Partners for Progressive Israel

Partners for Progressive Israel is an American nonprofit advocacy and educational organization focused on Israel, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and progressive Zionism. The organization supports a durable and secure peace between Israel and its neighbors, including a negotiated two-state solution, while advocating for civil rights in Israel and human rights throughout the area under Israeli control. Its broader agenda includes social justice, equality, religious freedom, environmental protection, and the rights of women and LGBTQ people. The organization emerged in 1997 from the consolidation of three overlapping progressive Zionist bodies: Americans for Progressive Israel, the Education Fund for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace, and the American Friends of Ratz. It initially operated as Meretz USA, reflecting its close ideological relationship with the Israeli Meretz movement and its roots in Socialist Zionism, Labor Zionism, the Hashomer Hatzair movement, and earlier American progressive Zionist institutions. In 2011, it adopted the name Partners for Progressive Israel to reduce confusion surrounding the Meretz label and to describe more broadly its goal of connecting Americans and Israelis who support a progressive, democratic, and peace-oriented Israel. Partners for Progressive Israel works primarily through public education, political advocacy, lectures, online publishing, study travel, youth and internship programs, and participation in American Jewish and Zionist institutions. Its programs have included the Conversations with Israel and Palestine webinar series, Kolot – Voices of Hope profiles of progressive Israeli and Palestinian civil-society work, public events, a regularly updated blog, and the Theodore Bikel Peace and Justice Internship Program. The organization also operates Israel Horizons, an online magazine relaunched in 2017. The publication continues a periodical tradition that began in 1952 and historically reported on the Israeli left, progressive Zionism, and related social and political issues. Its Israel-based activities have included an annual Israel Symposium, during which participants meet officials, journalists, and civil-society activists, as well as engagement with World Zionist Organization institutions. Through the progressive Hatikvah Slate, the organization has participated in elections to the World Zionist Congress and helped send American delegates and alternates to that body. In 2015, the slate won eight delegates and sixteen alternates, an increase from the previous election. Partners for Progressive Israel representatives also worked on World Zionist Organization budget and governance resolutions concerning the Settlement Division, including measures seeking greater control over its allocation of funds and less direct control by the Israeli government. The organization is a founding member of the Progressive Israel Network, established in 2019. It shares the network's opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign while distinguishing opposition to BDS from criticism of Israeli government policies and support for Palestinian rights. In 2019, it joined other organizations in supporting congressional resolutions that opposed BDS, endorsed a negotiated two-state solution, and rejected unilateral annexation of territory. In October 2024, Partners for Progressive Israel called on the United States government to suspend sales of offensive arms to Israel and to redirect American aid toward peacebuilding. This position placed it among the first explicitly Zionist organizations in the United States to make such a demand. The organization continues to present itself as a progressive Zionist voice seeking to combine support for Israel's existence and security with Palestinian self-determination, democratic equality, human rights, and opposition to settlement expansion and occupation-related policies.

