Page 363 - הציונות בתוניסיה

Summary VI

neglect in which it was held on the part of the World Zionist Organization.
In addition, opposition to Zionist activities by various sections of the Jewish
community increased their difficulties.
By actively participating in all aspects of Jewish communal life, the
Zionists obliged other Jewish social trends to publicly recognize their
importance in Jewish society. In addition to their struggles within the Jewish
society, such as their struggle with the Alliance Israélite Universelle, Zionists
strove to make a place for themselves among the other political and social
movements of the time, particularly vis-a-vis the socialist movement and
the communist party, which greatly attracted Jewish youth. These struggles,
however, were general and ideological in character, and because of this, their
impact on Zionism was minimal.
During the years 1926–1939 Zionism was at the forefront of the struggle
to define the character of Jewish life and its position in society. Two major
changes occurred during this period. One was the creation of Zionist
youth movements – the Eclaireurs Israelites de France (E.I.F), the Union
Universelle de Jeunesse Juive (U.U.J.J.), Hashomer Hatzair and Betar. The
youth movements brought an element of vitality to the full range of Zionist
activity. They also lowered the age level of Zionist activists. The frameworks
for activity were more rigid in the youth movement than in the former Zionist
organizations. In addition, youth movements made it possible for girls to
participate in Zionist activity, which had formerly been impossible.
Another change in Tunisian Zionism during this period was the
penetration of world Zionist political parties: the Revisionists, accompanied
by the Betar youth movement, and the Hashomer Hatzair. Bitter struggles
took place between the two ideological approaches to Zionism: the integral
Zionist program of the Revisionists versus the Marxist Zionism of the
Hashomer Hatzair. The struggle culminated when the Revisionists accused
Hashomer Hatzair of atheism, destroying family life, a bias towards
communism, and aspirations to be fulfilled only in a kibbutz. The Hashomer
Hatzair was forced to defend itself against harsh attacks and retaliated by
accusing the Revisionists of fascism and Hitlerism. This contest could
be seen in public demonstrations, as well as in newspapers, and was also
reflected in information passed on to the police by informers. The Hashomer
Hatzair was forced to disband in 1935. The Revisionists’ victory was a result
of having a strong newspaper, a simple ideological ethic, being well-suited to