Zionism is always there
An opinion piece by historian Ofer Idels examines the meaning of Zionism in the current era. Idels argues that Zionism is not just settlement or budget allocation, but the ability of Jews to integrate into the modern world as Jews while maintaining sovereignty. He criticizes both the post-Zionist and messianic-religious approaches, and warns against the inversion of the Zionist essence when the sanctification of land outweighs life.
An opinion piece by historian Ofer Idels examines the meaning of Zionism in the current era. Idels argues that Zionism is not just settlement or budget allocation, but the ability of Jews to integrate into the modern world as Jews while maintaining sovereignty. He criticizes both the post-Zionist and messianic-religious approaches, and warns against the inversion of the Zionist essence when the sanctification of land outweighs life. Idels quotes MK Stav Shaffir from 2015, who defined Zionism as equal budget distribution and care for the weak, but questions the basis of her assertion. He refers to the words of Tamir Dortal, who said that forced evacuation in Judea and Samaria would justify resistance even at the cost of harming IDF soldiers, and sees this as a complete inversion of the Zionist essence. The article emphasizes that the great achievement of Zionism is the ability to live a sovereign life without asking permission, and warns that giving this up is a surrender to haters.