Guest Post: Can a Non-Jew Be a Zionist? And Can We Talk About It?

Sheri is a retired psychotherapist living in Israel for 38 years. Always interested in politics and international affairs, she now has time to study and write about it to her heart’s satisfaction. She often writes on her own site, Israel Diaries.

A fierce debate has been going on in a corner of Facebook about whether or not non-Jews can call themselves Zionists. Until this moment, I was unaware that there was a problem. But my hackles were raised when a blogger I know was recently lambasted in the comments below his post for referring to himself as a Zionist even though he is not a Jew. I strongly disagree with what he had written in that particular post but it did not, for me, deny him the right to call himself a Zionist.

In fact, last summer I noticed a small number of Christian and Moslem citizens of Israel declaring themselves proud Israeli Zionists and this has been a source of joy for me. Since then that number has been gradually increasing. And we see more and more people from the most unexpected places (Egypt, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority, for example) standing up for Israel, some of them calling themselves Zionists and some simply pro-Israeli. But an alarm has apparently sounded in some quarters, and there are a number of Jews who object strongly: non-Jews, they insist, can call themselves pro-Zionists; they can never be considered Zionists. Only Jews are Zionists.

This discussion was continued on the public Facebook page of Bat-Zion Susskind-Sacks. Some of the protestations against non-Jews calling themselves Zionists were quite shrill.

“It is ours!” or “They need to understand that Zionism is NOT a Universal movement; it is a Jewish movement only.”

Others were undeservedly disparaging:

“I am grateful to all the Pro-Zionists, Christian, Muslim and others who support us. If they insist on being called a Zionist, then they have an agenda. Anyone who is making a career out of something that belongs to Jews only is not a friend.”

We all have to make a living somehow, and I would prefer to have people make a career supporting Jews and Israel rather than the certainly far more numerous sort who are making careers of hating Jews and opposing the existence of the Jewish state. Could it be that the so-called “agenda” of non-Jewish Zionists consists of working in a field about which they feel passionate and knowledgeable enough to have something of value to add to the global hasbara efforts?

Then, of course, there are those for whom supporting Israel is not (yet?) a career but a hobby, something they do in their spare time after work or studies. Also legitimate. And if earning a living is not their agenda in this case, then perhaps the agenda of these non-Jewish Zionists is standing up for their values, being active rather than passively watch the world go by, contributing to society, and preferring to call out the lies and injustices that they see over ignoring them.

When, on one of the related threads, I asked for a definition of Zionism so that I could understand the basis of the so strongly held opposition to non-Jews affixing the term to themselves, I was given many a history or Bible lesson but nary a definition. For me, an agreed upon definition of a term is the necessary starting point for debating an idea based upon that term.

It finally became clear that the objection to non-Jews calling themselves Zionists has nothing to do with the definition of the term, nor with its origin really. Instead, it is connected with the fear that this opens the door to a phenomenon called “replacement” whereby non-Jews appropriate aspects of our Jewish life and culture and make them their own and no longer ours. Linda Olmert provides an example on the thread:

“And now, Christians who love Israel are buying shofarot and talitot, celebrating Jewish holidays and learning Hebrew. While on many levels I find this lovely and endearing, I realize that the gnawing I feel is actually the whisper and echo of replacement.”

Far more insidious is what happened with the pejorative name, Palestine, originally applied to this land by the Romans when there were no Arabs living on it, solely to disaffiliate the Israelites from Israel; and now we see a group of Arabs claim that name for themselves, again with the purposes of seizing the Land of Israel from its historic association with the Jewish People. Were we Jews to “allow” non-Jews to refer to themselves as Zionists, the thinking goes, this could lead in the future to non-Jews wresting Zion out from under our feet and claiming it as their own.

They did not raise this, but we have seen how the word, Zion, has come to have spiritual significance for other religions, such as the Rastafarians, who sing:

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered Zion.”

Is it hard to imagine the word Zion-ism, therefore, being severed from its rightful association with the rights of the Jewish People to sovereignty in Israel, our ancient indigenous homeland?

Personally, I am not so worried about that. Perhaps I should be. But I am not.

In stipulating that non-Jews refer to themselves as pro-Zionist, Susskind-Sacks suggests that this should be a simple enough request:

“If they love us, they will respect our wish to keep the term ‘Zionist’ to us Jews only. . . . Friends, supportive friends respect each other!”

I think that her message gets lost because she is not showing respect herself, however unintentionally, toward both the non-Jews and the Jews who see nothing wrong with the former calling themselves Zionists. Her request comes across as an order, and one that she uniquely has the right to issue; moreover, the impression she gives is that if you do not agree with her then something is wrong with you.

