How the Israeli government is betraying Zionism

How the Israeli Government Is Betraying Zionism

“Betrayal” is the fitting term to describe the actions of Israel’s ruling coalition toward the core ideals of Zionism. Although there is hope that the war in Gaza’s end will allow Israel to reverse this troubling path, German historian Michael Brenner reminds us what the founding fathers of Zionism truly envisioned: a democratic Jewish state.

The iconic figures of political Zionism—Theodor Herzl, Israel’s first prime minister David Ben-Gurion, and Vladimir Zeev Jabotinsky, the spiritual founder of the right-wing Likud party—still watch over Israel today through their portraits. Yet, never before have their principles been so deeply betrayed in the corridors of power.

The Current Leadership’s Departure from Zionist Ideals

Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing, religious coalition have strayed far from Zionism's foundational ideas. Their policies contribute decisively to the growing discredit of Zionism, even among its long-time supporters. Critics label Zionism as racism and colonialism, but this distortion should not be attributed to the movement’s architects.

“To understand what Zionism is, we must remember what it once meant to many millions of Jews.”

The founders envisioned a state protecting its people rather than dividing them, a vision now compromised by political agendas that diverge from Zionism’s original democratic and inclusive principles.

Author's Summary

The Israeli government’s current policies deviate sharply from Zionism’s founding ideals, risking the movement’s legacy and alienating many longtime supporters.

K. Les Juifs, l’Europe, le XXIe siècle — 2025-10-30