Zionism

coined in 1890 by Nathan Birnbaum, Zionism was the movement striving to establish a Jewish state in its ancient homeland and it is now the movement to maintain, support, and protect the nation of Israel. Not all Jews are Zionists, nor are all Zionists Jews. (Christian Zionists believe that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land, and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, is in accordance with Biblical prophecy. However, Christian Zionists also commonly believe that to fulfill prophecy, a significant number of Jews will accept Jesus as their Messiah, and that in the last days, such Messianic Jews will practice a Hebraic form of Christianity. Many Christian Zionists believe that the people of Israel remain part of the chosen people of God, which effectively turns Christian Zionists into supporters of Jewish Zionism.) See also anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, occupied territories. See also Israeli.