Poale Zion

Poale Zion (Yiddish: פועלי ציון, also romanized Poalei Tziyon or Poaley Syjon, meaning "Workers of Zion") was a movement of Labor Zionist Jewish workers founded in various cities of Poland, Europe and the Russian Empire at about the turn of the 20th century after the Bund rejected Zionism in 1901.

Formation and early years

Ideology

The key features of the ideology of early Poale Zion were acceptance of the Socialist view of history with the addition of the role of nationalism, which theorist Ber Borochov, a leader of Poale Zion, believed could not be ignored as a factor in historical development. A Jewish proletariat would come into being in the Land of Israel, according to Poale Zion, and would then take part in the class struggle. These views were set out in Borochov's Our Platform, published in 1906.

Early parties and organisations

Poale Zion parties and organisations were started across the Jewish diaspora in the early 20th century. A branch of Poale Zion came into existence in New York City in 1903. Branches were formed in London and Leeds in 1903/04 and 1905 respectively and on a national basis in 1906. An Austrian group was formed in 1904, and published a newspaper, Yidisher Arbeyter. In November 1905 the Poale Zion (Workers of Zion) Party was founded in Palestine and a month later the Socialist Jewish Labour Party (Poale Zion) was formed in the United States and Canada. In March 1906, the Jewish Social Democratic Labour Party (Poale Zion) was founded in Russia under the leadership of Ber Borochov and Itzhak Ben-Zvi., and other groups were soon formed elsewhere in Europe.