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About Zionism

Zionism is a global Jewish movement that led to the creation and growth of the state of Israel and continues to support it as a Jewish homeland.

Historically, it represented the political effort to establish a national home for Jews in Palestine and today focuses on strengthening the modern Israeli state. It also refers to the belief in the Jewish people's right to self-determination, often described as Jewish nationalism.

Zionism gained much support among Jews and others in the early twentieth century, and the hoped-for nation was established in the late 1940s in Palestine, as the state of Israel.

Opposition to Zionism has been strong among many Arabs, contributing to the broader Arab-Israeli conflict.

Contemporary Context

Two years after a deadly Hamas attack on Israel, Palestinian supporters disrupted a remembrance event at Pomona College, declaring that

“Zionism is a death cult that must be dealt with accordingly.”

In some cases, when British officials exclude peaceful backers of Israeli events rather than confront violent threats, they risk reinstating the same dynamics that Zionism historically sought to overcome.

In 2017, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) distanced themselves from their founders’ early socialist Zionist views and publicly endorsed the BDS movement, echoing chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Summary

Zionism remains a complex and often contested ideology that intertwines Jewish nationalism, modern politics, and global debates over identity and statehood.

Author’s summary: The article outlines Zionism’s origins, evolution, controversies, and modern political implications through historical facts and recent examples.

Dictionary.com — 2025-11-03