The Anti-Zionist League in Iraq ( Arabic: عصبة مكافحة الصهيونية في العراق) was an organization in Iraq, active in 1946. The organization was founded by a group of Jewish members of the Iraqi Communist Party in 1945. [1] [2]
The petition to found the Anti-Zionist League was signed by eight individuals from Baghdad on September 12, 1945. [3] The government approved the petition on March 16, 1946. [3] Whilst the Communist Party was illegal at the time and the National Liberation Party (considered a front organization for the Communist Party) had been refused legal registration, the Iraqi government allowed the Anti-Zionist League to operate as a legal organization. The reason is said to have been that the government hoped to use the organization to represent Iraqi Jews towards the Anglo-American Commission of Inquiry on Palestine. [1] [4]
The Anti-Zionist League sought to propagate amongst the Iraqi population to avoid confounding Jews with Zionism, as a measure to confront "communal hatred". [1] Zionism was, according to the organization, a colonialist phenomenon. [5] The Anti-Zionist League called for a fully independent Palestine, an Arab democratic government, end to land transfers to Zionists and prohibition of Zionist migration. [6] According to the Anti-Zionist League British and U.S. imperialism was responsible for the rise in sectarian violence and nationalism. [7]
Amongst the founders of the organization were Yahuda Siddiq (Central Committee member of the Communist Party) and Masru Qattan and Yusuf Zalluf. [8] Yusuf Zhilkha headed the organization. [4] Zakki Basim, a non-Jew, acted as the liaison between the organization and the Central Committee of the Communist Party. [1]
The organization was dominated by young Jewish communists. [5] [9] Jewish members of the Communist Party were required by the party to join the organization (those who did not could be accused of Zionist leanings). [1] The membership of the Anti-Zionist League was, however, not exclusively Jewish and communist. There were also some Christian and Muslim members, and some of its members were Progressive Nationalists. [3]
It published a daily newspaper al-'Usbah (العصبة, 'The League'), which had a circulation of 6,000 copies. [1] [8] [10]
During its three months of legal existence, the Anti-Zionist League organized twenty-two public meetings. In Baghdad up to 5,000 people could take part some of these meetings. Two public meetings were held in Basra, with thousands of participants. [11]
Al-'Usbah was banned in June 1946, shortly after its foundation. [9] The organization was declared illegal by the Iraqi government in July 1946. [1] Members of the organization were arrested and charged with the crime of Zionism. [9]
The Anti-Zionist League in Iraq ( Arabic: عصبة مكافحة الصهيونية في العراق) was an organization in Iraq, active in 1946. The organization was founded by a group of Jewish members of the Iraqi Communist Party in 1945. [1] [2]
The petition to found the Anti-Zionist League was signed by eight individuals from Baghdad on September 12, 1945. [3] The government approved the petition on March 16, 1946. [3] Whilst the Communist Party was illegal at the time and the National Liberation Party (considered a front organization for the Communist Party) had been refused legal registration, the Iraqi government allowed the Anti-Zionist League to operate as a legal organization. The reason is said to have been that the government hoped to use the organization to represent Iraqi Jews towards the Anglo-American Commission of Inquiry on Palestine. [1] [4]
The Anti-Zionist League sought to propagate amongst the Iraqi population to avoid confounding Jews with Zionism, as a measure to confront "communal hatred". [1] Zionism was, according to the organization, a colonialist phenomenon. [5] The Anti-Zionist League called for a fully independent Palestine, an Arab democratic government, end to land transfers to Zionists and prohibition of Zionist migration. [6] According to the Anti-Zionist League British and U.S. imperialism was responsible for the rise in sectarian violence and nationalism. [7]
Amongst the founders of the organization were Yahuda Siddiq (Central Committee member of the Communist Party) and Masru Qattan and Yusuf Zalluf. [8] Yusuf Zhilkha headed the organization. [4] Zakki Basim, a non-Jew, acted as the liaison between the organization and the Central Committee of the Communist Party. [1]
The organization was dominated by young Jewish communists. [5] [9] Jewish members of the Communist Party were required by the party to join the organization (those who did not could be accused of Zionist leanings). [1] The membership of the Anti-Zionist League was, however, not exclusively Jewish and communist. There were also some Christian and Muslim members, and some of its members were Progressive Nationalists. [3]
It published a daily newspaper al-'Usbah (العصبة, 'The League'), which had a circulation of 6,000 copies. [1] [8] [10]
During its three months of legal existence, the Anti-Zionist League organized twenty-two public meetings. In Baghdad up to 5,000 people could take part some of these meetings. Two public meetings were held in Basra, with thousands of participants. [11]
Al-'Usbah was banned in June 1946, shortly after its foundation. [9] The organization was declared illegal by the Iraqi government in July 1946. [1] Members of the organization were arrested and charged with the crime of Zionism. [9]