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Zionism is and was controversial for three different reasons:

Nationalism: The concept of Nationalism today and in the late 1800s was still very controversial. It holds that each people has the right to govern its own future and stands in stark contrast of the idea of a global community or cosmopolitanism.

Diasporic Nationalism: Zionism is a unique case in nationalism, since in most cases, nationalism occurs where the ethnicity desiring a homeland is already the majority population of that region. The Jews were not a majority in any region of the world (with the possible exception of Thessaloniki, Greece). As a result, the formation of a Jewish Nation would require a vast Immigration to a certain area of the world, upsetting a local majority and denying their right to self-determination. This is eventually what happened to the Palestinians. Albeit, the Palestinians were not innocent in this, but it was a natural outgrowth of Diasporic Nationalism.

"Religious" Nationalism: Many people confuse the term "Jewish" in "Jewish State" with the religion of Judaism. Jews are an ethno-religious group. The term "Jewish" in "Jewish State" refers exclusively to the ethnic character of Jews. Herzl, Jabotinsky, Ahad Ha'am, and Weizmann were all Atheists or Agnostic Zionists. However, many incorrectly see the "Jewish" in "Jewish State" as referring to the religious aspect of Judaism and are bothered by the creation of a state that is inherently religious. (However, they seem not to have this reaction to "Islamic States", "Hindu States", and "Buddhist States" which are clearly religious terms.)

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12y ago

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