I think fruitful and fascinating discussion would ensue were this issue presented as a question, such as: Could there be a danger in Zion being usurped from its unique connection with Judaism and the Jewish People when non-Jews call themselves Zionists as opposed to pro-Zionists? I can see the likes of Muhammad Zoabi tackling this non-confrontational question with intellectual zeal and emotional honesty. How different this would be than the defensive way he was somewhat forced to respond to the argumentativeness of the demand that he desist from calling himself a Zionist.

56 thoughts on “Guest Post: Can a Non-Jew Be a Zionist? And Can We Talk About It?”

  1. I, myself, initially reacted to the headline of your post as, “of course non-Jews can be Zionists”. Just as men who support women’s rights can be Feminists, non-Jews who support Jewish rights to self-determination in their homeland can be Zionists.
    That said, is that what Zionism means, “supporting”? Or does it mean the struggle of Jews to reclaim their rights, which non-Jews can support and aid, but by definition they cannot do?
    I support the rights of black people in America along with all people in America, but I cannot claim to have experienced their struggles and pain – I stand on the sidelines. Even people more involved than me, but who are not black, cannot claim to be in the fire zone. So, I can understand the desire for a distinction. “But what right do you usurp the badge of honor that we have earned by our blood!?”
    Perhaps, in the direction of the replacement issue, the following post I happened to see yesterday would be illuminating:
    http://www.kveller.com/when-i-converted-to-judaism-i-expected-anti-semitism-but-not-this/

    1. The thing is that I don’t see non-Jewish Zionists claiming to be Jewish nor do I see them claiming that because they support Israel that means that they have a right to Israel. There is confusion in the terminology: Zion means Israel, Zionist does not mean Jew. It is part of Jewish identity, of course.

      And we HAVE had non-Blacks in the USA and S Africa put themselves in the fire zone because they believe in Black human rights. It did not make them Black (except for the likes of Rachel Dolezal). There are non-Jewish Zionists in Israel who put themselves in the fire zone – join the army – and do not claim to be Jewish. They are in the fire zone both against the enemies of Israel and within their own communities.

      1. What you write is true, yes.
        I was talking more about the kinds of people that I presume the original objectors were – comfortable armchair advocates who fetishise Israel but who don’t endure anti-Semitism to do so.
        You are quite correct that there are quite a few non-Jewish people who have indeed risked (and even lost) their lives in defense of Israel, either in the defense forces or from having faced real threats for their “crime” of Israel advocacy (such as Mohammed Zoabi).
        That said, read the article to which I linked. You will see that some Christians do sort-of try to usurp Israel and/or Judaism.

        1. There is no doubt that some Christians try to usurp Judaism (and Israel?). Just like there are some whites who try to usurp Native Peoples’ shamanism and I’m sure there are other examples. How does that reflect on non-Jewish Zionism in general? I am curious if there is a connection.

          1. In general? Maybe not at all. Rather, I’m exploring possible reasons why some Jews may feel very uncomfortable about non-Jews (most likely American Christians) who profess being Zionist, as was mentioned in the original post.
            For myself, I have no strong feelings on the issue, actually. I don’t mind non-Jews calling themselves Zionists at all.

  2. What is Zionism? We can define it at the Jewish national movement, supporting the restablishment of the Jewish homeland in Eretz Yisrael, the land of the Jewish people.

    I think the people worried about this are mixing apples with oranges, as Zionism is inherently a Jewish movement, and there’s no danger they take the Jewishness from it. While it’s true that, for example, many Christian Zionists have taken this term, they use it to support a Jewish state and not a Christian state.

    Also, those buying talitot and shofarot and celebrating Jewish holidays have little to do with Zionism. I mean, Zionism is a national movement and not a religious movement (although it is linked to the Jewish religion).

    I think there’s no problem with non-Jews calling themselves Zionist as long as they don’t try to change the meaning of the term or take the Jewishness from it.

    1. Agreed.

      No one would do that any more than people who supported the Irish and Italian national movements tried to tell the Irish and Italians how they should realize their aspirations.

      Jews should not be afraid of support from their friends as long as it is in support of what Jews themselves want.

      I would add the difference between Zionists and anti-Zionists is this: A Zionist does not claim to tell the Jew what it means to be a Jew. The anti-Zionist on the other hand, presumes to tell the Jew he has no right to decide being a Jew means having a nation-state.

      In a word, there are people who want Jews to have a secure future and other people who seek to deny Jews their humanity.

      And Jews can certainly appreciate the difference between them.

