Hatikvah earns two seats for World Zionist Congress

Published: 16 June 2020

Last updated: 4 March 2024

Maddy Blay and Liam Getreu will be delegates to represent Australian progressive Zionism at the 38th congress of the global Jewish policy and fundraising body

HATIKVAH CANDIDATES SAY they are “thrilled at the success of their campaign" which gained them two seats for the 38th World Zionist Congress to be held in Jerusalem in October.

Maddy Bay, from Hashomer Hatzair, and Liam Getreu, who is executive director of NIF Australia, led the Hatikvah ticket, which had over a dozen candidates.

Hatikvah, which is an alliance of five progressive Australian community groups – Ameinu, Meretz, Hashomer Hatzair, Habonim Dror and NIF, says it “represents a united front of progressive Australian Zionists who strive towards supporting Israel to fulfil its destiny as a just, free homeland for the Jewish people”.

The Hativah grouping was one of a half a dozen that put forward candidates for the 13 Australian delegates spots. The delegates were due to have been decided by a vote but The Jewish Independent understands the candidates were ultimately selected by negotiation instead of a vote.

Maddy Blay, the campaign coordinator, said the result was a vindication of Hatikvah's campaign. “The breadth of our community is staggering. We’ve received support from every state, from important and central Jewish communal figures and current and former leaders of every youth movement and AUJS.”

“In just a few months, Liam Getreu and I will be proud to represent our shared values: equality, democracy, human rights and progressive Zionism. At a time when inequality and division is the order of the day, we need strong, progressive voices to stand up for cultural and religious pluralism, climate action, and civil rights, and to speak out against plans for annexation.”

Liam Getreu told The Jewish Independent: “It's a fantastic result for Hatikvah and one which demonstrates the broader strength of progressive Zionism in the community. I'm excited to go to the Congress with Maddy and advocate on behalf of the thousands of people in our community who stood up for equality, democracy and human rights.”

RELATED: Progressive Zionist groups unite for WZC elections (The Jewish Independent)