The birth of the state of Israel on May 14, 1948, is often understood as the culmination of a political movement that had emerged in the late 19th century. Zionism, as the movement was called, sought to establish a Jewish homeland that would be openly recognised and legally secure. Interestingly, the birth of modern Zionism did not get the support of most Jews across the world at the time. There were practical challenges associated with the concept, apart from the fact that many Jews were uncomfortable with the idea of prioritising Judaism over other forms of cultural identity.

Zionism was one among several other movements among the Jewish community in the 19th and 20th centuries. The reason it survived and went on to be the defining ideology behind the state of Israel is due to the backi

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