| Young Communist League of Israel | |
| Native Name: | Hebrew ברית הנוער הקומוניסטי הישראלי Arabic: اتحاد الشبيبة الشيوعية الاسرائيلي |
| Colorcode: | Red |
| Secretary General: | Mina Ala Al-Din |
| Founded: | 1924 |
| Headquarters: | Nazereth, Israel |
| Ideology: | Socialism, Communism, Anti-Zionism, Environmentalism, Feminism, Internationalism |
| Mother Party: | Maki |
The Young Communist League of Israel (he|ברית הנוער הקומוניסטי הישראלי|Brit HaNoar HaKomunisti HaYisra'eli|rtl=yes; ar|اتحاد الشبيبة الشيوعية الاسرائيلي|rtl=yes or for short: YCLI[1] , Hebrew: בנק"י, Arabic: ا.ش.ش.ا) is an Israeli communist and anti-zionist youth movement. YCLI are a part of the Young Communist League (YCL). they serve as the youth wing of the Communist Party of Israel (Maki). YCLI are also a part of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and even participated in its establishment between 1942 and 1945.[2]
Members of the group operate in Nazereth, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities across the country. They're also a part of the Anti-Occupation Bloc.[3]
The movement was established as a resistance movement in April 1924 by young activists aligned with the Palestine Communist Party (PKP).[4] [5] Its primary goal was to establish an organization dedicated to educating and mobilizing communist youth. The movement included both Jewish and Arab members, emphasizing on coexistence and solidarity across ethnic lines.
Unlike other socialist youth movements in Israel at the time, the Young Communist League of Israel never identified as zionist. The movement viewed zionism as a nationalistic and colonialist ideology that led to the displacement of the majority of the Palestinian population during what is now known as the Nakba. Their anti-zionist and communist stance often resulted in divisions and conflict, especially between them and the British that suppressed communist activities at Mandatory Palestine at the time.[6] [7] [8] [9]
Even after Israel's establishment, YCLI remained a communist Jewish-Arab movement advocating for Palestinian right of return, opposing military operations targeting Palestinian, and calling for an end to discrimination between Jews and Arabs.[10] However, internal divisions weakened the movement over time and caused splits.[11]
In 1967, YCLI members opposed the Six-Day War and the Israeli occupation, and they maintain this opposition to this day.[12] [13] [14]
Omar Sa'ad, a member of YCLI, was imprisoned in December 2013 for refusing to enlist to the Israel Defense Forces.[15] [16]
YCLI's symbol features the hammer and sickle, a well-known communist emblem representing the solidarity of the proletariat. It also incorporates the red star associated with the communist ideology.[1]
The movement shirt is a white button-up shirt adorned with a red triangular tie. It was traditionally worn by movement members during special events such as the May Day,[17] [18] Victory in Europe Day marking the defeat of the Nazis, as well as at YCLI and Maki conferences, among others. Similar movement shirts are a common feature in most communist youth organizations.[19]