The New Hope Party and Aish Ha’am announced Monday the creation of a joint faction in the World Zionist Congress (WZC), bringing together 13 delegates to advance initiatives in Jewish education, Israel advocacy, and the fight against antisemitism.
The agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who heads New Hope, and Rabbi Steven Burg, CEO of Aish and leader of Aish Ha’am.
Under the merger, New Hope contributes eight delegates, based on its four seats in the Knesset, which double its representation in the WZC, while Aish Ha’am brings five representatives elected in the recent American Zionist Movement ballot.
Party officials said the alliance aims to strengthen Jewish identity and promote Zionist projects in Israel and the Diaspora. The faction will prioritize campus outreach, public diplomacy, and efforts to counter antisemitism.
Sa’ar will lead the new faction, which has pledged to avoid traditional Left-Right divides in favor of broader cooperation with other groups in the WZC. Both sides said they are in talks with additional parties interested in joining.
Principles of the new bloc
Burg said the principles guiding the new bloc closely match those his party campaigned on in the United States.
“The campaign of the Aish Ha’am Party during the elections ran on four principles: fighting antisemitism, advancing Jewish unity, educating every Jew, and defending Israel,” he said. “These are principles that align perfectly with the work being done by the New Hope Party and its representatives in the Foreign Ministry, including Foreign Minister Mr. Gideon Sa’ar and... [New Hope MK] Ze’ev Elkin.”
The merger is seen as an effort to expand influence in the WZC, which allocates funding and support for Zionist activities worldwide.