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Zionism: Definition and Historical Context

Zionism is a worldwide Jewish movement that led to the establishment and growth of the state of Israel and currently supports Israel as a Jewish homeland. It originated as a political effort to create and maintain a national homeland for Jews in Palestine, focusing today on the development of the modern Israeli state.

Core Beliefs and Historical Support

The movement promotes the idea that Jews should have their own nation, reflecting Jewish nationalism. Zionism gained significant backing among Jews and others in the early 20th century, culminating in the establishment of Israel in the late 1940s.

Opposition and Contemporary Events

Most Arabs oppose Zionism, connected to the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. In recent years, tensions have remained high: two years after the violent Hamas attack on Israel, Palestinian supporters disrupted a commemoration at Pomona College, accusing Zionism of being “a death cult that must be dealt with accordingly.”

British officials have sometimes excluded peaceful Israeli team supporters instead of addressing threats, unintentionally reinforcing the conflict dynamics Zionism originally aimed to resolve. In 2017, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) distanced itself from its founders' socialist Zionism and backed the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, accompanied by chants advocating for Palestinian freedom.

“Zionism is a death cult that must be dealt with accordingly.”
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Author's summary: Zionism is a Jewish nationalist movement responsible for founding Israel, facing strong opposition, and remaining a focal point of political and social conflict today.

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Dictionary.com Dictionary.com — 2025-11-03

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