Partners for Progressive Israel's institutional history draws on several strands of American progressive Zionism. One predecessor, Americans for Progressive Israel, developed from the Progressive Zionist League, an organization associated with the Hashomer Hatzair movement. The Progressive Zionist League was formed in the United States in the years immediately after the Second World War by adult former members of Hashomer Hatzair who had been unable to move to the Yishuv. In 1950, it created Americans for Progressive Israel to broaden participation beyond the youth movement and to promote peaceful relations between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs. The Progressive Zionist League and related organizations were connected to the publication Israel Horizons, which began in 1952. Americans for Progressive Israel later assumed responsibility for the periodical, which remained in print until 2011 and was relaunched online in 2017 by Partners for Progressive Israel. The publication has served as a forum for reporting and analysis concerning the Israeli left, progressive Zionism, peace efforts, and social and political debates in Israel. Americans for Progressive Israel also became associated with the adult American wing of the Hashomer Hatzair tradition and with Mapam, the Israeli United Workers Party. In 1954–55, relevant progressive Zionist bodies combined as Americans for Progressive Israel–Hashomer Hatzair. After the 1967 war, the organization was an early American Zionist advocate of direct negotiations between Israel and Arab governments. Its leaders and members later contributed to the development of other American peace-oriented Zionist organizations. The group also sponsored youth and young-adult initiatives, including Young Americans for Progressive Israel and the Mordechai Anielewicz Circle. A second predecessor, the Education Fund for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace, was established in 1991 to educate Americans about democracy and equal rights in Israel and the prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It was associated with the values of Ratz, the Israeli Movement for Civil Rights and Peace. Among the people identified with its early formation were Harold M. Shapiro and Arthur Obermayer. A third predecessor, American Friends of Ratz, had been created to support the Israeli Ratz party, although changes in Israeli law eventually limited the ability of Israeli political parties to receive contributions from people who were not Israeli citizens. In 1997, Americans for Progressive Israel, American Friends of Ratz, and the Education Fund for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace merged. The resulting organization was known as Meretz USA, linking it to the Meretz party formed in Israel in 1992 through the cooperation of Ratz, Mapam, and Shinui. Meretz USA advocated negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and sought to encourage open discussion among American Jews about liberal and progressive values in Israel. It applied several times for membership in the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations but was not admitted; public explanations referred to organizational size and finances, while observers also associated the rejection with its left-leaning positions. In 2011, Meretz USA promoted a distinction between Israel proper and Israeli settlements beyond the Green Line. It encouraged consumers to buy products made in Israel while refraining from purchasing selected products made in settlements, including Ahava cosmetics, SodaStream products, and Psagot wine. The campaign was intended to oppose an indiscriminate boycott of Israel while criticizing settlement-related economic activity. The organization changed its name to Partners for Progressive Israel in mid-2011. The new name was intended to communicate a broader partnership among Americans and Israelis committed to a progressive Israel and a progressive Zionist movement. Its work subsequently expanded across online education, public programming, advocacy, study travel, youth grants, and engagement with World Zionist institutions. Partners for Progressive Israel participated in the progressive Hatikvah Slate in World Zionist Congress elections. In 2015, the slate won eight delegates and sixteen alternates, improving on its earlier result. In 2015, the organization's World Zionist Organization delegates worked with representatives of the World Labour Zionist Movement and Arzenu on resolutions concerning control of the Settlement Division's budget. The resolutions passed by substantial margins. In June 2019, Partners for Progressive Israel became a founding member of the Progressive Israel Network. It joined fellow members in opposing BDS while supporting a two-state agreement and opposing unilateral annexation. In 2024, amid the Israel–Hamas war and growing debate in the United States over military assistance to Israel, the organization called for suspending American sales of offensive arms to Israel and redirecting aid toward peacebuilding. This represented a significant escalation of its public advocacy while remaining consistent with its stated commitment to Israel's security, Palestinian rights, and a negotiated peace.

• 2024

  Organization calls for suspending offensive arms sales

  [1]Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org

  In October, it urged the United States to suspend sales of offensive arms to Israel and redirect aid toward peacebuilding.

• 2019

  Progressive Israel Network is founded

  [1]Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Partners for Progressive Israel became a founding member of the coalition of progressive Israel-focused organizations.

• 2017

  Israel Horizons is relaunched online

  [1]Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org

  The historic publication returned as a digital magazine covering progressive Israeli and American Jewish perspectives.

• 2015

  Hatikvah Slate expands its World Zionist Congress representation

  [1]Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org

  The progressive slate associated with the organization won eight delegates and sixteen alternates, up from five delegates and ten alternates in the prior election.

• 2011

  Organization adopts the Partners for Progressive Israel name

  [1]Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Meretz USA changed its name to better express its broader progressive Zionist and peace-oriented mission.

• 1997

  Merger creates Meretz USA

  [1]Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org

  Americans for Progressive Israel, American Friends of Ratz, and the Education Fund for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace merged to form Meretz USA.

• 1991

  Education Fund for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace is established

  [1]Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org

  The nonprofit predecessor was created to educate Americans about Israeli democracy, equal rights, and Israeli–Palestinian peace.

• 1952

  Israel Horizons begins publication

  [1]Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org

  The periodical associated with the progressive Zionist movement began publication and later became an online magazine of Partners for Progressive Israel.

