Introduction
Zionism is a phenomenon that emerged during the late 19th century to champion the establishment of Israel, in Palestine, as a home for Jews based on the concept that they constitute a nation. However, what the Jews did not have was land to call their home and establish sovereignty. On the other hand, Palestine was considered the location of the Promised Land, but it was controlled by the Ottoman Empire, meaning that Zionists would have to drive out its inhabitants to gain control of the land. Consequently, these standings led to the propagation of religious and political beliefs and ideologies that inspired Jewish exceptionalism. Nevertheless, their implications are variable because of their role in the heated conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Religious and Political Ideologies that Inspired Jewish Exceptionalism
During the 19th century, scholars, politicians, publishers, and newspaper editors gained increasing interest in Palestine due to its numerous citing in the bible. As a result, the Zionist movement was largely influenced by a religious belief that Jews have a strong connection with God than any other tribe (Becke, 2018). Several biblical passages support the idea of Jews as the chosen tribe. Therefore, this formed a basis to propose their restoration to Palestine, which was perceived as their promised land (Matar, 2019). Similarly, Christian evangelists in the US believed that they played a major role in God’s plan for the Jews due to their superiority over others. Thus, they believed that God had bestowed this power upon them to help them carry out the mission.
Zionists believed that Jews had a right to self-governance like other nations. Nevertheless, political reasons also propelled the Zionist movements since America and Britain had more to gain from the success of the project. Zionism emerged earlier in Western and Eastern Europe because of the enlightenment of the Europeans and the question of integrating Jews into their culture since they were starting to learn and adopt European ways (Kimche, 2022). However, in Russia, trends showed that Jews could be modern but sustain their cultures, ethnic identities, and values (Matar, 2019). The Zionist movement had some imperial influence since the British took advantage of the Ottoman Empire’s weaknesses to gain more control over the region.
Positive and Negative Consequences of Zionism Concerning the US Foreign Policy
Since the early 20th century, the US has played a major role in establishing foreign policies that maintain its ties with Arab nations. However, the events of September 11th had substantial implications on the government’s focus on security and eliminating terrorism around the globe. The US has increased its engagement with nations in Arab regions over the years, resulting in more peace and stability, especially in Israel (Hamdi, 2018). Likewise, the US has benefited from its endeavors since it has secured significant oil and energy resources that enable it to stand up against powerful nations like Russia. Nevertheless, the tension between Israel and Palestine’s borders and political powers poses a threat to positive development in the future as they render the region politically unstable. Hence, the instability is against the interests of the US.
Conclusion
The Zionist ideology to relocate Jews to a land where they would establish a nation gained momentum after World War II and the Holocaust since Jews were among the individuals who witnessed the worst atrocities during these periods. However, the reasons underlying their relocation are variable since they are propelled by political motives and theological constructs. However, the Zionist movement received heightened criticism as some perceived it as a modern form of exile. On the other hand, Christian evangelists support that Jews are a nation that should have powers to rule itself and provide resources to help their people thrive. Although the project has seen some grave outcomes, scholars suggest that it bears positive implications for the future, especially with the increased engagement of the US and Arab countries.
References
Becke, J. (2018). Beyond allozionism: Exceptionalizing and de-exceptionalizing the Zionist project. Israel Studies, 23(2), 168-193.
Hamdi, O. A. (2018). American foreign policy toward the Arab-Israeli conflict: strategic transformations.Insight Turkey, 20(2), 251-272. Web.
Matar, Dina (2019) ‘The struggle over narratives: Palestine as metaphor for imagined spatialities.’ In: Iqani, Mehita and Resende, Fernando, (eds.), Media and the Global South: Narrative Territorialities, Cross-Cultural Currents. London: Routledge, pp. 170-185.
Kimche, J. J. (2022). Excellence in Exile: Jewish Exceptionalism in Anti-Zionist Thought. Modern Judaism-A Journal of Jewish Ideas and Experience.