Prefatory Remarks ••• 271
PREFATORY REMARKS
Let us first define political Zionism. Zionism is the belief that the Jews con¬
stitute a nation (or, to use a less loaded term, a people) and that they de¬
serve the liberties of other such groups, including the right to return to
what they consider their ancestral homeland, the land of Israel (or Pales¬
tine). Political Zionism is the belief that the Jews should form and main¬
tain a state for themselves there.
Not every Jew is a Zionist. Some Jews identify solely with the countries
in which they are citizens or reject altogether the idea of nationalism or
believe that the only meaningful affirmation of Jewishness is observance
of their religion, its laws, and its traditions. Not every Zionist is a Jew.
Some Christians believe that the restoration of the Jews to Palestine or the
creation of Israel must precede the second coming of Christ. Many Gen¬
tiles (non-Jews) back Israel out of admiration for Jews or Israelis or out of
guilt for past wrongs committed against Jews by czarist Russia and Nazi
Germany. Even some Gentiles who dislike Jews support Israel, perhaps be¬
cause Zionism stresses the uniqueness of Jews, as do anti-Semites (oppo¬
nents of Jews), and because it opposes the assimilation of Jews into Gentile
society. Likewise, anti-Zionists are not necessarily anti-Semites. Some may
be pro-Arab out of sincere conviction. Some people who favor Jews and
Judaism still think that Zionism and the creation of Israel have done them
more harm than good. This is a point that Jews should keep in mind. For
their part, non-Jews must realize that expressions of opposition—or even
skepticism—toward Zionism and Israel do sound anti-Semitic to many
Jews. We all must discuss Zionism with care if Jews and Gentiles, or Arabs
and non-Arabs, are to understand each other and reach peace in the Mid¬
dle East.
Jewish Nationalism
To return to our definition, Zionism is a nationalist movement similar to
Arab nationalism and other Middle Eastern nationalisms we have already
studied. It may seem odd to Americans that Jews should call themselves a
"nation." No one speaks of a Catholic or a Methodist nation in the US.
American Jews do not view themselves as Israelis, nor do Israelis so regard
them. Nevertheless, a belief prevails among all Jews—Orthodox, Conserv¬
ative, Reconstructionist, Reform, and nonobservant—that they do consti¬
tute one people and that their collective survival depends on mutual
support and cooperation. Even persons of Jewish ancestry who do not
