The election for the 2025 World Zionist Congress has been a significant success for our 3 slates, representing the majority of liberal Jewry in the U.S. It was also a success for furthering our values of pluralism, equality, justice, and democracy. During a time when Zionism as a concept is more controversial for some in our communities than ever before, we successfully engaged more American Jews in liberal Zionism than we have in decades.
We were successful without bending, skirting, or violating the rules. For our slates, the rules form the backbone of democracy, maintain order, and protect our communities. Yet, for others, the election rules are merely obstacles to self-advancement. Through these elections, the Jewish people have spoken, and we have an obligation to make sure their voices are heard.
The World Zionist Congress is not just a political body—it is the living legacy of Herzl’s vision and the democratic heart of a global movement. We have grave concerns about what has emerged as a coordinated and deeply unethical effort to manipulate the 2025 World Zionist Congress elections and the unspeakable damage it will do to Herzl’s legacy.
It is now clear that the more than 10,000 fraudulent votes, which are public knowledge, might only be the tip of the iceberg. The evidence is overwhelming: slates attempting to manipulate the election used prepaid debit cards, unverifiable phone numbers, identical addresses, and additional unethical tactics.
This is not just misconduct. It is corruption.
The American Zionist Movement must not allow this attempt to tamper with this election to succeed. These acts were an intentional, organized effort designed to distort representation, divert communal funds, and subvert the very ideals on which the Zionist movement was built. We say to the AZM and those responsible for the appeals process: do not whitewash their actions with a slap on the wrist.
Those representing the pluralistic, inclusive, and democratic Zionist movements came into this election in good faith. We played by the rules and saw record-breaking turnout from our communities—Jews from all walks of life who believe passionately in an Israel that is open to every Jew, and in a Zionist movement that is honest, representative, and worthy of its founding ideals. We owe it to everyone who played by the rules to maintain that election’s integrity and stand up against blatant efforts to disenfranchise them.
It goes without saying that any fraudulent votes should be thrown out. But that alone is not enough. Any slate found to have perpetrated or potentially benefited from this fraud must be disqualified. They have no place in the Parliament of the Jewish People.
This is not about ideology. Slates from across the political and religious spectrum ran fair and above-the-board campaigns. We will enter the Congress and debate the issues, even passionately disagreeing. But none of us will sit by silently while others rig the process.
If this fraud is not addressed forcefully and transparently, it will inflict lasting damage not only on the credibility of the Zionist movement but on the Jewish people’s collective ability to shape an Israel that lives up to its highest ideals, and will taint the votes of all those who participated earnestly and in good faith. We applaud the AZM for taking significant steps towards an investigation, look forward to a swift and transparent sharing of its findings, and demand fair and decisive consequences to ensure the integrity of the election.
As the prophet Isaiah said (27:1):
ציון במשפט תפדה ושביה בצדקה
“Zion shall be redeemed through judgment; her repentant ones, through justice.” (Isaiah 1:2)
The undersigned:
ARZA / Vote Reform
Hatikvah
MERCAZ USA