How the Israeli Government Is Betraying Zionism
The word “betrayal” aptly captures what the current Israeli ruling coalition is doing to the ideals of Zionism. Despite hopes that the end of the Gaza conflict could help reverse this decline, concerns grow over how far the nation has strayed from its founding vision.
The Founders’ Vision
German historian of Zionism Michael Brenner reminds us that the founders of Israel imagined a democratic Jewish state where freedom and justice would prevail. Their vision united various political movements under a shared belief in national renewal and moral integrity.
The founder of political Zionism, Theodor Herzl; Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion; and the spiritual father of the right-wing Likud party, Vladimir Zeev Jabotinsky, remain ever-present in Israel through their portraits—but never have their ideas been so betrayed as they are today in the halls of power.
Modern Dissonance
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition of right-wing and religious allies have drifted from these basic ideals. Their governance has fueled accusations that Zionism itself is synonymous with racism or colonialism, a narrative that tarnishes what once unified generations of Jewish hopes.
Do not hold the fathers responsible for the deeds of their sons. To understand Zionism, we must recall what it once meant to millions of Jews.
Reflection
Today’s political landscape tests the resilience of Zionism's original spirit—a spirit rooted in democracy, equality, and moral responsibility.
Author’s summary: The article laments Israel’s current leadership for abandoning Zionism’s democratic and moral foundations, urging remembrance of its founding ideals.