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First Zionist Congress convenes in Basel

When
1897
Where
Stadtcasino Basel
Episodes
1

The First Zionist Congress convened in Basel, Switzerland, from August 29 to 31, 1897. Theodor Herzl, founder of modern political Zionism, organized and chaired the event at the Stadtcasino. He was elected president of the newly formed Zionist Organization, marking a pivotal moment in the movement's institutional history.

Episodes

  1. August 29–31, 1897 · Stadtcasino BaselFirst Zionist Congress in Basel

    The inaugural congress of the Zionist Organization was held in Basel from August 29 to 31, 1897, chaired by Theodor Herzl.

Background and detail

Background. Theodor Herzl, a Hungarian Jewish journalist and lawyer, is recognized as the father of modern political Zionism. In 1896, he published Der Judenstaat, elaborating his vision for a Jewish homeland. Following this publication, Herzl planned the inaugural congress of the Zionist Organization, aiming to promote Jewish immigration to Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, to establish a Jewish state.

Organization. Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress at considerable personal expense, having founded the Zionist newspaper Die Welt in Vienna in 1897. The event was held in the concert hall of the Stadtcasino Basel. Herzl chaired the proceedings and was elected president of the Congress, a position he held until his death in 1904.

Outcomes. The congress established the Zionist Organization, with Herzl as its president. The gathering marked the beginning of a series of diplomatic initiatives to build support for a Jewish country. The establishment of the organization was suggested at this congress, with further steps taken at the Second Zionist Congress in 1898.

People involved

  • Theodor Herzl · Founder of modern political Zionism; Convened and chaired the First Zionist Congress; Elected president of the Zionist Organization

Sources

  1. First Zionist Congress Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-30
  2. Theodor Herzl Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-07

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.