Zionism is a global movement affirming Jewish people’s RIGHT to self-determination by the establishment of a Jewish national state in Israel. That’s the formal definition. But just as the Torah is history with meaning, such is Zionism.
The “organized” movement began in the late 1890s when a non-observant Jewish journalist, Theodore Herzl, observed the mistreatment of a French officer, Alfred Dreyfus. It was a big deal in those days.(There’s even a movie) He concluded the Jewish people needed their own homeland in Israel. To be fair, anti-Zionists believe it is a racist ideology that promotes Jewish occupation of what is rightly Palestinian land. It has resulted in the expulsion and oppression of the Palestinian people. (These claims are clearly disposed of in my 6 part article). For Jews, however, Zionism is more than just a movement. It is a belief, a need, and a destiny.
Apartheid is a political policy separating and discriminating against people based on race and ethnicity. It was the law in South Africa until 1990. Of course, Israel is often and unfairly accused of being apartheid. Actually, it is an emotional description used by anti-Semites to create the illusion that Israel is racist and oppressive. Israel has its problems but apartheid is not one of them. Israel is a democracy with free speech, a free press, freedom of religion. Arabs are part of the Knesset, judiciary, and police. Arab MDs work side by side with Israeli MDs in hospitals. All citizens, Jew, Arab, Druze, are treated equally before the law. All these are contrary to apartheid!
Genocide are acts committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Any dictionary can tell you that. But it’s the origin that makes it interesting and relevant today. The word itself was created around 1944-45 to describe Nazi acts to SYSTEMICALLY destroy European Jews. A new word was needed for the upcoming Nurenberg Trials to describe a new crime. Murder was insufficient. The new crime was “crimes against humanity.” Genocide!
Colonialism is where one country exerts control and oppression over another.
Genocidal nations don’t use their citizens as shields, don’t hide under hospitals, schools, and Mosques, don’t prevent citizens from evacuating, don’t use their injuries and deaths for photo ops, don’t steal humanitarian aid and use it for tunnels and rockets. Colonial nations don’t offer self governance, peace and coexistence. They don’t conquer the land and give it back. They don’t provide water, electricity, jobs, and medical care. Israelis don’t carry signs and yell “kill all Arabs.” Israelis wrap themselves in the Israeli flag and sing “oseh shalom” and hatikvah.”
