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Jewish Nationalism

It is obvious from your writings and those of some of your contributors that you and they have no idea as to what Zionism is. At least not outside of what it is depicted to be in anti-Israeli propaganda, which must be treated with a great deal of suspicion (would anyone believe a nazi's description of a Jew?) In fact the view expressed, especially by you, is even less sophisticated than that which suggests that anyone who questions you or anti-Israel statements must be therefore Zionist, the same sort of equation that Senator MacCarthy used in the 1950's quest of "communists".

Let's consider the Jewish people's connection with Palestine and Israel. That land has been an essential part of his religious beliefs for the past 4000 years. The "roots" of the Jewish people are seen to lie in Israel (which is a part of historic Palestine). This idea plays a major role in their holy scripture - the Torah (or pentateuch) - the mosaic law, as well as the rest of the Bible and other works of theology (Talmud etc).

Since the time of his dispersion (the Diaspora) after the destruction of his most holy shrine the Temple at Jerusalem, the Jewish people have longed to return to the Holy Land. The longing to return to Israel is signified in all parts of his life, and is re-emphasised both in his daily and Sabbath Synagogue services.

For those of you, as yourself, who have been brought up and socialized in a Christian society where such an emphasis does not exist may find the idea difficult to accept and comprehend, but it is central to Judaism. It became especially prominent in Europe during the 19th century with the emergence of a lot of anti semitism, which culminated in progroms in Russia, and the Dreyfus trial in France and other such events. This was also the height of European nationalism.

It was agianst this background that in 1897 Theodor Herzl convened a conference which founded what is recognized as modem political Zionism, which is essentially Jewish nationalism. It is no less valid than French nationalism or Slavic nationalism etc. The Jewish people may be scattered geographically, but they are linked not only by religion and language but also by an essentially common culture. Anyone who knows anything about Judaism (ie. "that it is not just a religion but a way of life") will understand what I mean by the validity of Jewish nationalism. Apart form these factors it becomes more valid if one considers the fact that whereever they have lived it has been (often forced) in cohesive communities outside the host community.

The main resurgence of Zionism in modern times came as a result of the Jewish holocaust after the Nazis - the shocked energy from which set up the State of Israel in 1948.

Essentially Zionism is a political movement which as Jewish nationalism advocates the ingathering of all Jewish people to Israel (it being the only place that Jews can live a whole and normal people rather than as an outcast minority).

But after 1948 a new factor came into being in Jewish life - Israel. No Jew, if he accepts his religion, can avoid being pro-Israel. Not to be pro-Israel would be to deny his religion. But that does not mean he is necessarily Zionist, ie. supports the precepts of Jewish nationalism. There is a valid difference!

To those of you who call yourselves Marxist, let me point out that Macx was not against Zionism (see his writings on the Jewish question) because it was Jewish or because it advocated the taking back of the land of Palestine, but because it was nationalism. Marx said that Jews ought to assimilate into the population and work for the ultimate struggle - freeing the proletariat from the oppression of bourgeoise capitalist owners of the means of production. Nationalism worked against that ultimate goal, as such marxists ought to condemn Palestinian nationalism, that is the PLO.

Israel has been a state for thirty years, as such it is now an historical fact, to suggest its destruction, to try and turn back the dock thirty years, is simplistic idealism and is not compatible with any acceptable ideology.