Beyond the Holocaust: The Birth of Israel

Beyond the Holocaust: The Birth of Israel and the Dream of Self-Determination

From October 7, 2023, onward, in European propaganda against Israel, I have often heard the statement: “If it weren’t for the Holocaust, Israel wouldn’t exist.” This suggests that the creation of Israel is inextricably linked to the Holocaust. However, as we know, the reality is quite different.

I aim to clarify this point, which I consider fundamental.

The birth of the State of Israel in 1948 is an event often associated exclusively with the tragedy of the Holocaust. However, such an interpretation risks oversimplifying the historical and ideological complexity that led to the creation of the Jewish state. To fully understand the roots of the Zionist project and the forces that supported it, it is necessary to explore the broader historical context of the self-determination of peoples, a phenomenon that shaped the 19th and 20th centuries.

Zionism emerged in the late 19th century as a political and cultural movement, long before World War II. Among its principal advocates was Theodor Herzl, who in 1896 published Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State), a text outlining the vision of a Jewish state as a response to the growing waves of antisemitism in Europe. Herzl and his contemporaries were deeply influenced by the romantic nationalism of the era, a movement that drove various peoples to claim their identities through the creation of nation-states.

Examples of this process can be found throughout Europe. Greece, for instance, gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829 after a long period of cultural awakening and popular uprisings. Germany, unified in 1871 under Otto von Bismarck, represents another emblematic case where nationalism was a tool for unifying a multitude of fragmented states. Similarly, Italy achieved unification in 1861 through the Risorgimento, led by charismatic figures such as Giuseppe Garibaldi and Camillo Benso di Cavour.

Within this European context of self-determination, Zionism stands out for its unique combination of spiritual, cultural, and political aspirations. The movement was not merely a reaction to antisemitism but also an attempt to revitalize Jewish identity through a connection with the land of Israel, considered the heart of Jewish history. Currents such as Ahad Ha’am’s cultural Zionism emphasized the importance of cultural renewal as the foundation for building a state, while political Zionism focused on securing a territory where Jews could exercise sovereignty.

The Holocaust, with its unimaginable horrors, marked a turning point for the Zionist project. It not only highlighted the necessity of a safe haven for the Jewish people but also provided an unprecedented moral and political impetus for the creation of a Jewish state. However, reducing the birth of Israel to a mere reaction to the Holocaust overlooks decades of diplomatic, political, and practical preparation.

Even before World War II, Zionists had established a solid foundation in Palestine, then under British mandate. Agricultural communities like kibbutzim and cities like Tel Aviv demonstrated the Zionist movement’s ability to translate its ideals into reality. The Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which the British government expressed support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, was a critical step in consolidating the Zionist project on the international stage.

The birth of Israel is part of a broader global movement for the self-determination of peoples that characterized the 19th and 20th centuries. This period saw the disintegration of large multinational empires and the formation of new nation-states. In Eastern Europe, for instance, the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires led to the emergence of states like Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. Similarly, in the Middle East, the vacuum left by the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire was filled by new nation-states, often shaped by colonial agreements and international mandates.

In Italy, the Risorgimento represented another example of self-determination, culminating in the country’s unification in 1861. This process combined the desire for cultural unity with the need for political autonomy, a phenomenon parallel to what would animate the Zionist movement.

The creation of the State of Israel is the result of a combination of philosophical ideals, historical experiences, and practical necessities. The Holocaust accelerated this process but was not its sole determining factor. The Zionist dream was already rooted in the history of a people claiming the right to self-determination in their ancestral land.

Israel thus represents a paradigmatic example of how national movements can develop and materialize in response to a multitude of factors, including cultural aspirations, historical experiences, and geopolitical conditions. Its birth is situated within an era of global changes, where ideas of self-determination redefined the boundaries and political identities of the world. The case of Israel is, in every respect, an integral part of this vast mosaic of national aspirations, a unique and significant chapter in the long history of the self-determination of peoples.

(Image generated by me through artificial intelligence)