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on the idea of relying on the generosity of wealthy Jewish elites to foot the bill, since they would
                    then expect to dictate the society’s policies and character, thereby precluding the Jewish masses
                    from being able  to come  to Israel and actively shape and create  their own new society. Thus,
                                                       Herzl’s opening words  to  the  fifth Zionist Congress  in
                                                       Basel 1901 were as follows: “Philanthropic colonization
                                                       did not  succeed, but  national colonization will.  The
                                                       Jewish nation will not just be the founders, but will also
                                                       be the permanent owners of this physical asset [the land]
                                                       for eternity. In this way, individuals will not be able to
                              JNF “blue boxes”
                                                       use  the  property for their own personal wishes in
                    manners that do not coincide with the intentions of the founders. We must ensure that in the
                    future this asset will be looked after with the greatest of care, and that it be used cautiously and
                    frugally, more than with might and daring.”

                    Herzl’s words inspired the creation of the Keren Kayemet L’Israel (KKL), known in English as the
                    Jewish National Fund (JNF), at that Congress. The JNF was to be the monetary fund that would
                    allow each simple Jew, anywhere in the world, to put money towards buying land in Israel, penny
                    by penny, in ‘blue boxes’ which became a staple in every Jewish community building and in many
                    Jewish homes.  The JNF has been an important institution of the Jewish People ever since it was
                    created, by dealing with the physical land that would allow the Zionist vision to become a reality
                    –  buying land, developing it, and now,  in our era,  establishing  nature preserves  and water
                    purification facilities on it. Berl Katznelson said the following about the creation of the JNF: “And
                    in that grand and historic moment, the founding moment of the Jewish National Fund, National
                    Providence did not betray  us,  it managed  the  legislative  hand that chiseled  this aim  into  the
                    tablets: Redemption of the land as an eternal home for the Jewish people. In the creation of the
                    working Yishuv, we require participation of the individual and the public. The nation must give
                    the land to the worker. It must be given not
                                                                          Basic Laws in Israel
                    as  a gift and  not  entirely as a sale, but
                                                             The first Knesset was elected before the end of the
                    rather lent to  him – in order  that the
                                                             War of Independence. It dealt with a good deal of
                    worker can utilize  it through all  of  his
                                                             original legislation and the  amendment  of  laws,
                    working days and all of the working days
                                                             orders and  regulations left over from  the  British
                    of his sons after him.”                  Mandatory period.
                    This Zionist  principle was  made into law   The first Knesset adopted a resolution regarding the
                                                             preparation of a  constitution  for the state, chapter
                    in 1960, with the Basic Law: Israel Lands,
                                                             by chapter,  which would be in the  form of  Basic
                    which states as follows: “The ownership of
                                                             Laws. A formalized constitution was never created,
                    Israel lands, being the lands in Israel of the   due mainly to problems  that emerged against the
                    State, the Development  Authority or the   background of  the clash between a secular
                    Keren Kayemet LeIsrael [JNF], shall not be   constitution  and  the Halacha (the Jewish  religious
                                                             law).
                    transferred either  by sale  or in  any other
                    manner.” The Israel Lands Administration   Thus, the Basic Laws form the basis for all laws in
                                                             the State of Israel.
                    (ILA)  was formed following this  law, to
                                                                          (www.knesset.gov.il)
                    jointly  administer State lands and JNF
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