This day in history: The First Zionist Congress
From August 29 to 31, 1897, the First Zionist Congress took place in the Swiss city of Basel — an event that became a turning point for the Zionist movement. It was attended by 204 delegates from 17 countries, hundreds of observers, and 26 correspondents from leading European newspapers.
The congress was led by Theodor Herzl, who in his speech clearly defined the goal: to lay the foundation for the future home of the Jewish people, articulating the key ideas of political Zionism.
The main outcomes of the congress were the creation of the World Zionist Organization and the adoption of the Basel Program, which outlined the movement’s primary goals.
Later, Herzl noted in his diary: “In Basel, I founded the Jewish state. If I said this out loud, I would be laughed at. But in five years, and even more so in fifty, it will become obvious to everyone.” His words proved prophetic: on May 14, 1948, 51 years later, Israel declared independence.
