _ZOA_ (press release), November 15, 2017. [https://zoa.org/2017/11/10377049-1200-at-zoa-gala-headlined-by-amb-david-friedman-sen-tom-cotton-sen-joe-lieberman-alan-dershowitz-chris-ruddy-steve-bannon-bruno-wu/](https://zoa.org/2017/11/10377049-1200-at-zoa-gala-headlined-by-amb-david-friedman-sen-tom-cotton-sen-joe-lieberman-alan-dershowitz-chris-ruddy-steve-bannon-bruno-wu/?) - “Stephen Bannon will speak at ZOA dinner in first scheduled public appearance since firing.” _JTA_, August 28, 2017. [https://www.jta.org/2017/08/28/united-states/stephen-bannon-will-speak-at-zoa-dinner-in-first-official-public-appearance-since-firing](https://www.jta.org/2017/08/28/united-states/stephen-bannon-will-speak-at-zoa-dinner-in-first-official-public-appearance-since-firing?) - “Ousted Trump adviser Bannon to speak at ZOA gala dinner.” _Times of Israel_, August 28, 2017. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/ousted-trump-adviser-bannon-to-speak-at-zoa-gala-dinner/](https://www.timesofisrael.com/ousted-trump-adviser-bannon-to-speak-at-zoa-gala-dinner/) - Sales, Ben. “Stephen Bannon tells ZOA he’s ‘proud to be a Christian Zionist.’” _Times of Israel_ (via JTA), November 13, 2017. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-zoa-event-bannon-asks-jews-to-join-his-war-on-gop-establishment/](https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-zoa-event-bannon-asks-jews-to-join-his-war-on-gop-establishment/) - “Mark Levin, Richard Grenell receive ZOA journalism award.” _Times of Israel_, November 5, 2018. https://www.timesofisrael.com/mark-levin-richard-grenell-receive-zoa-journalism-award/ - “U.S. Ambassador To U.N. John Bolton at ZOA Dinner: It’s a Fantasy That Israel Is Treated Fairly at U.N.” _ZOA_ (press release), December 13, 2005. [https://zoa.org/2005/12/102074-u-s-ambassador-to-u-n-john-bolton-at-zoa-dinner-its-a-fantasy-that-israel-is-treated-fairly-at-u-n/](https://zoa.org/2005/12/102074-u-s-ambassador-to-u-n-john-bolton-at-zoa-dinner-its-a-fantasy-that-israel-is-treated-fairly-at-u-n/) - “Zionist Organization of America gives John Bolton ‘Defender of Israel’ award.” _JTA_, November 6, 2018. https://www.timesofisrael.com/zionist-organization-of-america-gives-john-bolton-defender-of-israel-award/ - Robinson, Heather, “ZOA honors Trump, hails best friend Israel’s ever had in the White House.” _JNS_, November 15, 2022. https://www.jns.org/trump-to-receive-herzl-gold-medallion-from-zoa/ - JTA and Ron Kampeas. “Qatar used a pro-Israel businessman to pay Zionist Organization of America $100,000.” _Haaretz_, June 21, 2018. [https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2018-06-21/ty-article/qatar-used-a-pro-israel-businessman-to-pay-zoa-100-000/0000017f-e37d-df7c-a5ff-e37fab5c0000](https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2018-06-21/ty-article/qatar-used-a-pro-israel-businessman-to-pay-zoa-100-000/0000017f-e37d-df7c-a5ff-e37fab5c0000?) - “Morton Klein.” _Wikipedia_. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_Klein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_Klein?) - “Zionist Organization of America.” _Wikipedia_. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionist_Organization_of_America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionist_Organization_of_America?) - “ZOA Mourns the Passing of Zionist Jewish Giant Sheldon …” _ZOA_, January 12, 2021. https://zoa.org/2021/01/10441990-zoa-mourns-the-passing-of-zionist-jewish-giant-sheldon-adelson/ - “ZOA Deeply Mourns the Passing Of Zionist Giant, Board Member Cherna Moskowitz.” _ZOA_, August 30, 2024. https://zoa.org/2024/08/10451170-zoa-deeply-mourns-the-passing-of-zionist-giant-board-member-cherna-moskowitz/ - _Irving Moskowitz_, Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Moskowitz - “Zionist Organization of America (ZOA).” _InfluenceWatch_. https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/zionist-organization-of-america-zoa/ - _ZOA 77th Convention Report – June 27–30, 1974_, PDF. Jewish Community Archives. https://www.bjpa.org/content/upload/bjpa/zoa_/ZOA%2077TH%20CONVENTION%20REPORT%20JUNE%2027-30%2C%201974%20NEW%20YORK%20NY.pdf - “Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Cong. Michele Bachmann, Sheldon & Dr. Miriam Adelson Headline ZOA Dinner,” _Zionist Organization of America_ Press Release, November 7, 2013, [https://zoa.org/2013/11/10219907-gov-mike-huckabee-u-s-cong-michele-bachmann-sheldon-dr-miriam-adelson-headline-zoa-dinner/](https://zoa.org/2013/11/10219907-gov-mike-huckabee-u-s-cong-michele-bachmann-sheldon-dr-miriam-adelson-headline-zoa-dinner/). *Covers Mike Huckabee receiving the Defender of Israel Award*