The word “Zionist” comes from “Zion”, the term for Jerusalem as well as the Holy Land.
Nothing more, nothing less.
And “Zionism” is a movement of the Jewish people that supports the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in the territory defined as the historic Land of Israel.
Nothing more, nothing less.
And it is central to Judaism.
Yet, the antisemites and Israel haters of the world have co-opted the term “Zionist” to imply something nefarious and racist. And much to my chagrin, they have been rather successful.
(They also successfully twisted the word “palestinian”, which used to also mean something else entirely).
So I can either try to reclaim that title – an uphill battle – or use a new one.
I hereby declare I am an indigenist – I am a supporter of indigenous peoples, especially my own people the Jews, indigenous to the land of Israel.
I encourage my fellow Israel advocates and supporters of Israel to start using this term.
