As people lend support to the Palestinian cause, many people don’t seem to understand the difference between supporting Palestinians and being anti-semitic. Some people are also glorifying Adolf Hitler for killing Jews.
For example, PTI MNA Kanwal Shauzab, on the floor of National Assembly, praised Adolf Hitler, saying that he left some Jews alive during the Holocaust as a lesson. What is the difference between Judaism, Semitic and a Zionism? Here is a guide to what each word means.
What is Zionism?
Zionism is a religious and political ideology of effort that brought thousands of Jews from around the world back to their ancient homeland in the Middle East and reestablished Israel as the central location for Jewish identity.
While some critics call Zionism an aggressive and discriminatory ideology, the Zionist movement has successfully established a Jewish homeland in the nation of Israel.
Theodor Herzl, an Austrian Jew, is considered the “father” of political Zionism. The Zionist movement started in the late 19th century, amidst growing European anti-Semitism. The movement secured support among Western European governments, particularly after Zionists agreed to create their Jewish state in historic Palestine.
Zionism and World War II
Many Jews living in Russia and Europe suffered persecution and death during Russian pogroms and under Nazi rule. Most historians estimate that about 6 million Jews were killed in Europe during the Holocaust.
In the years before and during World War II, thousands of European Jews fled to Palestine or other regions to escape hostility. After the Holocaust ended, Zionist leaders actively promoted the idea of an independent Jewish nation. With the British army’s withdrawal, Israel was officially declared an independent state on May 14, 1948.
Judaism
Judaism is a Jewish religion, which is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions and established more than 3,500 years ago. Its principal tenet is that there is only one God, who is the creator of the universe and with whom Jewish people have a special relationship.
Jews can be atheists, being Jewish by heritage but not believing in the God of the Bible. Jewish law says the faith is transmitted through the mother, even if in the Bible people are identified by their paternal ascendants.
Zionism is a large component of Judaism but one can be Jewish without being Zionist, and there are people who certainly believe that one doesn’t have to be Zionist to be Jewish – but it’s a very small minority.
Who is to blame for killing Palestinians?
Israel as a country is perpetrating these acts of violence and aggression. It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with power imbalances and greed. Israel is not the flag-bearer for Judaism.
We should not criticize an entire religion because of the actions of a group of hateful people. Palestinians are the victims of genocide and ethnic cleansing but that doesn’t mean people should be justifying the genocide of millions of Jews. This is a time to help Palestine and focus on amplifying Palestinian voices rather than spreading bigotry and hatred.
