Jewish Self-Governance Quotes

They [Zionists] have no thought of building up a Jewish state in Palestine, so that they might inhabit it, but they only want a central organization of their own international world … withdrawn from the seizure of others: a refuge for convicted rascals and a high school for future rogues.

The State of Israel represents and speaks only on behalf of its own citizens, and in no way presumes to represent or speak in the name of the Jews who are citizens of any other country.

Jewish sovereignty and governance over our ancestral home are, I believe, important goals that every Jew ought to support.

I don't think that when Zionism began there was a claim that we were losing - even in part - our capacity to contribute to other peoples.

During the Middle Ages, Jews were members of a semi-independent polity within a larger polity.

Jewish citizens of ours have come to me and pointed out that from the earliest times they have had an association of their own in accordance with their native laws and a place of their own, in which they decide their own affairs and controversies with one another; and upon their request that it be permitted them to do these things, I decided that they might be maintained, and permitted them so to do

In Basle I founded the Jewish State. If I said it today, it would be greeted with laughter; but in five years, perhaps, certainly in fifty years, everyone will see it. A State is founded essentially on the will of the people for a State.

We should be able to carry on extremely useful propaganda both in Russia and America where the majority of Jews ... appeared to be favorable towards Zionism.

Farther I could find it in my heart to wish that you had been at the head of a hundred thousand Israelites . . . & marching with them into Judea & making a conquest of that country & restoring your nation to the dominion of it. For I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation.

Israel is the only place on earth where Jews have the possibility to shape public life according to their own traditional ideals.