World Zionist Congress Passes Historic Resolution as New Administration Pursues Regional Stability
The 39th World Zionist Congress convened in Jerusalem from October 28–29, 2025. World Zionist Congresses choose who will occupy leadership positions, and determine policy for the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and other national institutions, including the Jewish National Fund, and the Jewish Agency for Israel
In a significant move that aligns with shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, the World Zionist Congress has approved a landmark resolution prohibiting the World Zionist Organization from financing settlements in the Gaza Strip, either directly or indirectly.
The resolution, introduced by World Meretz and backed by a broad coalition of progressive and liberal Zionist groups, passed amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to solidify its recently brokered peace agreement in Gaza. The decision affects the allocation of approximately $5 billion in funding that flows through the WZO from Israel, the United States, and Jewish communities worldwide.
“It was crucial to have a progressive voice weighing in on how to direct these substantial resources,” said representatives from the coalition supporting the measure. The vote represents a rare consensus among liberal and centrist factions within the traditionally diverse World Zionist Congress.
The timing of the resolution carries particular significance as President Trump’s peace deal, announced earlier, has called for de-escalation and reconstruction efforts in Gaza following years of conflict. While the administration’s agreement focuses on security arrangements and humanitarian aid, the WZO’s decision to preemptively block settlement financing removes a potential obstacle to the implementation of the peace process.
Critics of settlement expansion have long argued that such development in Gaza would undermine any viable path to a two-state solution and complicate international peace efforts. The WZO resolution appears to acknowledge these concerns while maintaining the organization’s broader mission of supporting Jewish life globally.
The Trump administration has not yet commented officially on the WZO decision. However, sources familiar with the peace negotiations suggest that preventing new settlement activities in Gaza was an implicit understanding within the broader framework of the agreement.
As implementation of both the peace deal and the funding restrictions moves forward, observers note that coordination between political agreements and grassroots organizational decisions may prove essential to achieving lasting stability in the region.