    2. And that is precisely the fear on the part of those who object to non-Jews calling themselves Zionists – that they will take the Jewishness from Zionism. This fear merits discussion, as is happening here now.

      1. The national soul of a people is unique, timeless and unchanging in nature.

        No one else can can transform their national soul save the people who possess it.

  3. I think its relatively simple, replace the word zionism with what zionism really is, “jewish human rights” and now tell me that a non jew cannot call themselves a jewish human rights activist. I myself am a gay human rights activist, but I am not gay, I am a female human rights activist, and I am not female. I am a jewish human rights activist and I am not jewish.

    Zionism has aspects which obviously stem from the spiritual connection to the land, no people stays dedicated to a return to their ancestral lands for two thousand years without that, but it also a cultural thing, a moral thing and an ethical thing because displaced people who had their ancestral lands stolen and their sacred places desecrated, should always be supported by any moral and just human being.

    The return to their ancestral land, and the drive to achieve self determination on that land is called zionism, what that means to me is that anyone who supports the rights of indigenous people is therefore by definition a zionist.

    P.s. I love Batzi, I think she does a lot of wonderful things for Israel and she has always been a great friend of mine, I just happen to disagree with her about this.

    1. Ryan, you exactly express what I feel. I think this whole “non-Jews shouldn’t call themselves Zionists” business is creating divisions where there should be none.

      1. There is a legitimate concern about Zionism being co-opted by others not to the Jewish benefit.

        That said, there is no need for Jews to disparage or resent their friends as long as support coming from them is in good faith.

        There is no need to question personal motives and I would add that is a waste of time.

        A person’s character is revealed through their deeds.

  4. Zionism is Jewish nationalism. I have no problem with American, Australian, Hindu, British, Nationalists. I even like these Nationalist movements because I view them as movements whose best interests coincide with mine.

    I don’t even have a problem with Arab nationalism as long as it does not negate my right as Jew to a Jewish state.

    So maybe those who identify as Zionists are merely Nationalists who see Jewish nationalism as something good or beneficial to them too?

    P.S And no. Nationalism is not Fascism. National Socialism with no freedom of speech and no democracy is Fascism. So don’t even think of accusing me of being Fascist.

    1. Even in the Messianic Age, the existence of the nations is taken for granted.
      Judaism has never taught that every one would become a Jew.

      On the contrary, for instance, according to Isaiah, the nations shall come to Jerusalem and learn from G-d and they shall walk in His light.

      We will still have religions but every people will appreciate there are universal moral and ethical truths, that of course they will integrate and follow them in terms of their own national experience.

      And the Jews in Israel will do the same.

  5. Historically, Zionism was the wish to create a Jewish state in the Biblical Land of Israel. A supporter of this program, Jewish or non-Jewish, was a Zionist. It’s actually odd that we still use the word: we don’t have a word to describe someone who seeks the separation of India and Pakistan, or the creation of an Arab state in Mesopotamia; those times have passed. If it weren’t for anti-Zionism, Zionism itself would cease to be relevant.

    1. Well, the word might have ceased to be relevant, but the principals which underlie it would not have. It would just be called Israeli nationalism instead, perhaps.

    2. I was also thinking of how curious it is that no other group has a separate word to describe their indigenous relationship with their homeland.

  6. Zionism belongs to Jews only. Zionism is to the core Jewish. Only Jews have been longing for Zion. In our Thora and prayer books Zion has an important role.
    However, non-Jews may be friendly towards Zionism and Zionists and may accept it as a peaceful part of Judaism.

    1. Jewish nationhood is something that rightfully belongs to the Jewish people.

      A sincere Zionist no matter what his background might be, accepts that Jews have the right to lead, define and secure their national identity as they see fit.

      Someone not willing to do this cannot by any stretch of the word, call themselves a Zionist.

    2. Firstly the father of Zionism, Herzel, did not particularly read Torah or prayer books. Secondly, the massive migration from the former Soviet Union, especially in the early years (70s and 80s), when Zionism was in fact declared a crime against the state, were highly nationally but not religiously motivated.

    3. What complete and utter rot Alexander Scheiner.
      Only Jews can be Zionists?
      I have dozens of friends who are not Jewish and I am involved in the formal Jewish Community with many other faiths (not Islam) and religions who would be devastated to read you ignorant comments.

        1. Alexander Scheiner if you think my comment is “complete and utter rot and foul language” I would suggest you use a site which isn’t English. It is nothing of the sort.

          Clearly you have rocks for brains if you think I am “an evil anti-Zionist”

          My family were in Palestine before you were a twinkle in your father’s eye.

