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'''Zionism''' originally referred to a nationalist political movement dedicated to reestablishing the [[Israel|Jewish state]] in the land of Israel, which at the time was part of the British Mandate of [[Palestine]]; since this movement realised its aim in 1948 the term now connotes political support for the continued existence of this Jewish State. 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]], and in 1948 the modern state of [[Israel]] was established on a piece of land granted by the [[United Nations]] with the support of [[Great Britain]], the nation which had formerly controlled the land under a [[League of Nations]] mandate.
'''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.
==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]].
==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.
Zionism is also opposed by those who believe that pro-Israeli interest groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have an excessive amount of influence over US policy, although many who are opposed to the Israel Lobby have a problem with the power of interest groups and lobbying organizations in general, not just the Israel Lobby.
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.
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.
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]].
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* Laqueuer, Walter. ''A History of Zionism'' (1972), basic history (but ignored the Christian Zionists)
* Laqueuer, Walter. ''A History of Zionism'' (1972), basic history (but ignored the Christian Zionists)
===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
* 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
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