Keren Kayemet

Keren Kayemet (also known as the Jewish National Fund) is a non-profit organization founded in 1901 to buy and develop land in Ottoman Palestine (later British Mandate Palestine, and subsequently Israel) for Jewish settlement. The organization is named after the Keren Kayemet LeIsrael (KKL), which translates to the "Eternal Fund of Israel".

History

The Keren Kayemet was established at the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel in 1901. The initial goal of the organization was to purchase land in Palestine for Jewish settlement. The first large-scale purchases were made in 1903, and by the end of 1905, the Keren Kayemet owned 50 square kilometers of land.

In the years following its establishment, the Keren Kayemet played a significant role in the development of the Jewish community in Palestine. It funded the establishment of numerous settlements, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem.

Activities

The Keren Kayemet's activities have evolved over time to meet the changing needs of the Jewish community in Israel. Today, the organization focuses on land development, forestry, water conservation, and education.

One of the Keren Kayemet's most notable achievements is the creation of over 200 reservoirs throughout Israel, which have significantly increased the country's water supply. The organization has also planted over 240 million trees, making Israel one of the few countries in the world with a net gain in trees in the 21st century.

In the field of education, the Keren Kayemet operates the "Green Horizons" youth movement, which aims to connect young people with nature and instill in them a love for the land of Israel.

Criticism

Despite its many achievements, the Keren Kayemet has faced criticism for its role in the displacement of Palestinian communities. Critics argue that the organization's land purchases have often been made at the expense of Palestinian land rights.

See also

• Zionism
• History of Israel
• Land of Israel