Yesterday, some asshole on KOS said that he hated "Zionist pigs." This led me to ask a very simple question, how are people who claim they are anti-Zionist defining Zionism? I know what Zionism means to me and my Israeli family but does it mean the same thing to the people who claim they hate Zionism but not the Jewish people or religion?
What is Zionism?
Zionism as defined by the American Zionist Movement is:
the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, brought about the establishment of the State of Israel, and views a Jewish, Zionist, democratic and secure State of Isr
ael to be the expression of the common responsibility of the Jewish people for its continuity and future.
.
There are five guiding principles of Zionism as described by the American Zionist Movement. I will also discuss where some people have problems with these principles.
The unity of the Jewish people, its bond to its historic homeland Eretz Yisrael, and the centrality of the State of Israel and Jerusalem, its capital, in the life of the nation.
Of course, the problem is defining Eretz Yisrael and that Palestinians also claim Jerusalem (and all of the state of Israel but that is not relevant to this discussion). Eretz Yisrael literally means Land of Israel. I have seen several descriptions of Eretz Yisrael including: the current state of Israel, the current state of Israel and the West Bank, the current state of Israel and the Biblical land of Israel. I think most Israeli today would describe Eretz Yisrael as being the State of Israel as it stands today.
Aliyah to Israel from all countries and the effective integration of all immigrants into Israeli Society.
Aliyah literally means to go up or to ascend and those who make aliyah are Olim. I have heard Israelis use the term to also describe going to Jerusalem.
Strengthening Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state and shaping it as an exemplary society with a unique moral and spiritual character, marked by mutual respect for the multi-faceted Jewish people, rooted in the vision of the prophets, striving for peace and contributing to the betterment of the world.
I have seen many people claim Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state. For the life of me, I cannot see why. Our Constitution requires separation of Church and State but England has a state religion as do other countries and I have heard no one complain about that. Religions other than Judaism are practiced in Israel. In fact, Israel's Declaration of Independence includes freedom of religion. Like Canada (until very recently), Israel has religious courts (Muslim, Christian, Jewish) which over see certain things we would see in civil courts in the U.S. (they do have civil courts too!). This was set up by British and continued through the birth of Israel. It is not ideal especially with regards to marriage and divorce.
Ensuring the future and the distinctiveness of the Jewish people by furthering Jewish, Hebrew and Zionist education, fostering spiritual and cultural values and teaching Hebrew as the national language.
Hebrew is not in fact the only national language. There are two (though English is effectively the third), Hebrew and Arabic.
Nurturing mutual Jewish responsibility, defending the rights of Jews as individuals and as a nation, representing the national Zionist interests of the Jewish people, and struggling against all manifestations of anti-Semitism.
I don't think this principle causes a problem for anyone except the loons.
Anti-Zionism
To be anti-Zionist is to believe that Israel does not have the right to exist as a Jewish state. This is anti-Semitic. I have never heard anyone claim that Arab countries do not have the right to be Arab states, that England does not have the right to be Anglican, that Japan does not have the right to cherish its history. This only applies to the Jewish state in the way that so many criticisms of Israel apply only to Israel despite other countries exhibiting similar or worse behaviors. To be anti-Zionist is to believe that Jews do not have the right to have a homeland, to have one place where they know they will not be discriminated against because of their religion, to have one place where they are safe.
