129 years after the First Zionist Congress: Calls for "death to Zionism" in Basel
A pro-Palestinian group is planning an anti-Israel demonstration in Basel on August 29, the anniversary of the 1897 First Zionist Congress. Organizers are using the slogan "death to Zionism" and imagery reminiscent of Hamas propaganda, though local police have yet to receive a permit request.
An anti-Israel demonstration is planned for the end of the month in Basel, Switzerland, coinciding with the 129th anniversary of the First Zionist Congress, which convened in the city under the leadership of Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl. The report was published by the German Jewish media outlet Jüdische Allgemeine.
Whether the demonstration will actually take place remains unclear, as the Basel-Stadt cantonal police stated that no permit application for the event has been received. The call to protest is being circulated on social media by a group calling itself "basel4palestine." Local regulations require that applications for public demonstrations be submitted at least two weeks in advance. Police officials declined to comment on their operational plans or potential responses to an unauthorized gathering, citing security protocols.
The rhetoric used by the organizers has drawn significant attention, particularly the slogan "Death to Zionism." According to Jüdische Allgemeine, the event's promotional flyer features a downward-pointing triangle marking an Israeli tank—a symbol the newspaper notes is identical to those used to designate targets in Hamas propaganda videos. The publication emphasizes that the message targets Zionism itself, rather than the policies of any specific Israeli government.
The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG) has expressed deep concern regarding the planned protest. The organization's secretary-general, Jonathan Kreutner, urged authorities to identify the organizers and hold them accountable should they proceed without a permit. He warned that such rhetoric risks inciting hostility toward Jews and fostering a sense of insecurity.
The choice of August 29 is historically symbolic for Basel and the Jewish people. On that day in 1897, Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl initiated the First Zionist Congress. The three-day event was a milestone in the development of the political Zionist movement, resulting in the adoption of the Basel Program, which sought to establish a home for the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael secured by public law. The congress also established the infrastructure for the World Zionist Organization. Reflecting on the event years later, Herzl wrote in his diary:
"In Basel, I founded the Jewish state."
Although the State of Israel would not be established for another five decades, the congress laid the essential groundwork for its creation.
