Zionism and Liberalism in America

Key Findings:

This article explores the relationship between Zionism and American Leftism. The author attributes the strain between liberalism and Zionism to the drastic shift both have experienced in recent times. It is now near impossible to support Israel in liberal circles because both seem to be irreconcilable. He urges American Jews to fight against this misconception, and advocate for both their Liberal and Zionist values to coexist despite unpopularity.  

There was once a time when support for Israel aligned with attributes of the liberal cause. Some of Israel's biggest supporters have historically hailed from the Democratic party (i.e. Harry Truman and JFK). Support for Israel has also proven to be rockier under the leadership of Republican administrators in the past. 

Ironically, the same attributes that should align Zionism with liberalism, are now weaponized against it. The author advocates for rejecting the left as a monolith, and for differentiation between different views on Israel within liberal spaces in order to find ideological allies. 

Additionally, making space for criticism of Israeli policy is crucial in order for the relationship between liberalism and Zionism to stay afloat. For instance, left-wingers who oppose Israel’s 1948 borders are those who likely reject its existence completely. Conversely, left-wingers who are critical of Israel’s 1967 borders are likely critical of Israeli policy, and inherently have a connection to Zionism.

The author encourages left-wing American Zionists to look towards left-wing Israelis, who are also highly critical of Israeli policy but almost never find themselves amongst anti-Zionist ideology. Zionism has always had a home within the liberal camp, and it is important now more than ever to insist on its legitimacy and prevent a complete ideological divorce.