Zionism is the Jewish national movement and ideology, which aims to unite and revive the Jewish people in its historical homeland  the Land of Israel. It emerged in the second half of the 19th century, when revolutionary events swept over the world and when people started demanding freedom and equality. It is worth noting that this movement actually led to the creation of an independent state of Israel. Actually, this concept was interpreted in different terms in accordance with the political predilections of this or that person.

THEODORE HERZL AND THE BEGINNING OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT IN EUROPE

It is considered that the term Zionism arose in 1890, however, its theoretical exposition appeared earlier in the books of the rabbis. At the end of the XIX century, when various national movements were actively formed in Europe, Theodor Herzl, an Austrian journalist of Jewish origin, organized the Zionist movement  the national movement of Jews. Its goal was to create an independent Jewish state, the most suitable place for which was considered Zion, or Eretz Israel  the historical homeland of the Jewish people. Under the leadership of Herzl, the World Zionist Organization was founded, which gave rise to the political Zionism in Europe.

BALFOUR DECLARATION AND THE BRITISH MANDATE

During the First World War, British official A. Balfour designed a document that declared the establishment of the Jewish "national home" in Palestine. Consequently, Jewish Zionists formed the Jewish Legion, which assisted the British troops in the conquest of Palestine. However, Palestinians protested against Jewish immigration, which led to Palestinian riots. In 1922, the League of Nations gave a mandate regarding Palestine to the United Kingdom, which explained, among other things, the need to establish political, administrative and economic conditions for the safe formation of the Jewish "national home". It should be mentioned that during the period preceding the Second World War, many counties refused to accept Jews that escaped from the Holocaust. Thus, to circumvent the ban on immigration to Palestine, a secret Zionist organization was created, which helped Jews reach Palestine and escape death.

THE UNITED NATIONS IN ISRAELI STATEHOOD

The role of the UN in the Israeli Statehood was expressed in the UN Plan for the partition of Palestine. According to this plan, the British Mandate was supposed to be canceled and the territory of Palestine was supposed to be divided into two unnamed states: Jewish and Arab ones. Moreover, the lands of Jerusalem and Bethlehem were supposed to become the territories that would fall under international control. In 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed; however, the Arab community rejected that plan and considered it unfair to their nation. It was the reason for the beginning of the Arab-Israeli war of 1947-1949.

VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES

Israelis and Palestinians hold different ideas regarding the Zionist movement, and also have different views on its perspectives. The Israelites are positive about Zionism and actively accept this ideology because it is their national and patriotic movement. However, at different epochs, this was movement considered from both negative and positive perspectives. For example, during the Nazi period, Zionism was considered as a negative radical movement. In the Soviet era, Zionism was also considered as a militant ideology that propagated chauvinism and racism. However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has recently said that Zionism is the national idea of Jews, which allowed them to unite. It should be remembered that Zionism was one of the causes of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Palestinians negatively perceive Zionism, condemning this ideology. They also want to regain Israel and establish their rule on its territory. This issue is closely related to the course "Global Interactions since the Age of Columbus", being the topic of various international discussions today. In solving this problem, most leading states are involved, including the United States. Moreover, that theme shows the development of international relations and international position in solving it.

The Zionism is the ideology and national movement of the Israeli people, which reached its active phase after the First World War. However, world countries in different epochs considered that movement in both positive and negative ways. Today, Arabian people are against Zionism and the Israeli state as a whole, and such an attitude was one of the reasons for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At the same time, Jewish people value high this ideology, considering that it unites them and helps to fight for freedom. Therefore, the Zionism has a right to exist and develop in the modern world.

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