JERUSALEM — Israel’s New Hope party and Aish Ha’am, affiliated with the global Jewish education movement AISH, announced a merger on Monday, creating a new unified faction in the World Zionist Congress (WZC).
The new faction will bring together 13 delegates, eight from New Hope and five from Aish Ha’am, to coordinate efforts on strengthening Jewish identity, promoting Israel advocacy, and combating antisemitism in the Diaspora.
The agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, leader of New Hope, and Rabbi Steven Burg, CEO of AISH, representing Aish Ha’am. The signing ceremony took place in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
The parties said their work will be guided by four principles: rejecting left-right political divides, building bridges with other WZC factions, advancing Israel advocacy and Jewish education with a focus on students and youth, and encouraging wider cooperation across the political spectrum.
“This merger is about unity and impact,” Sa’ar said in a statement released by the parties. “We intend to build a strong faction that will support Jews in the Diaspora and strengthen their connection to Israel.”
Rabbi Steven Burg, who led Aish Ha’am’s recent campaign in the American Zionist Movement elections, emphasized shared priorities. “Our campaign ran on four principles: fighting antisemitism, advancing Jewish unity, educating every Jew, and defending Israel,” Burg said. “These align perfectly with New Hope’s work in the Foreign Ministry. Together we will expand our reach and improve the lives of Jews worldwide.”
The new bloc is expected to seek cooperation with additional parties in the WZC. Both leaders said they aim to strengthen alliances and expand the faction’s influence on global Jewish priorities.
The World Zionist Congress, established in 1897, serves as the representative body of the Jewish people worldwide, allocating resources and setting priorities for Jewish education, Israel advocacy, and combating antisemitism.
This article is based on verified information from Aish, the New Hope party, and official announcements from the World Zionist Congress.