Does Zionism equal Nazism

Answer 1

There is often hyperbole in the media about comparing Zionist Israeli policy to Nazi German policy in order to create sympathy for the Palestinians. However, there are vast differences in the organization of ideals and direction of the governments, making these ideologies very different.

Persecution and Genocide

One of the hallmarks of Nazi policy was the quarantining of "Undesirables" in ghettos which were partial cities without sufficient food or living space. Then the "Undesirables" would be trucked to forced labor and extermination camps. This led to the deaths of 6 million Jews and 5 million non-Jews (primarily Slavs and Romani/Gypsies).

Israel has never organized any sort of genocidal campaign against any group. Although life is difficult for Palestinians in the West Bank under Israeli occupation, they are not rounded up, quarantined or subject to mass murder. The Palestinians in Gaza are under a blockade since the Hamas government almost always uses surplus supplies to wage war on Israel, but Israel still continues to provide the Gaza Strip with all of its electricity and 80% of its foodstuffs, the exact opposite treatment afforded by the Nazis to their "Undesirables". Of course, this fails to note how Arab Israeli citizens (ethnic Palestinians, Druze, Bedouins, and Arab Christians) receive equal treatment under Israeli Law and even have political parties which have participated in every Israeli Parliament, some of which are opposed to the Jewish State.

Industry Nationalization and Human Rights

Economically, the Fascist State tends to co-opt private industry and create an unholy political-industrial complex that makes the rights of its citizens secondary to the whims and desires of industry. This is to create a stronger impetus for production of military arms and manufactures. The Nazis were well known for their extensive collaboration with industrial manufacturers and the lessening of workers' protections.

Israel has some of the most comprehensive worker protections in the world and an incredible number of regulations for private industry. Israeli domestic policy would be considered socialist by American standards or Lib-Dem by British Standards or Moderate Gaullist by French Standards. While there is significant military expenditure in Israel, it is not co-opted by the government. Rather private manufacturers receive grants and subsidies, similar to what happens in the United States. Israel also has one of the most productive start-up economies, entirely outside of the government's interference.

Eugenics

The Nazis made very clear that they were trying to create a master race with a certain set of discernible physical features: blond hair, blue eyes, small nose, pale face, and had anatomical drawings of the Ãœbermensch which resembled the typical Swede. The Nazis researched the best ways to promote reproduction among those who "had desirable traits" and to limit reproduction among the Undesirables. Women in concentration camps, for example, were experimented on to prevent them from ovulating and thus effectively prevent their reproduction.

Aside from the fact that Jews in Israel are from all over the world (roughly 1/3 from Russia, 1/3 from the Arab World, and 1/3 from Western Europe and the USA, with sprinklings from elsewhere), there is no view in Israel of how a Jew should look. Further, there is no attempt to alter demography by preventing non-Jews from marrying and reproducing. In fact, aside for Religious Jews, Arab Israelis have the highest birth rates in Israel. While there are demographic concerns in Israel, no Israeli politician or organization has ever contemplated trying to prevent Arabs from marrying or having children, because this is not what Israel is about.