Zionism
What is Zionism? Here is a dictionary definition: “a movement for (originally) the reestablishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. It was established as a political organization in 1897 under Theodor Herzl, and was later led by Chaim Weizmann.”
I think of myself as a “zionist” along the lines of this general definition. This came up again yesterday and I decided to do some reading on it. I’m currently reading Wikipedia.com. I’m learning some names and dates, and understanding that no one likes to be put out of their property. The Palestinian Arabs were not happy about the prospects, then the fact, of large numbers of Jews moving back to Israel. The Canaanites also were likely not too happy about the Israelites moving through the land and replacing all the inhabitants. I cannot change history. I can be compassionate toward the people. But I can be compassionate toward ALL the people. It is my understanding that for some years the Muslims, the Christians, and the Jews lived, worked, and did business with each other, more or less peaceably.
It is my understanding that the Jews tried to immigrate to Israel legally, purchasing the land, and building their communities. Certainly faux pas were made and problems resulted. But good things happened, too. World politics and World War II happened. Through the years, many countries, many regimes, many world events and politics intervened until today, and they are still intervening. Today the Israelis are urged to give up land. The Arabs are urged to fight until there are no more Jews in the land.
I have compassion toward all the people. I do not like violence. I especially do not like suicide bombings and rockets fired into civilian neighborhoods.