Herzl, Theodor, 1860-1904; Zionism; Zionists -- Austria -- Biography
Every man will be as free and undisturbed in his faith or his
disbelief as he is in his nationality. And if it should occur that men
of other creeds and different nationalities come to live amongst us,
we should accord them honorable protection and equality before the
law. We have learnt toleration in Europe. This is not sarcastically
said; for the Anti-Semitism of today could only in a very few places
be taken for old religious intolerance. It is for the most part a
movement among civilized nations by which they try to chase away the
spectres of their own past.
LAWS
When the idea of a State begins to approach realization, the Society
of Jews will appoint a council of jurists to do the preparatory work
of legislation. During the transition period these must act on the
principle that every emigrant Jew is to be judged according to the
laws of the country which he has left. But they must try to bring
about a unification of these various laws to form a modern system of
legislation based on the best portions of previous systems. This might
become a typical codification, embodying all the just social claims of
the present day.
THE ARMY
The Jewish State is conceived as a neutral one. It will therefore
require only a professional army, equipped, of course, with every
requisite of modern warfare, to preserve order internally and
externally.
THE FLAG
We have no flag, and we need one. If we desire to lead many men, we
must raise a symbol above their heads.
I would suggest a white flag, with seven golden stars. The white field
symbolizes our pure new life; the stars are the seven golden hours of
our working-day. For we shall march into the Promised Land carrying
the badge of honor.
RECIPROCITY AND EXTRADITION TREATIES
The new Jewish State must be properly founded, with due regard to our
future honorable position in the world. Therefore every obligation in
the old country must be scrupulously fulfilled before leaving. The
Society of Jews and the Jewish Company will grant cheap passage and
certain advantages in settlement to those only who can present an
official testimonial from the local authorities, certifying that they
have left their affairs in good order.
Every just private claim originating in the abandoned countries will
be heard more readily in the Jewish State than anywhere else. We shall
not wait for reciprocity; we shall act purely for the sake of our own
honor. We shall thus perhaps find, later on, that law courts will be
more willing to hear our claims than now seems to be the case in some
places.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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