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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.
'''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]]
==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]].
==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]].
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]].
N
==Opposition to Zionism==
==Opposition to Zionism==
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]].
==Bible==
==Christian Zionists==
Genesis 12:3, in which God speaks to Abraham, is taken as the scriptural foundation for their conviction:
Since the [[Reformation]] an interest in "the Restoration of the Jews to their Land" has been a constant theme in many Protestant denominations. The stressed Genesis 12:3, in which God speaks to Abraham, as the scriptural foundation for their conviction:
{{cquote|I will bless those who bless you,
{{cquote|I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and whoever curses you I will curse;
will be blessed through you.
will be blessed through you.
}}
}}
This concern did not always translate into support for a specific Return to Zion. Between 1600 and the 1880s, scores of Christians advanced plans for settlement in Palestine. In a striking parallel, Jewish thinkers, beginning in the seventeenth century, advocated similar ideas and some embarked on small-scale settlement in Palestine. Among both Jews and Christians these settlement attempts increased at times of intense messianic speculation, especially around the year 1840. British, Dutch and American protestants were involved. One specific Christian restoration plan was Laurence Oliphant's 1882 "Gilead Plan" for a large Jewish colony under British auspices in eastern Palestine. The Christian proposals seem to have had little coordination with or influence on the Jewish plans.
From the early 1940s to the late 1960s American theologian [[Reinhold Niebuhr]] was the most eloquent of American Christian Zionists.
From the early 1940s to the late 1960s American theologian [[Reinhold Niebuhr]] was the most eloquent of American Christian Zionists.
==Dispensationalism==
==Dispensationalism==
Zionism is a central element in [[Dispensationalism]], especially the [[Plymouth Brethren]] version promoted by [[John Nelson Darby]] in the mid 19th century. Darby's ideas were spread by Cyrus Scofield in his ''Scofield Reference Bible'' (1909 and many later edition). It was most significant premillennialist book. In recent decades the popular expression of Dispensationalist ideas is to be found in [[Hal Lindsey]]'s ''The Late Great Planet Earth'' (1970) and especially in the ''Left Behind'' books by [[Tim LeHaye]] and Jerry Jenkins published in the 1990s and early 2000s. The series sold over sixty-five million copies. In each of the twelve "Left Behind" novels, Israel and Israeli Jews play a pivotal role.
Zionism is a central element in [[Dispensationalism]], especially the [[Plymouth Brethren]] version promoted by [[John Nelson Darby]] in the mid 19th century. Darby's ideas were spread by Cyrus Scofield in his ''Scofield Reference Bible'' (1909 and many later edition). It was most significant premillennialist book. In recent decades the popular expression of Dispensationalist ideas is to be found in [[Hal Lindsey]]'s ''The Late Great Planet Earth'' (1970) and especially in the '[['Left Behind]]'' books by [[Tim Lahaye]] and Jerry Jenkins published in the 1990s and early 2000s. The series sold over sixty-five million copies. In each of the twelve "Left Behind" novels, Israel and Israeli Jews play a pivotal role.
The Dispensationalists argue from the Bible that before the Second Coming Christ is possible, the Antichrist must first set up a one world government and command himself to be worshiped as God in the reconstructed Temple in Jerusalem. The Antichrist will persecute Jews but they will recognize Christ as their savior and repent. Believing Christians will be "raptured" before the global strife (Tribulation) begins. After Christ returns he will set up a millennial kingdom in Israel as the Jewish Messiah in literal fulfillment of such prophecies found in Ezekiel and Revelation.
The Dispensationalists argue from the Bible that before the Second Coming Christ is possible, the Antichrist must first set up a one world government and command himself to be worshiped as God in the reconstructed Temple in Jerusalem. The Antichrist will persecute Jews but they will recognize Christ as their savior and repent. Believing Christians will be "raptured" before the global strife (Tribulation) begins. After Christ returns he will set up a millennial kingdom in Israel as the Jewish Messiah in literal fulfillment of such prophecies found in Ezekiel and Revelation.
* [[John Hagee|John C. Hagee]] (b. 1940)
* [[John Hagee|John C. Hagee]] (b. 1940)
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* Laqueuer, Walter. ''A History of Zionism'' (1972), basic history (but ignored the Christian Zionists)
* Brenner, Michael, and Shelley Frisch. ''Zionism: A Brief History'' (2003) [http://www.amazon.com/Zionism-Brief-History-Michael-Brenner/dp/1558763015/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261732615&sr=1-26 excerpt and text search]
* Laqueuer, Walter. ''A History of Zionism: From the French Revolution to the Establishment of the State of Israel'' (2003) good history by a leading scholar [http://www.amazon.com/History-Zionism-French-Revolution-Establishment/dp/0805211497/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261732421&sr=1-7 excerpt and text search]
* Sachar, Howard M. ''A History of Israel: From the Rise of Zionism to Our Time'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Israel-Rise-Zionism-Time/dp/0375711325/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261732421&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]
* Urofsky, Melvin I. ''American Zionism from Herzl to the Holocaust'' (1995)
===Christian Zionism===
===Christian Zionism===
* Brog, David. ''Standing With Israel: Why Christians Support the Jewish State'' (2006) 285 pp. [http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Israel-David-Brog/dp/1591859069/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0 excerpt and text search] enthusiastic supporter
* Brog, David. ''Standing With Israel: Why Christians Support the Jewish State'' (2006) 285 pp. [http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Israel-David-Brog/dp/1591859069/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0 excerpt and text search]
* Merkley, Paul Charles. ''Christian Attitudes towards the State of Israel'' (2001) 266 pp. scholarly study by a supporter Christian Zionism
* Merkley, Paul Charles. ''Christian Attitudes towards the State of Israel'' (2001) 266 pp. scholarly study by a supporter Christian Zionism
* Merkley, Paul Charles. 'The Politics of Christian Zionism, 1891–1948' (1998)
* Merkley, Paul Charles. 'The Politics of Christian Zionism, 1891–1948' (1998)
* Weber, Timothy P. ''On the Road to Armageddon: How Evangelicals Became Israel's Best Friend'' (2004). 336 pp. [http://www.amazon.com/Road-Armageddon-Evangelicals-Became-Israels/dp/0801031427/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261720551&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search], somewhat hostile
* Weber, Timothy P. ''On the Road to Armageddon: How Evangelicals Became Israel's Best Friend'' (2004). 336 pp. [http://www.amazon.com/Road-Armageddon-Evangelicals-Became-Israels/dp/0801031427/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261720551&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search], somewhat hostile
== See also ==
== See also ==
*[http://www.zionism-israel.com/ Zionism and Israel Information Center]
*[http://www.zionism-israel.com/ Zionism and Israel Information Center]
*[http://www.mideastweb.org/zionism.htm Zionism and the Creation of Israel]
*[http://www.mideastweb.org/zionism.htm Zionism and the Creation of Israel]
=====references====
{{reflist}}
[[category:Israel]]
[[category:Israel]]
[[Category:Church and State]]
[[Category:Church and State]]
[[Category:Judaism]]
[[Category:Judaism]]