Jewish Social Democratic Labour Party (Poalei Zion)

The Jewish Social Democratic Labour Party (Poalei Zion), often shortened to Poalei Zion (Workers of Zion), was a socialist and Zionist political movement and party. It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily among Jewish workers in Eastern Europe. The central ideological tenet of Poalei Zion was the synthesis of Zionism and socialism, believing that Jewish national liberation could only be achieved through socialist means and that socialist revolution required a Jewish homeland.

Poalei Zion groups advocated for the establishment of a Jewish workers' state in Palestine. They believed that Jewish workers needed to create their own means of production and develop a distinct proletarian culture within a Jewish national framework. The party was not monolithic, and various factions existed within the movement, ranging from those who prioritized socialist revolution above all else to those who emphasized Zionist aims. These internal divisions often led to disagreements regarding strategies and tactics.

Key figures associated with Poalei Zion included Ber Borochov, considered the party's chief ideologue, who developed a Marxist analysis of the Jewish question arguing that anti-Semitism was an inherent feature of capitalist society and that only a Jewish territorial solution could resolve it. Other prominent figures included Nachman Syrkin and Isaac Nachman Steinberg.

Poalei Zion played a significant role in the development of the kibbutz movement and the Histadrut, the General Federation of Labour in Israel. The movement's influence waned over time, particularly after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Various Poalei Zion factions evolved into different socialist and Zionist political parties in Israel. While the original, unified Poalei Zion party no longer exists, its ideas and legacy continue to inform certain aspects of Israeli politics and social thought. The party's contributions to labor Zionism and its emphasis on social justice within a national framework are considered important parts of Jewish and Israeli history.