Thank you for this article. I am trying to gain an understanding of middle-east issues, and found this helpful. Very complicated. One concept I am trying to understand is the difference (or correlation) between Zionism and Judaism. In your article, you said:
"If you went on a time machine to the late nineteenth century, then you could say that you were anti-Zionist without being genocidal because back at that time, Zionism was still mostly an idea."
Would you kindly elaborate on what was the idea of Zionism in the late nineteenth century? Or, alternatively, point me to articles (yours or others) that might help to explain the concepts. Thanks in advance.
Thanks, Josh. After the Jews were expelled from their land by the Romans (shortly after Jesus), they continued to harbor the hope of returning to the land ("next year in Jerusalem") through the centuries. However, the idea of return was mostly a religious idea or fantasy. Some went to the land of Israel, so there was always a small Jewish community there, but the idea of establishing a Jewish state there became serious only in the late 19th century and early 20th century. First and foremost, Zionism was a response to antisemitism. Following the enlightenment, many (though not all) Jews believed in integration. However, there were events that heavily challenged the idea of integration: The Dreyfus trial (in which a Jewish person was falsely accused of betraying France) and vicious pogroms in Eastern Europe. As a result of these events, some Jews became disillusioned with integration or with life in Europe and began to seek their own state (many also immigrated to America. All along, many Jews were not Zionist). No doubt, Zionists were also influenced by European nationalism, colonialism and socialism. The land of Israel was controlled by the Ottoman empire until the end of WW1 and then by Britain. With Zionism, Jews started moving there in growing numbers and purchasing land while lobbying for their own state. The Palestinians were not organized as a nation state and often had a more localized sense of identity (in some cases, each village was its own community, I believe). The Zionists naively believed that the fact that they would bring progress (better health, agriculture, infrastructure) would mean that their presence would be accepted as a blessing. Socialism does not emphasize religion or ethnicity but material progress. However, the Zionism faced growing opposition from the local Palestinians (this opposition was by no means universal, but it was encouraged by some leaders, some of whom had close Nazi ties). The Holocaust greatly increased international support for the idea of a Jewish state. In 1947, the UN decided to partition the land into a Jewish state and a Palestinian state. The Zionist leadership agreed, but the Palestinians were manipulated by leaders into war (which is a recurring pattern). The war was vicious, and the fate of the Palestinians was determined in that war: some remained in Israel as Israeli Arab citizens, and others fled or were expelled and became the refugees. At the same time, many Jewish people from Arab countries were expelled or chose to leave and moved to the newly created Israel. In terms of what the idea of Zionism was, it was to have a Jewish state that will treat all its people well regardless of ethnicity, religion, etc. This is the Israeli declaration of Independence: https://www.gov.il/en/departments/general/declaration-of-establishment-state-of-israel
The wish for peace has been a very persistent force within Israeli society, but in general Zionism was tragically naive about the realities of the middle east. Israel is both a noble and tragic mistake and a wonderful country that must be defended. Israel has been a gift to Jew haters because it enables them to say that they do not hate Jews but are "just" criticizing Israel. I was taught my whole life to hate war and I do hate it, but the realities of Israel do not allow for absolute pacifism. If I could go on a time machine, I would tell the early Zionists to go to America, but I very much love Israel, and it must be defended. Zionism is no longer a theoretical idea; Zionism gave rise to a very real country full of life, love and desire for peace despite the tragic need to fight. Also, the fate of Israel is a "proxy" for the fate of liberty. If we allow Israel to be abused, liberty as a whole will be abused.
Thank you for this article. I am trying to gain an understanding of middle-east issues, and found this helpful. Very complicated. One concept I am trying to understand is the difference (or correlation) between Zionism and Judaism. In your article, you said:
"If you went on a time machine to the late nineteenth century, then you could say that you were anti-Zionist without being genocidal because back at that time, Zionism was still mostly an idea."
Would you kindly elaborate on what was the idea of Zionism in the late nineteenth century? Or, alternatively, point me to articles (yours or others) that might help to explain the concepts. Thanks in advance.
Thanks, Josh. After the Jews were expelled from their land by the Romans (shortly after Jesus), they continued to harbor the hope of returning to the land ("next year in Jerusalem") through the centuries. However, the idea of return was mostly a religious idea or fantasy. Some went to the land of Israel, so there was always a small Jewish community there, but the idea of establishing a Jewish state there became serious only in the late 19th century and early 20th century. First and foremost, Zionism was a response to antisemitism. Following the enlightenment, many (though not all) Jews believed in integration. However, there were events that heavily challenged the idea of integration: The Dreyfus trial (in which a Jewish person was falsely accused of betraying France) and vicious pogroms in Eastern Europe. As a result of these events, some Jews became disillusioned with integration or with life in Europe and began to seek their own state (many also immigrated to America. All along, many Jews were not Zionist). No doubt, Zionists were also influenced by European nationalism, colonialism and socialism. The land of Israel was controlled by the Ottoman empire until the end of WW1 and then by Britain. With Zionism, Jews started moving there in growing numbers and purchasing land while lobbying for their own state. The Palestinians were not organized as a nation state and often had a more localized sense of identity (in some cases, each village was its own community, I believe). The Zionists naively believed that the fact that they would bring progress (better health, agriculture, infrastructure) would mean that their presence would be accepted as a blessing. Socialism does not emphasize religion or ethnicity but material progress. However, the Zionism faced growing opposition from the local Palestinians (this opposition was by no means universal, but it was encouraged by some leaders, some of whom had close Nazi ties). The Holocaust greatly increased international support for the idea of a Jewish state. In 1947, the UN decided to partition the land into a Jewish state and a Palestinian state. The Zionist leadership agreed, but the Palestinians were manipulated by leaders into war (which is a recurring pattern). The war was vicious, and the fate of the Palestinians was determined in that war: some remained in Israel as Israeli Arab citizens, and others fled or were expelled and became the refugees. At the same time, many Jewish people from Arab countries were expelled or chose to leave and moved to the newly created Israel. In terms of what the idea of Zionism was, it was to have a Jewish state that will treat all its people well regardless of ethnicity, religion, etc. This is the Israeli declaration of Independence: https://www.gov.il/en/departments/general/declaration-of-establishment-state-of-israel
The wish for peace has been a very persistent force within Israeli society, but in general Zionism was tragically naive about the realities of the middle east. Israel is both a noble and tragic mistake and a wonderful country that must be defended. Israel has been a gift to Jew haters because it enables them to say that they do not hate Jews but are "just" criticizing Israel. I was taught my whole life to hate war and I do hate it, but the realities of Israel do not allow for absolute pacifism. If I could go on a time machine, I would tell the early Zionists to go to America, but I very much love Israel, and it must be defended. Zionism is no longer a theoretical idea; Zionism gave rise to a very real country full of life, love and desire for peace despite the tragic need to fight. Also, the fate of Israel is a "proxy" for the fate of liberty. If we allow Israel to be abused, liberty as a whole will be abused.
Thank you for this info, Gefen. I will continue to research.