Zionism

What is Zionism?

Zionism is the ambition to establish a homeland for the Jewish people. It was developed into a political idea in the 19th century by Theodor Herzl. Many Zionist Jews believed Palestine was the Jewish homeland.

Who were the leading Zionists?

There were several important Zionists in the 19th and 20th centuries.

• ❖ Theodor Herzl was the leading Zionist thinker in the 19th century. He believed Europe was hostile towards Jews and Jews would never be completely safe until they had a land of their own. He thought permission from the great powers should be gained first.
• ❖ Leon Pinsker was a Zionist who believed that waiting for permission to gain land in Palestine was not necessary, and that occupying land as quickly as possible was essential.
• ❖ Chaim Weizmann was a Zionist who believed that getting permission and occupying land were both strategies that should be tried.

Where did Zionists come from?

By 1919 there were Jewish Zionists in all Jewish communities worldwide. Some leading Zionists like Chaim Weizmann lived in Britain, but others lived in eastern European countries such as Poland and Russia.

What were the aims of the Zionists?

In 1919 at the Paris Peace Conference, Zionists hoped the British would grant the Jews a state in Palestine.

How did the USA support Zionists?

Over 5 million Holocaust survivors and their families now lived in the USA. This led to lots of support in America for the Zionist cause in 1945. For example,

• ❖ Americans gave over $46 million to the Zionist cause in 1945.
• ❖ The press also printed many pro Jewish terrorism articles.
• ❖ The USA welcomed 150,000 Jewish refugees after the Second World War.
• ❖ The USA pressured Britain to allow the Jewish refugees of Europe into Palestine. When they refused the USA applied economic pressure.

How did Iraq react to Zionism?

In 1950 Iraq made Zionism a capital offence and all Jews were sacked from government jobs. Jewish places were bombed. Over 120,000 Jews were told to leave the country. They were airlifted to Israel in Operation Ezra and Nehemiah.