Zionism as Secular Political Ideology
Zionism is the Jewish national movement, which is based on a simple idea: Jews should have their own state in the Land of Israel, and the capital of this state is to be Jerusalem. The Zionist movement emerged in the late XIX century among Jewish intellectuals in Eastern Europe (“Israel studies an anthology: The history of Zionism,” 1998). The goal of Zionism was in the establishment of the Jewish state and its successful development through the protection of the interests of all Jews.
The idea to build a state for the Jewish people was a response to multiple persecutions and pogroms that Jews were exposed to almost all over Europe. After the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of more than 6 million European Jews, this idea has received a new impetus to implementation: the international community has agreed that the Jewish state is necessary (“Israel studies an anthology: The history of Zionism,” 1998). Zionism proclaimed its goal to protect the Jewish people from persecution by the state, the army and Jewish sovereignty over the land of Israel. One of the main forerunners of Zionism and the State of Israel was Theodor Herzl (“Israel studies an anthology: The history of Zionism,” 1998). The word "Zionism" derives from the name of Mount Zion, located in the old Jerusalem, which is the most holy place for the Jews (“Israel studies an anthology: The history of Zionism,” 1998).
In May 1948, the Jews proclaimed the state of Israel, which was the epitome of the "Zionist project" in life. Since then, the Jewish state exists in a hostile Arab environment, and in constantly waging war and fighting with Arab terror, while simultaneously it is building a democratic society with a strong economy and high-tech.
During the World War I Zionism was important as a consolidating factor for all Jewish who were engaged in the war from both sides (History.com, 2009). At the same time such circumstances weakened positions of Zionism. First attempts to establish Jewish state on Palestinian territories were also made during the World War I. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was a great example of the influence Zionism had on political thinking. It was also a kind of statement on the benevolent attitude of Great Britain to the aspirations of the Zionist Jews. The declaration reads: “His Majesty’s Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.” (History.com, 2009). However, its implementation was not successful.
During the World War II and especially after it was ended Zionism played a huge role in the promotion of the idea of the establishment of Israel as Jewish State. The UN decision to …
