Zionism

Jewish nationalism
Israel

Description

Promoting a world-wide movement for the return of Jewish people to their ancient home in the Middle East.

Context

Zionism has two major sources, one in Jewish tradition and religious feeling and the other in the need to find safe refuge from manifestations of anti-Semitism.

Implementation

Zionism as a strategy was mainly implemented in the 20th century, through holding Congresses, migrating, politically influencing various governments, public education campaigns, civil war, terrorism, agricultural communes (kibbutzim), a unilateral declaration of independence and the building of the political and social forms and economic infrastructure of a new nation. (1) It has given a new sense of identity to Jews around the world. (2) It has preserved the Hebrew language. (3) It has given a new impetus to archaeology in the Holy Land. (4) It has helped to revive understanding of the Jewish origins of Christianity.

Counter-claim

Zionism has been opposed by many Jews in the West who favoured assimilation into their particular adopted communities, short of conversion.

Zionism is opposed by many, including the Arab states, as an unjust, unprecedented and unwarranted dispossession of Palestinian Arabs from their land.

Militant Zionism lends itself to the very types of injustices, human suffering and violence which the movement claimed to resolve as its basic aim.

While the existence of the nation of Israel is now an established and irreversible historical fact, the perpetuation of the militant spirit of Zionism now is a primary factor causing and sustaining tension and open warfare in the Middle East. this more than anything ultimately threatens the future of the Israeli nation.

Zionism is a misunderstanding of Jewish theology and Old Testament manipulation, replacing a profoundly religious, spiritual state of being with the physical state of Israel.