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Ben Lazarus

I am a proud Zionist – whatever others think

Free public domain CC0 photo.
Zionism is Freedom CC License

Despite the noise and the attempt to taint the word, I remain proud to be a Zionist!

I, and anyone who supports Israel in any way publicly, is with increasing frequency being labelled as evil. By a noisy minority (I hope) I am again being accused of traditional antisemitic crimes of old, just as in the bad old days of the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ or the 1930s. Just searching for ‘Zionist’ to find an image for this article brought me upon a mass of anti-Zionist propaganda.

I believe passionately in equality and a message of peace to all – after all we are in my view all G-d’s creations and therefore it especially pains me to see the way we are being painted by those who deny our right to exist.

I know however what I am and I am proud to be a Zionist!

I don’t believe Israel or Israelis are perfect and we have very real issues both internally and externally in which we have a long way to go to be a model nation with model leaders but that is true of many countries and I am nonetheless proud of:

  • living in a country that is a thriving democracy providing equal rights unparalleled in the region to minorities and to all orientations and beliefs
  • the way we have responded to the most brutal terrorist attack in decades, defended ourselves and unified as a Jewish nation with its beloved supporters
  • the way we are defending ourselves with strength, determination and unity whilst showing genuine restraint towards those who brutally attacked us, and overwhelmingly supported the attackers, without warning on the 7th October.
  • the fact that we care so deeply about the lives of our enemies that we will not descend to their level despite the additional risks it means for our soldiers – including my son.
  • the fact that despite the terror and pain caused by my enemy – who I know would readily repeat the 7th October again and again and who educates its youth to hate –I still genuinely want peace with my neighbor.
  • that we recognize that we are far from perfect and that we still have a lot to improve on as a country and as a unified people.

It is so easy to be drowned by the message from much of the world that we are committers of genocide and mass murderers. I believe that most people, and many of those who clamor in this way, know deep down that (1) we did not start or want this war and (2) we are truly reluctant to hurt civilians and (3) know that any surrender to the forces of Iran is the end of the Jewish State. We are being used by those playing a broader game.

So…I say to Zionists out there…we have a lot to be proud of. It is a difficult world right now and although much of the free world and silent majority support us, the voices of antisemites and antizionists the world over are in the limelight and accusing us of all that is bad.

As Churchill said in 1921 “The cause of Zionism is one which carries with it much that is good for the whole world, and not only for the Jewish people; it will bring prosperity and advancement for the Arab population.” In Israel this is undoubtedly true – our enemies know this and can’t accept it.

About the Author
I live in Yad Binyamin having made Aliyah 17 years ago from London. I have an amazing wife and kids including a son in Special Forces and two daughters, one soon to start uni and one in high school. A partner of a global consulting firm and a Parkinson's patient and advocate.
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