The term ‘Zionism’ often carries a negative connotation nowadays, and the definition is often limited to only a small part of the story, Roitman observes. “Zionism is thereby equated with support for Netanyahu’s current policies, while at least half of the Israeli population does not support his choices.”
To properly understand Zionism, a brief history lesson is needed. Even before 1900, many peoples were discovering themselves: the rise of nationalism. Many were seeking independence, and that was largely successful, says Bart Wallet. He is a professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Amsterdam. “After the First World War, the map was redrawn: many national movements, including the Poles, got their own state.”
For the Jews, that was more difficult. Many peoples lived more or less together in the neighborhood, while Jews lived scattered throughout the Middle East and Europe. “Drawing a simple line around the area where most Jews live was therefore not possible.” Moreover, the ‘Jewish question’ arose,” Wallet explains. The presence of Jews could be difficult for the formation of home states of other national movements.
Zionism was the answer to that: namely, that only a state of their own can offer security and sovereignty to the Jews. The British wanted to arrange that, but promised both the Arabs and the Jews the same piece of land. Ultimately, the Jewish state of Israel was founded in 1948: the Zionist goal was achieved.
But how that goal was achieved is where the problem lies, states the Palestinian-Dutch political scientist and journalist Radi Suudi. “Zionism was the endeavor to establish a Jewish state in the place where the Palestinian people already lived, who had no intention of making way. The foundation of the Jewish state was therefore accompanied by an eruption of violence and ethnic cleansing.”
Before that happened, more than a million Palestinians still lived in the area that would become Israel, a majority. A year and a half later, there were only 60,000 left, says Suudi. A very large part had fled.
So much for history. Where some state that Zionism is a thing of the past – the Jewish state has after all been founded – others believe that ‘Project Zionism’ is not yet finished. Wallet calls that “radical Zionism.” According to that movement, the current Palestinian Territories should also belong to Israel.
That radical Zionism is much cited in the current debate. “While precisely if you are a Zionist you should have understanding for Palestinians who want their own state,” Wallet states. “National movements actually speak the same language and should understand each other.”
The Israeli government is currently under the influence of a movement that you could call ‘extremely religious Zionism’, says Wertheim. Zionists agree that Jewish independence is necessary for the safety of the Jewish people. “But opinions differ about what is needed to maintain that security.”
According to the religious Zionists, Israel is a religious right given to Jews by God. “Thereby the means to realize that Jewish state have been broadened according to them, including the oppression of and violence against the Palestinians.” These Zionists also believe that the construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank is a justified means to claim the land.
The deadly violence in Gaza and the West Bank also leads to anti-Zionism. But that is denying the right to exist of Israel, Wertheim explains. There are also multiple currents of that. It can be about denying the right to exist of Israel in its current form. But also about how far Israel can still stretch its borders. In the West Bank, present Israeli settlers are expanding their illegal settlements ever further to change the demographic ratio in the Palestinian territory.
More and more Palestinians are therefore driven out of their homes and become displaced. “An ethnic cleansing in slow motion,” Suudi calls that. “And the settlers say: we are ‘simply’ doing in the West Bank what was also done in 1948 to found the state of Israel. We are finishing the job.”
All this makes Zionism an extraordinarily sensitive subject for the Palestinians. Suudi: “Problematic, even.” They cannot see Zionism separately from the expulsion of the Palestinians. “Most Zionists wanted a state exclusively for Jews, therefore on Palestinian territory. Only a small minority wanted to live together with the Palestinians.”
“And indeed, Zionism is much more than just the violence of then or Netanyahu’s policies now,” he continues. “But the violence is there, and for a Palestinian it doesn’t matter so much where it comes from.”
All in all, Dutch Jews will nowadays be hesitant to tell whether they are Zionist, Wallet thinks. “Because if you express that now, you can suddenly be held responsible for everything Netanyahu does.” Wallet therefore emphasizes that it is important to remain interested and nuanced. Roitman: “‘I am a Zionist’ is not the same as saying: ‘I am for destroying the Palestinian people.”