Research Information System
Filistin Arastirmalari Dergisi, vol.2025, no.Special Issue, pp.259-278, 2025 (Scopus)
The Zionist movement emerged as a result of the search for a solution to the exclusionary and anti-Semitic attitude of European Christians towards Jews for centuries. This movement set out with the goal of establishing a state in Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital, where the Jewish nation would live independently. Although Zionism emerged out of the social realities of the 19th century, it based itself on Jewish historical values and traditional beliefs. The narratives in Jewish sacred texts about the religious significance of Jerusalem contributed significantly to the ideology of Zionism. In addition, the belief in the promised land (arz-ı mevud) in Judaism was the motto of the pioneers of Zionism. In line with this motto, they referred to the militarist and diplomatic efforts of Jews made throughout history to return to Jerusalem and build the temple there and presented their own attempt as the last one of these efforts. However, the approach of Jews to Zionism has not been uniform. Some embraced the ideology, while others rejected it. Over time some of them changed their stance, and there were some who did not oppose Zionism but adopted a neutral approach, as well as those who joined the Zionists. However, a considerable number of secular and religious people continue to oppose Zionism. Although Zionism tries to match itself with religious values, the opposing religious people see it as a perversion and heresy. According to anti-Zionist religious Jews, post-Enlightenment European values have been dictated to Judaism in the form of Zionism. Those among Jewish doctrines that conformed to European values were accepted and those that did not were discarded, which resulted as emergence of unreasonably created ideology. According to them, the Zionists also violated the “Three Oaths” in the Talmud, organized mass migrations and established the State of Israel. Due to this approach, anti-Zionist religious Jews did not recognize the State of Israel as legitimate and described it as a “land of rebellion”. Today, religious anti-Zionist Jews are represented in different congregations. Neturei Karta is the most numerous group among them. Some communities have come together under the leadership of the Satmar and formed an umbrella organization called Edah Charedit. There are also a number of smaller congregations.