Partners for Progressive Israel is an American non-governmental organization and registered 501(c)(3) dedicated to the achievement of a durable, secure, and just peace between Israel and its neighbors, including a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Partners for Progressive Israel is devoted to civil rights in Israel and to human rights throughout the area under Israel’s control, as well as to social justice, equality, religious freedom, and environmentalism. Partners for Progressive Israel seeks to deepen American Jews’ understanding of the complexities of Israeli society in order to enhance their advocacy for a progressive Israel.
Activities
Partners for Progressive Israel is the American branch of the World Union of Meretz. The organization's activities in the U.S. include: A webinar series, entitled “Conversations with Israel and Palestine” Kolot – Voices of Hope: Profiles of progressive civil society work being done by organizations and individuals in Israel Israel Horizons – relaunched in 2017 as an online magazine that informs its readers about the activities, ideas, and issues of the Israeli left and its American supporters. (The original Israel Horizons magazine was published by the organization in print from 1952 until 2011. It was founded by journalist Richard Yaffe, Avraham Schenker, Valia Hirsch, Moshe Kagan and Zvi Lurie. Public lectures and events Theodore Bikel Peace and Justice Internship Program (formerly the “Intern in Israel Initiative”), awarding grants to young activists who volunteer in Israel to advance civil and human rights, social and environmental justice, women’s rights, or LGBTQ rights A regularly updated blog Participation in the Celebrate Israel Parade as a member of the "progressive cluster" with the New Israel Fund, Ameinu, Americans for Peace Now, B’Tselem USA, and T'ruah (formerly Rabbis for Human Rights-North America). Street demonstrations
The organization's activities in Israel include: The Israel Symposium, an annual week-long study trip to Israel. Symposium participants meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials, as well as with activists and journalists. Participation in the elections to and the meetings of the World Zionist Congress, the governing body of the World Zionist Organization (WZO). In recent years, Partners for Progressive Israel has been a leading organization in the progressive Zionist Hatikvah Slate, which has sent U.S. delegates and alternates to the World Zionist Congress. In 2015, the slate won eight delegates and sixteen alternates, up from five and ten, respectively, the previous election. In February, 2015, Partners for Progressive Israel delegates to the Va’ad Hapoel (General Council) of the WZO, which meets between Congresses, working with colleagues in the U.S. and elsewhere from the World Labour Zionist Movement and Arzenu (representing the Reform Zionist stream), proposed, and ultimately passed, two resolutions as part of a wider campaign to take back control of the budget of the Settlement Division of the WZO from the Israeli government. Both resolutions passed by wide margins.
Partners for Progressive Israel has its national offices in New York City.
Progressive Israel Network
Partners for Progressive Israel is a founding member of the Progressive Israel Network, created in June 2019. Like the other members of the Progressive Israel Network, Partners for Progressive Israel opposes any boycotts of Israel and specifically opposes the BDS campaign.
History
Partners for Progressive Israel (known originally as Meretz USA, between 1997 and 2011) arose as a merger of several progressive Zionist groups – the Education Fund for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace, which promoted the values of the liberal party, Ratz (the “Movement for Civil Rights and Peace”); Americans for Progressive Israel, which promoted the values of the social-democratic party, Mapam (“United Workers Party”); and the American Friends of Ratz, which had originally been formed to provide financial support for the Ratz party in Israel – until changes in Israeli law limiting parties to contributions from individuals with Israeli citizenship made this no longer possible.
Philosophically, Partners for Progressive Israel represents an integration of two strands of progressive Zionism: Socialist Zionism and Labor Zionism. Socialist Zionism's principles focused on shared society, peace, and social justice.
Following the merger, Meretz USA engaged in advocacy for peaceful negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and worked to promote an open debate among American Jews about the realization of liberal values in Israel.