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Wikipedia defines Zionism as ‘colonialism,’ sparking outrage (www.jns.org)

submitted 2 days ago by Linkerbaan to c/[email protected]

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At the center of the debate are key changes in the language used to describe Zionism, the movement that called for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in what is now Israel.

The 2023 version of the page framed Zionism as a nationalist movement born in the 19th century that sought to secure Jewish self-determination.

In contrast, the 2024 version of the entry introduces more charged terminology, describing Zionism as an “ethno-cultural nationalist” movement that engaged in “colonization of a land outside of Europe,” with a heightened focus on the resulting conflicts with Palestinian Arabs.

“Zionists wanted to create a Jewish state in Palestine with as much land, as many Jews, and as few Palestinian Arabs as possible,” it reads.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Did this happen in an official capacity/appears in writing? Or is this just the common understanding?

/gen

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Yes, Herzl himself referred to Zionism as a colonial movement. In a 1902 letter to Cecil Rhodes:

You are being invited to help make history. It doesn’t involve Africa, but a piece of Asia Minor; not Englishmen but Jews … How, then, do I happen to turn to you since this is an out-of-the-way matter for you? How indeed? Because it is something colonial.

The first Zionist banks were called "Jewish Colonial Trust" too. The nascent Zionist movement was always an openly colonial project. I suppose now that colonialism is not the cool thing to do anymore some Zionists are shying away from the term, but some still do openly identify their politics that way.