  7. Sorry, but the sight of Pastor John Hagee, head of Christians United for Israel, avowed Zionist, and Charismatic Rapture nut, wrapped up in a Jewish prayer shawl gives me the creeps. In fact, his ministry will gladly send you one for you to wear yourself in return for a prayerful offering of support of a sufficient monetary size.

    1. I would say I don’t expect Jews and their friends to agree on everything.

      That said, as long as those friends support the Jewish State, they must take care not to patronize Jews or try to change them.

      A genuine Zionist in my view is someone who loves the Jewish people, exactly as they are and their dream for their country.

      I think this is a definition of Zionism every one can agree upon and the last thing on earth every one needs to do is to quarrel.

      At a time when Jews are hated by so many around the world and the Jewish State more than ever, needs the support of every decent person on earth.

    2. And that is here we need to keep the lines clear. I also do not like to see non-Jews take on Jewish religious symbols unless they convert to Judaism. But just because some people overstep the bounds does not mean we suspect all non-Jewish Zionists of not being clear that they are not Jews and that they are not replacing the Jews.

      1. I’m not sure whether rapture theology is a subset of Christian replacement theology. I just know that the rapture doesn’t turn out very well for the Jews living in Israel.

        1. I listen to a local Jewish radio show every morning, and once a week there is a CUFI rep discussing the issues of the day. They are always supportive, and never ever give the slightest hint that they are about proselytizing or converting Jews. I’ve never heard any of them ever mention the “rapture”, or end-times scenarios, or anything of the sort. So, what am I missing about CUFI?

          1. Believers in End Times prophecy have no need to convert Jews to Christ. A great conflagration involving the Jews will set into motion a series of events that will see the return of Jesus to Earth resulting in the Jews converting to Christianity and then being taken into Heaven with the other true believers. Many members of CUFI base their support for Israel on these End Times beliefs, including Pastor Hagee. These people love Jews enough to see to it that they follow a path that will lead to their redemption and salvation in Jesus Christ. It really is a simple as that, Dabney.

            1. Then why do you say the rapture doesn’t turn out well for the Jews living in Israel? If they believe we’ll all end up converting and living happily ever after in heaven, then this is good, no?

              1. I assume the overwhelming majority of Jews living in Israel want to continue to live their lives as Jews rather than being converted to Christianity. If I’m wrong about this assumption, someone please correct me.

                1. LOL, that’s not what I meant. The ‘second coming’ has to actually happen before any conversion takes place. Jews obviously don’t believe that event will ever come to pass, so they can happily live as Jews forever. The real danger with accepting support from CUFI, imo, lies with them eventually getting impatient waiting for the arrival of their messiah, and turning on Israel. I think this is a plausible eventuality.

                  1. I think we mostly agree. It’s the “conflagration” part of the rapture belief system that bothers me and not the other made up stuff that follows. Many, many Evangelicals believe that Jesus will return in their life times and they may not be willing to just sit around and wait for it to happen.

  8. Zionism is the Jewish national liberation movement.

    Any one who supports the right of the Jew to a place among the nations is a Zionist.

    No one takes away from it the right of the Jewish people to decide their own fate and what is best for themselves. No one else can or should – decide that for them.

    In a world filled with anti-Semitic hatred, we need more, not less philosemites. In a word, Zionists who are not Jewish stand behind the Jewish dream of national emancipation.

  9. In a world where claiming to be pro-Israel or Zionist can get one attacked verbally and physically, I sort of feel we have better things to do than debate and bicker as to whether pro-Israel non-Jewish people should identify as Zionist or pro-Zionist. This is only my opinion but I think they should call themselves whatever they like and we should say a big THANKS for the support. Think of the big, melting pot or family that Israel is – many of these ideas of mutual respect, acceptance, unity start in early education. Would you have a discussion about Zionism in primary school point out to the Muslim or Christian or children of mixed parents that they are not Zionist but the Jewish children are?
    Honestly, sometimes we really are our own worst enemies. ehen did we get so precious? And it also makes us sound a bit spoiled. Do you know why this debate wouldn’t take place amongst Jews of the former Soviet Union? Because there weren’t non Jewish people calling themselves Zionist.
    If Zionism is a Jewish national movement, and its core ideal is to uphold Jewish people’s right to live in Israel as a Jewish national homeland, why can’t someone non Jewish supporting this ideal call themselves Zionist? For shame, this is a time for asking forgiveness from each other, not biting each other’s heads off.

  10. Responding here to Fred’s comment above:

    That is an interesting point, Fred. I think this is not included in what is meant by those saying non-Jews cannot be Zionists, yet it merits addition to the discussion: how can Jews/Israelis prevent the Zionist movement being co-opted by non-Jews and what is it about Arab “Palestinians” that allowed their fight to be co-opted? I don’t see this being a danger, and I think what they are more concerned about is having Zion (Israel itself) being co-opted by non-Jews.

