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'''Zionism''' was nationalist political movement by East European Jews dedicated to reestablishing the [[Israel|Jewish state]] in the land of Israel, starting in the late 19th century.  The goal was achieved with the independence of [[Israel]] in 1948, and the term term now connotes political support for the continued existence of this Jewish nation. [[File:Zionism1.jpg|thumb|270px]]

'''Zionism''' was nationalist political movement by East European Jews dedicated to reestablishing the [[Israel|Jewish state]] in the land of Israel, starting in the late 19th century.  The goal was achieved with the independence of [[Israel]] in 1948, and the term term now connotes political support for the continued existence of this Jewish nation. [[File:Zionism1.jpg|thumb|270px|in front: David Ben Gurian, Golda Maier, Theodor Herzl]]

 

==History==

==History==

Although Jews have been returning to their homeland throughout the last two thousand years, the movement in its modern guise was started in the late nineteenth century by [[Theodor Herzl]].  

Although Jews have been returning to their homeland throughout the last two thousand years, the movement in its modern guise was started in the late nineteenth century by [[Theodor Herzl]].

For many centuries there was talk but no action; Jews did not have their own country, and most were restricted to ghettos. By 1810 the [[French Revolution]] and [[Napoleon]] liberated most of the Jews of Europe from the ghettos, allowing a new level of mobility. The [[Romanticism]] of the 19th century inspired a modern Jewish identity that led to much talk of their own nation.  The movement was inspired by the writings of Moses Hess, David Luzatto, Leo Pinsker, Zvi Kalischer, and Yehudah Alkalai; funding came from philanthropists Moses Montefiore, Edmond de Rothschild, and Maurice de Hirsch. The first small colonies relocated to Palestine, which was part of the [[Ottoman Empire]] until it collapsed in 1918. Britain then took control under a mandate from the [[League of Nations]].

In 1897 Herzl formed the World Zionist Congress in Switzerland; it became an effective worldwide political movement.  Despite opposition from assimilationist Jews and internal divisions the Zionist organization gathered strength. In 1905 one faction withdrew when the majority rejected a British proposal for establishing a Jewish homeland in [[Uganda]], Africa.

==Opposition to Zionism==

==Opposition to Zionism==

[[Image:End of zionism equals peace.jpg|thumb|Anti-Zionist Jews]]

[[Image:End of zionism equals peace.jpg|thumb|Anti-Zionist Jews]]

With few exceptions, Muslins around the world are hostile to Zionism and Israel, often to the point of promising the destruction of the state.

With few exceptions, Muslins around the world are hostile to Zionism and Israel, often to the point of promising the destruction of the state.

In the United States and Europe, until World War II the Reform Jews generally opposed Zionism. With the establishment of Israel in 1948 the opposition softened, and when the [[Six Day War]] in 1967 showed Israel was vulnerable to attack, most previously negative Jews became supportive.  In the U.S. many leftist Jews are hostile to Israel--or, more exactly, very friendly to the Palestinian cause. In Israel a small minority of religious Jews, most prominently the [[Neturei Karta]] sect, are [[Anti-zionism|anti-Zionist]] for theological reasons.  

In the United States and Europe, until World War II the Reform Jews generally opposed Zionism--often denouncing it because it was the opposite of assimilation and American identity. With the establishment of Israel in 1948 the opposition softened, and when the [[Six Day War]] in 1967 showed Israel was vulnerable to attack, most previously negative Jews became supportive.  In the U.S. many leftist Jews are hostile to Israel--or, more exactly, very friendly to the Palestinian cause. In Israel a small minority of religious Jews, most prominently the [[Neturei Karta]] sect, are [[Anti-zionism|anti-Zionist]] for theological reasons.  

   

   

The [[Palestinian Arabs]], many of whom fled during the unrest that followed the reestablishment of the Israeli state are among those opposed to its existence, as are many other [[Arabs]] who are allied with them.  

The [[Palestinian Arabs]], many of whom fled during the unrest that followed the reestablishment of the Israeli state are among those opposed to its existence, as are many other [[Arabs]] who are allied with them.  

Zionism is sharply criticized in the U.S. and Europe by non-Jews who believe that Palestinians are poorly treated by Israel.  In the U.S. other critics complain that pro-Israeli interest groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have an excessive amount of influence over US policy.

Zionism is sharply criticized in the U.S. and Europe by non-Jews who believe that Palestineans are poortly treated by Israel.  In the U.S. other critics complain that pro-Israeli interest groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have an excessive amount of influence over US policy.

In the often tendentious debates over the Arab-Israeli question many of these so called "anti-Zionists" claim that there is a distinction between opposition to Israel and [[Anti-Semitism]].

In the often tendentious debates over the Arab-Israeli question many of these so called "anti-Zionists" claim that there is a distinction between opposition to Israel and [[Anti-Semitism]].

== See also ==

== See also ==

* [[American Jews]]

* [[American Jews]]

* [[Louis Brandeis]]

* [[Louis Brandeis]], Zionist leader in U.S.

*[[Menachem Begin]]

*[[Menachem Begin]]

*[[Liberal Christianity#Liberal Christianity's Anti-Zionism]]

*[[Liberal Christianity#Liberal Christianity's Anti-Zionism]]