Difference between revisions of "Zionism"

Revision as of 18:49, 26 May 2009

Zionism is a nationalistic ideology that calls for:

• the re-establishment of Israel as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish people
• the return of the Jewish diaspora to Israel
• the revival of Jewish culture (including the Hebrew language) as a nationality-based, rather than diaspora-based culture.

The cause for Zionism as an alternative to assimilation of the Jewish people into the cultures of their countries of residency was bolstered somewhat in the 19th and 20th centuries due to extensive acts of anti-Semitism by the majority non-Jewish peoples in these countries, most notably the Holocaust. By the end of World War II and the repression of fascism in Europe, the fulfillment of the ideal for a Jewish homeland state was well on its way to fruition, culminating in an Israeli declaration of independence from the United Kingdom in 1948. Both before and after the war, Israel has been mired in various wars with its Arab residents and neighbors due to both its non-Muslim, non-Arab presence in the region and the policies pursued in retaliation by the Israeli government and hardline Jewish fundamentalists.

Anti-Zionism

Anti-Zionism, on the other hand, is opposition to the establishment or perpetuity of Israel as a Jewish state or homeland. It is frequently conflated with anti-Semitism, and expressions by avowed anti-Zionists tend to verge into the same ideologically-inclined dialogue that is used by avowed anti-Semites (thus, it goes without saying that Islamist groups within the nearest vicinities of Israel tend to combine the ethnic, religious and national reasons for their opposition to the existences of Judaism, the Jews and Israel). However, while anti-Semitism is both religious and ethnic in nature, anti-Zionism is primarily national-political in nature, and is touted most by self-avowed "patriots" who view Israelis, the Israeli government and Zionist groups outside of Israel as being a malign, sinister influence upon, say, American foreign policy; such opposition against Zionism tends to be populist in nature, railing against the government and corporations for waste and corruption, and pointing to the government's relationship with Israel as being a prime example of such malignancy.

In Israel

Within Israel, Zionism takes on various shades of opinion on Israel's domestic and foreign policy. The most popular hardline Zionisms, namely Religious Zionism and Revisionist Zionism, take religious and ethnic approaches, respectively, to how to demote Arab Muslim influence in the state.

• Religious Zionism, a relatively-recent religious adaption of Zionism, seeks to establish a religious Jewish presence in the West Bank and favor establishing a halachic state (one ruled by Jewish law, similarly to a counterpart in Iran). Has support from many rabbis.
• Revisionist Zionism, most noted for its association with Ze'ev Jabotinsky, who envisioned both sides of the Jordan as the Jewish state.

Both inerrently support the religious settlements in the West Bank, and vocally loathe an Arab Muslim presence in Israel, particularly over the Temple Mount (upon which is envisioned the Third Temple).