Religious anti-Zionism explained

While anti-Zionism usually utilizes ethnic and political arguments against the existence or policies of the state of Israel, anti-Zionism has also been expressed within religious contexts which have, at times, colluded and collided with the ethnopolitical arguments over Israel's legitimacy. Outside of the liberal and socialist fields of anti-Zionist currents, the religious (and often ethnoreligious) arguments tend to predominate as the driving ideological power within the incumbent movements and organizations, and usually target the Israeli state's relationship with Judaism.

Within Judaism

See main article: Haredim and Zionism.

From the beginning of the Zionist movement, there were many traditional religious Jews who opposed it due to their opposition to nationalism (Jewish or otherwise) which they regarded as a secular ideology, and because of an inherent suspicion of change. Much of the thought generated by traditional religious anti-Zionism is focused on the Three Oaths, a portion of the Talmud which forbids waging war to establish a Jewish state. Key traditionalist opponents of Zionism included Israel Meir Kagan (Lithuania), Chaim Soloveitchik (Brisk), Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (Chabad), Isaac Breuer, Hillel Zeitlin, Aaron Shmuel Tamares, Elazar Shapiro (Muncatz), and Joel Teitelbaum, all waged ideological religious, as well as political, battles with Zionism each in their own way.[1]

Today, the main Jewish theological opposition to Zionism stems from the Satmar Hasidim, which has more than 150,000 adherents worldwide. Even more strongly opposed to Zionism is the small Haredi Jewish organization known as Neturei Karta,[2] [3] which has less than 5,000 members, almost all of whom live in Israel. According to The Guardian, "[e]ven among Charedi, or ultra-Orthodox circles, the Neturei Karta are regarded as a wild fringe".[4]

In Islam

Muslims have made several arguments to oppose the state of Israel. Importantly, the vast majority of Palestinians (around 93%)[5] follow Islam.

40. ref. gives permission for Muslims to fight those who "drove them from their homes", thus some Muslims believed jihad against Israel was justified due to the 1948 Palestinian expulsions.[6] Likewise Iranian Islamists also cited the expulsion of Palestinians in their opposition to Israel.[7] The founder of Hamas, Ahmad Yassin, said "we are not fighting Jews because they are Jews! We are fighting them because they assaulted us, they killed us, they took our land, our homes."[8] Yusuf al-Qaradawi cited the expulsion of Palestinians.[9] A fatwa from the European Council for Fatwa and Research condemned "Zionists who usurped Palestinian lands and forcibly expelled the Palestinians from their own homes."[10]

After the Oslo Accords, there were debates on the agreement's legitimacy from an Islamic perspective. Abd al-Aziz Ibn Baz, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, supported the accords, while Yusuf al-Qaradawi opposed them. Ibn-Baz argued Islam allowed for both definite and indefinite peace agreements; Muhammad had concluded permanent treaties with several Arab tribes. However, indefinite treaties may only be made if there are in the community's interest, and may be broken when they harm the community's interest; Ibn Baz urged Palestinians to cooperate with Accords to avoid bloodshed. Both Ibn-Baz and Qaradawi agreed that according to y. ref. Muslims should accept peace if the enemy offers it to them. But Qaradawi opined that Israeli actions did not show intention towards peace as Israel continued its occupation and expanded settlements.

Palestinian Muslims and other Muslim groups, as well as the government of Iran (since the 1979 Islamic Revolution), insist that the State of Israel is illegitimate and refuse to refer to it as "Israel", instead using the locution "the Zionist entity" (see Iran–Israel relations). In an interview with Time Magazine in December 2006, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said "Everyone knows that the Zionist regime is a tool in the hands of the United States and British governments".[11]

Some Muslims view the existence of Israel as an intrusion into what sharia law defines as Dar al-Islam, a domain they believe should be ruled by Muslims, reflecting the historical conquest of the Palestine region in the name of Islam.[12] [13]

In Catholicism

Catholic anti-Zionism, the opposition of Catholics to a Jewish state in the Holy Land, grounded in a religious justification for obstructing such an effort, has been the position of the Catholic Church for most of its existence. While the Catholic Church has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 1993, it does not endorse a theological basis for the support of the state.[14] [15] [16] Many Catholics are themselves divided over political support of Israel.[17] [18] [19]

History of the relationship between the Vatican and Zionism

Theodor Herzl, the secular Jewish founder of modern political Zionism, met with Pope Pius X in the Vatican in 1904, arranged by the Austrian Count Berthold Dominik Lippay, to ascertain the Catholic Church's position on Herzl's prospective project for a Jewish state in Palestine. "We cannot prevent Jews from going to Jerusalem—but we can never sanction it," said Pope Pius X. He continued, “If Jerusalem's land was not always hallowed, it has been sanctified by Jesus Christ's life. I cannot tell you otherwise as the leader of the Church. Because the Jews have not recognized our Lord, we cannot recognize the Jewish people."[20] Pope Pius X went on to tell Herzl that the Catholic Church also opposed the acquisition of the "secular lands" of Palestine by the Zionist movement.This laid down some of the key religious components of the Catholic Church’s anti-Zionism which would take on more of a political character as the planning of Jewish state in the Holy Land took place beginning in 1917. The Holy See was a strong opponent of the League of Nation’s plans for a Jewish state based in the Holy Land.[21] [22] The Vatican opposed the concept of Judaism having preponderance in a land which they saw as extremely sacred not only to the Catholic faith but also to the other sects and religions of the world, also stating how it would hurt the native inhabitants if this preponderance was achieved.

