The Olympic Games show us that Zionism is not a dirty word
Op-ed by Dr Samuel Lebens in Haaretz:
Zionism is merely a brand of nationalism. It is the nationalism of the Jewish people, conceived of as a nation, just as the Bible brands us, “The Nation of Israel.” As long as our Zionism, like Olympic nationalism, is tempered by other values, it can be a force for the good. But, as soon as Jews forget about their ethical mission, engaging in price-tag attacks on Palestinians in order to keep hold, at all costs, of our land, then our nationalism can devolve into something horrific. If, on the other hand, we hold onto our other values – such as our ethical monotheism – more dearly than our nationalism, and if we recognise the right of other national communities to take pride in their identities, and recognise their desire to rule over their own destinies, just as we demand the right to a secure future for our sovereign state, then it becomes clear that Zionism need not be any more harmful than the pride that Britain is currently experiencing.
Couldn’t agree more.