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The Union of Progressive Zionists (UPZ) is a student organization sponsored by Meretz USA and Ameinu and the Jewish youth movements Habonim Dror and Hashomer Hatzair. It is a network of student activists organizing for social justice and peace in Israel and Palestine. The UPZ was created by the four organizations in order to provide guidance, education and resources to students who seek to impart a progressive voice into the campus debate on Israel. Extremist voices pushing rigid “pro-Israel” and “pro-Palestinian” positions have come to dominate the discourse on many campuses across North America, obscuring the issues and alienating significant numbers of Jewish and moderate students. It is committed to creating an alternative approach to Israel advocacy that embraces open dialogue and constructive activism, and that warrants critical analysis of policies, whether Israeli, Palestinian, American or other.

UPZ

Declaration of Principles

The UPZ’s vision for Israel is based on the following principles:
  • A just and peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict
  • The cessation of all terrorist activity and violence against civilians, Palestinians and Israelis alike
  • An end to Israel's military, civilian and economic occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
  • A negotiated two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that recognizes the rights of self-determination for both peoples
  • Social and economic parity for all citizens and residents of Israel
  • The continued resolve of the U.S. and Canadian administrations and the North American Jewish community to hold Israel – and its advocates – to the values of democracy, social justice and pluralism

Efforts to Remove UPZ from the Israel on Campus Coalition Fail

UPZ Vindicated

Efforts by the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) to have the Union of Progressive Zionists expelled from the Israel on Campus Coalition - the umbrella organization encompassing pro-Israel groups working on campus - have failed.

During the Fall 2007, the UPZ, which is supported by Meretz USA, Ameinu, Habonim Dror, and Hashomir Hatzair, sponosored a tour of Breaking the Silence - a group of discharged Israeli soldiers critical of some IDF practices in the Palestinian territories. For this, the ZOA began its lobbying efforts. After meeting to discuss the issue, the ICC Steering Committee released a statement rejecting the ZOA's demand and reaffirming the ICC's commitment to open dialogue and freedom of thought.

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