The Jewish National Fund is a private organisation, created in 1901 at the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel with the aim of purchasing land in Palestine to serve as a Jewish homeland. Today, the JNF privately owns 14% of total land in Israel, compared to 79.5% owned by the Israeli government and 6.5% other privately owned land (1997 Israel Government Press Office figures). JNF-owned land is, however administered by the Israel Land Administration together with government-owned land.According to its website, as of 2001 "JNF has planted over 220 million trees, built over 150 dams and reservoirs, developed over 250,000 acres of land, created more than 400 parks throughout Israel and educated students around the world about Israel and the environment".
External links
- JNF website
- The land issue (article on a Jewish Internet Association-maintained website containing information about the JNF)
- The land issue (article containing Palestinian views of the JNF)