During the Second World War the Catholic Church made sure that any effort it took part in to aid the Jewish people threatened by German aggression would not be construed as support for a Jewish homeland in the Holy Land.[23] After the war, under the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, the Catholic Church resisted American pressure to recognize the State of Israel and, according to American historian Frank J. Coppa in his biographical study The Life and Pontificate of Pope Pius XII: Between History and Controversy, stood "in opposition to American policy in the Middle East from the founding of Israel to his death in 1958."[24] Gertrud Luckner irritated many of her fellow Catholics when she stated that neither "theological considerations nor biblical teachings would justify a negative position among Christians toward the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine," with the Vatican itself rejecting this notion.[25]

After the election of Pope John XXIII the Catholic Church moderated its political position in regards to Zionism. At the coronation of Pope John XXIII the Israeli Ambassador Eliahu Sasson was in attendance, and was appointed as 'Special Delegate of the Government of Israel.'[26] In 1993 the Vatican state recognized the State of Israel as a result of the signing of the Oslo Accords.[27] [28]

In 2010, in a synod chaired by Pope Benedict XVI a statement denouncing Israel's control in the West Bank and Golan Heights as an occupation calling for "the necessary legal steps to put an end to the occupation of the different Arab territories", furthermore the synod's statement condemned religious Zionism, "Recourse to theological and biblical positions which use the word of God to wrongly justify injustices is not acceptable".[29] In 2015, the Vatican state recognized Palestine.[30] Furthermore, in 2018, noted Catholic theologian and former pontiff Pope emeritus Benedict XVI stated that "a theologically-understood acquisition of land (in the sense of new political messianism) was unacceptable...a strictly theologically-understood [Jewish] state—a Jewish faith-state that would view itself as the theological and political fulfillment of the promises—is unthinkable within history according to Christian faith and contrary to the Christian understanding of the promises."[31]

In March 2024, Vatican Cardinal Fernando Filoni stated that he had his doubts over whether a two-state solution was still viable, and that an "integrated" one-state solution with full rights for all inhabitants may be a better option.[32]