    1. I don’t think that can happen unless Jews themselves give up deciding to have a Jewish State.

      Jewish survival today, in contrast to millennia of Jewish powerlessness and dispossession, is uniquely within the capacity of the Jewish people themselves to attain.

      If Israel disappears, it will not be because of its enemies but because the Jewish people lost faith in the Zionist project.

    2. On the other hand, proclaiming Zionism for Jews only, lends validity to Arabs claiming Israel’s independence, the culmination of 2000 years of yearning to return, as their naqba. If you say Zionism is only for Jews, you are telling Israeli non-Jews that they don’t belong here.

      1. Jewish self-determination is only for Jews. In the Jewish State, non-Jewish Israelis have human, cultural and religious rights.

        But they have no right to change the character of the state or to deny the fundamental basis of Jewish self-determination, which is the core of the Zionist vision.

        1. Agreed. But Zionism is also supporting the idea that Israel is the Jewish national homeland. Therefore if a non-Jew lives in Israel and supports that Israel is a Jewish state, or a nation state of the Jewish people, why can’t they call themselves Zionist?

  11. Sometimes it is difficult to explain to non-Jews what Zionism is, it needs some good wording.

    However, it is always very clear what Zionism is NOT: its not racist, its not Apartheid and not a declaration of war against non-Jews and definitely not an occupation
    regime.

    It must be noted, that anti-Semites, people who hate Jews and Israel, use Zionism and Zionist as an insult and anti-Israeli politics. Look what’s going on in the UN and its organizations.

  12. The way I see it is: if you are Jewish, and if you support Israel, there is a good chance you will cop abuse at some point. You may as well learn your history and your heritage so you can be proud, but also so you can learn how to deal with the haters. As a Jew, even if you don’t stand up and support Israel, you will cop abuse.
    So, it takes a very special individual to stand up in support of Jews and in support of Israel and face the barrage of abuse from irrational, ferel, froth at the mouth masses of haters. When you consider that these people are choosing to stand up for what they believe is just, and when you see how they are abused, vilified, their careers and very lives threatened, I can only marvel at the fact that these remarkable people continue to do this. I stand in awe of people like Fred Maroun, Ryan Bellarose, Chloe Valdary, Muhammad Zoabi, Richard Kemp, Douglas Murray, Kasim Hafeez, Orim Shimshon and many many others who are brave, crazy and miraculous to go against the tide like they do. As far as I’m concerned, we owe them much gratitude and anyone Jewish who would criticise semantics of terminology of what these amazing people do, had better done more for Israel advocacy themselves.

  13. Some of the earliest Zionist were non-jews, even Muslims who were ardent Zionists. Many openly supported the creation of the state of Israel. Look around in the Druze community or people like Father Gabriel Nadjaf who are Zionists. Zionists don’t have to be Jews. However I am disturbed by christians blending in tallis and other Jews stuff as mentioned in the article. That goes too far

    One of the most famous Zionists in History was an Arab Muslim, Amos Yarkoni, who started working with the Zionist underground in 1934 and joined the Haganah in 1944. He conviced thousands of Arabs to fight for Israel in 1948 and later became the head of Israel’s counterterrorism special forces.

    1. Wow, I never knew about Amos Yarkoni. I’ve just looked him up and it’s quite a tale. Thanks for mentioning him. Do you know more about how he convinced other Arabs to fight for Israel, and what motivated him?

      1. Don’t know much about him as there isn’t much written on him, but he convinced various Bedouin groups to join by pointing out that they were persecuted by the rest of the Arab world for Generations and that Israel would give them a fresh start. Those same Bedouin clans are the ones who serve in the IDF today and make up the ranks of the Desert Trackers for the IDF

  14. Norman_In_New_York

    I look at this from a historical perspective. It can be argued that the first modern Zionist was President John Adams. In letters to Thomas Jefferson, he anticipated Herzl by 80 years, with the same analysis of Europe’s “Jewish question” and the same proposed solutions.

    In 1948, hundreds of non-Jews volunteered to fight for Israel. A few attained positions of command, such as Captain Ted Gibson, who led a squadron of dive bombers. A few gave their lives, such as Canadian fighter ace Buzz Buerling. One, Charles Winters, spent 18 months in a federal prison for smuggling three B-17’s to Israel. (He was posthumously pardoned by President Bush the Younger.) Are these volunteers Zionists? I am not up to splitting hairs on this, but may their memories be for a blessing.

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