• 1950

  Americans for Progressive Israel is formed

  [1]Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org

  A related organization was established to broaden American participation in progressive Zionist political and peace activity beyond the Hashomer Hatzair movement.

Progressive Zionist American advocacy organization combining support for Israel with advocacy for a negotiated two-state solution, Israeli civil rights, Palestinian human rights, equality, social justice, and peacebuilding.

• Online magazine · 1952

  Israel Horizons

  Israel Horizons is the organization's online magazine, relaunched in 2017 after the original print publication ended in 2011. It provides commentary and reporting on Israeli society, the Israeli left, progressive Zionism, peace efforts, and issues relevant to American supporters of a progressive Israel.

• Webinar series

  Conversations with Israel and Palestine

  This webinar series provides public programming on Israeli and Palestinian politics, society, civil rights, peace efforts, and current affairs. It is designed to deepen American audiences' understanding of the conflict and the diversity of views within Israel and Palestinian society.

• Civil-society education program

  Kolot – Voices of Hope

  Kolot profiles progressive civil-society organizations and individuals working in Israel and the surrounding region. The program highlights practical activity in areas such as human rights, equality, peacebuilding, social justice, and environmentalism.

• Internship and grant program

  Theodore Bikel Peace and Justice Internship Program

  Formerly known as the Intern in Israel Initiative, this program provides grants to young activists volunteering in Israel on civil and human rights, social and environmental justice, women's rights, or LGBTQ rights.

• Study trip

  Israel Symposium

  The annual week-long symposium brings participants to Israel for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials, journalists, and activists. It is intended to provide direct exposure to the political and social complexity of the region.

• 2019Progressive Israel Network congressional advocacy

  United States

  As a founding member of the Progressive Israel Network, the organization joined letters supporting House resolutions that opposed BDS, endorsed a negotiated two-state solution, and opposed unilateral annexation.

  Outcome. The referenced House resolutions were approved.

  Source
• 2015World Zionist Organization Settlement Division budget resolutions

  United States · Israel

  Partners for Progressive Israel delegates worked with progressive Zionist colleagues to advance resolutions seeking greater control over the World Zionist Organization's Settlement Division budget and less unilateral control by the Israeli government.

  Outcome. Both resolutions passed by wide margins at the World Zionist Organization's Va'ad Hapoel, or General Council.

  Source
• 2011Buy Israeli Produce – Do Not Buy Settlement Produce

  United States

  Meretz USA urged supporters to distinguish between goods produced inside Israel and goods made in Israeli settlements beyond the Green Line. The campaign opposed a blanket boycott of Israel while advocating consumer avoidance of selected settlement-linked products, including Ahava cosmetics, SodaStream products, and Psagot wine.

  Outcome. The campaign clarified the organization's opposition to BDS and its separate opposition to settlement expansion and settlement-based commerce.

  Source

• 2024

  Called for suspension of offensive arms sales to IsraelStrategy

  Background

  The call came amid intensified debate over United States military assistance to Israel and the humanitarian and political consequences of the Israel–Hamas war.

  Action taken

  The organization urged the United States government to suspend sales of offensive arms to Israel and redirect aid toward peacebuilding efforts.

  Aftermath

  The position marked a prominent escalation of the organization's public criticism of United States military policy while retaining its stated commitment to Israel's security and a negotiated peace.

  Source

• 2019

  Joined the Progressive Israel NetworkStrategy

  Background

  Progressive American organizations sought a coordinated platform for advocacy on Israel, Palestine, democracy, human rights, and peace.

  Action taken

  Partners for Progressive Israel became a founding member of the network and aligned with its opposition to BDS and support for a two-state solution.

  Aftermath

  The organization gained a coalition framework for joint public education and congressional advocacy.

  Source

• 2011

  Adopted the Partners for Progressive Israel nameStrategy

  Background

  The former Meretz USA name was associated with a specific Israeli political party and was reportedly confusing to some audiences.

  Action taken

  The organization renamed itself Partners for Progressive Israel to emphasize a broader American–Israeli partnership and its progressive Zionist mission.

  Aftermath

  The new identity supported programming and advocacy extending beyond direct party affiliation.

  Source

1. 1Partners for Progressive Israelen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Partners for Progressive Israel official websiteprogressiveisrael.org