Notable individuals

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Shaul Magid, “In Search of a Critical Voice in the Jewish Diaspora: Homelessness and Home in Edward Said and Shalom Noah Barzofsky’s Netivot Shalom,” Jewish Social Studies n.s. 12, no. 3 (Spring/Summer 2006), p.196
  2. http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com
  3. Web site: Neturei Karta - Orthodox Jews United Against Zionism . Nkusa.org . 2015-09-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061211111351/http://www.nkusa.org/ . 2006-12-11 .
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/religion/Story/0,2763,846993,00.html In a state over Israel
  5. Web site: Are all Palestinians Muslim? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142345/http://imeu.net/news/article0042.shtml . 13 April 2014 . 16 April 2014 . Institute for Middle East Understanding.
  6. Book: Misquoting Muhammad. 124. Jonathan C. Brown. Oneworld publications.
  7. Web site: What Drives Israel-Iran Hostility? How Might it be Resolved?. 22 March 2023 .
  8. News: Sheik Vows to Continue the Hamas Holy War Against Israel. New York Times. 1997-10-23.
  9. Book: Shaykh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi: Spiritual Mentor of Wasati Salafism. Sagi Polka. 2019. 173.
  10. Book: Routledge Handbook of Political Islam. 247. 2012. Taylor & Francis.
  11. People Who Mattered: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad . https://web.archive.org/web/20070113144234/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570714,00.html . dead . January 13, 2007 . Time . 2006-12-16 . 2010-05-22.
  12. Book: Neusner, Jacob . Comparing religions through law: Judaism and Islam . Sonn . Tamara . 1999 . Routledge . 978-0-415-19486-0 . London ; New York.
  13. Book: Merkley, Paul Charles . Christian attitudes towards the state of Israel . 2001 . McGill-Queen's University Press . 978-0-7735-2188-9 . Montreal ; Ithaca . ocm48487645.
  14. Web site: Vatican-Israel Relations . 2024-03-07 . Council on Foreign Relations . en . Overall, the Vatican’s relationship with Israel is based on international law, not theology....
  15. Web site: SJ . David Neuhaus . 2020-10-27 . People of Israel, Land of Israel, State of Israel . 2024-03-07 . LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA . en-US . ... despite the diplomatic recognition of Israel, Jewish spokespeople have continued to lament the Church’s continued reluctance to affirm the theological significance of the Jewish claim to the land and the existence of the State of Israel..
  16. Web site: Notes on the Correct Way to Present the Jews and Judaism in Preaching and Catechesis in the Roman Catholic Church EWTN . 2024-03-07 . EWTN Global Catholic Television Network . en . Christians are invited to understand this religious attachment [of the Jews to the Land of Israel] which finds its roots in Biblical tradition, without however making their own any particular religious interpretation of this relationship... the existence of the State of Israel and its political options should be envisaged not in a perspective which is in itself religious, but in their reference to the common principles of international law..
  17. Web site: Israel and the World of Catholicism(s) . 2024-03-07 . Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs . en-US.
  18. Web site: SJ . David Neuhaus . 2020-10-27 . People of Israel, Land of Israel, State of Israel . 2024-03-07 . LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA . en-US . ... a debate has been raging about the position of the Catholic Church regarding a state that defines itself as Jewish and sees itself in continuity with ancient Israel in the biblical scriptures....
  19. Web site: Alper . Becka A. . 2022-05-26 . Modest Warming in U.S. Views on Israel and Palestinians . 2024-03-07 . Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project . en-US.
  20. Web site: THEODOR HERZL: Audience with Pope Pius X (1904). 26 January 1904 . Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations. Retrieved on 19 February 2023.
  21. News: . 16 June 1922 . Mandate favors Jews, Vatican says . The New York Times . Manhattan, New York City . 19 October 2023.
  22. News: . 14 June 1921 . Pope criticizes Jews for acts in Palestine; urges appeal to League to define mandate . The New York Times . Manhattan, New York City . 19 October 2023.
  23. News: . 3 July 1999 . Pope Pius XII Opposed Jewish Homeland in Palestine . The Washington Post . Washington D. C. . 19 October 2023.
  24. Book: Coppa, Frank . 2013 . The Life and Pontificate of Pope Pius XII . Washington D. C. . The Catholic University of America Press . 197-198 . 978-0-8132-2016-1.
  25. Book: Coppa, Frank . 2013 . The Life and Pontificate of Pope Pius XII . Washington D. C. . The Catholic University of America Press . 185 . 978-0-8132-2016-1.
  26. News: . 1 April 2014 . An Incomparable Pope – John XXIII and the Jews . Inside the Vatican . Front Royal, Virginia . 19 October 2023.
  27. Web site: Vatican-Israel Relations . 2024-02-13 . Council on Foreign Relations . en.
  28. News: Tharoor . Ishaan . 2021-12-01 . What the Vatican's recognition of the state of Palestine means . 2024-02-13 . Washington Post . en-US . 0190-8286 . The Vatican formally recognized only Israel in 1993, after the signing of the Oslo Accords..
  29. Web site: Hariri hails Catholic bishops' call to end Israeli occupation . The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon.
  30. Web site: 13 May 2015 . Vatican to sign State of Palestine accord . the Guardian.
  31. Web site: "Genuine Brotherhood" without Remorse: A Commentary on Joseph Ratzinger's "Comments on 'De Iudaeis'" . 19 October 2023 . Boston College.
  32. Web site: 2024-03-18 . Vatican cardinal hints at possible rethink on two-state solution in Middle East . 2024-07-17 . Crux . en.
  33. Book: Rowe, Paul . Christians and the Middle East Conflict . Dyck . John . Zimmermann . Jens . 2014-06-20 . Routledge . 978-1-317-80111-5 . en . The Crescent and the Cross are the Marks on My Hands.
  34. Web site: 30Giorni Chronicles from prison (by Father Manuel Musallam) . 2024-07-17 . www.30giorni.it.
  35. Book: Chorherr, Christa . Wessen Heiliges Land? Christen im Israel-Palästina-Konflikt . 2008 . Braumüller . 978-3-7003-1643-5 . Wien.
  36. Book: Casper, Lionel I. . The rape of Palestine and the struggle for Jerusalem . Gefen Publishing House Ltd . 2003 . 978-965-229-297-1 . 189.
  37. Web site: Steve Weizman . 5 February 2009 . Israel impounds Gaza-bound ship . 16 June 2017 . . Associated Press.
  38. Web site: HAWATMEH, NAYEF (ABUL NOUF) (1938-) . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012012932/http://passia.org/personalities/349 . 2023-10-12 . 2023-10-11 . Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs.
  39. News: 22 February 2013 . Leader of Palestinian group injured in Syria bomb . 11 October 2023 . The Seattle Times.
  40. News: Ivanovich . David . 12 September 1984 . Christian Palestinians Share Moslems' Hopes . 19 October 2023 . The Press-Courier . Oxnard-Camarillo-Port Hueneme Area.
  41. News: 8 October 2023 . خلال بيان لها قبل قليل.. كتائب المقاومة الوطنية (قوات الشهيد عمر القاسم) الجناح العسكري للجبهة الديمقراطية . 11 October 2023 . Alhourriah.