Monday, 4 November 2013

"Liberal" Zionism? I don't think so

It's been suggested, by none other than the high priest of the Israeli left author, Amos Oz, that Zionism has to be preceded with a noun. "Religious" Zionism, "liberal" Zionism, "post" Zionism, "anti-" Zionism... You get the picture.

But here's the problem. While I get "religious" Zionism and "right-wing" Zionism - they are exclusivist and that fits Israel's mission to be a homeland of the Jewish people where the non-Jews have no stake in its future, I just do not get "liberal" or "progressive" Zionism. If Israel isn't a state for all its citizens and its national symbols and policies - if not its policies - preclude the large minority of non-Jewish citizens, then liberals should have nothing to do with it.

According to my understanding, a liberal or someone who is progressive in his or her views is inclusivist. Zionism is most certainly not inclusivist. So "liberal" and "progressive" Zionism must be oxymorons.