Zionism is a nationalist movement born in the crucible of European antisemitism and colonial ambition—it is a movement of relentless power, geopolitical manipulation, and a decades-long stranglehold on American democracy.
From its ideological roots in the 19th century to its modern-day dominance over US foreign policy, Zionism has shaped a reality where criticism of Israel is silenced, billions in taxpayer funds flow unconditionally to a militarised state, and a lobby once described as “the most powerful in American history” dictates Congress’s every move. But as Israel’s latest war on Gaza ignites global outrage, the myth of Zionism’s invincibility is unraveling.
From Moses Hess to Chaim Weizmann: The Birth of a Nationalist Project
The seeds of Zionism were planted long before Theodor Herzl’s 1897 Basel Congress. Moses Hess, a German-Jewish philosopher and socialist, laid the groundwork in his 1862 manifesto Rome and Jerusalem, arguing that Jews could never fully assimilate into European society and needed a homeland in Palestine to escape persecution. “The Jewish people…” he wrote, “…will participate in the great historical movement of present-day humanity only when it will have a fatherland of its own” [1].
Hess’s vision fused secular nationalism with a romanticised connection to the biblical Land of Israel, a template later refined by Herzl and executed by Chaim Weizmann. Herzl, an Austro-Hungarian Jewish lawyer, believed that antisemitism could only be tackled if Jews were able to demonstrate that not only are they like the colonial nations, but that they can also serve western interests as an outpost in the Middle East. Herzl had already been rebuffed by the Ottoman Caliph, Sultan Abdul Hamid II for the Zionists’ attempt to purchase Palestine.[2] When it became a British Mandate following Ottoman defeat during the First World War, the Jewish nationalists would have it for free.
Weizmann, a Russian-born chemist turned statesman, became Zionism’s most effective diplomat. His charm and scientific contributions—like developing acetone production for British munitions in World War I—earned him access to Britain’s political elite.
By 1917, he secured the Balfour Declaration with Walter Rothschild, a British pledge to establish a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
Weizmann’s strategy was pragmatic: “Politics is the sense of smell, to predict what can – and what cannot – be achieved.”[3] His vision crystallised in 1948 with Israel’s founding. The outpouring of sympathy following the Holocaust and the influence of Zionists in Europe and US allowed Zionist terrorism to be left unchecked; outfits such as Irgun, Haganah and the Stern Gang often targeted British officials to ensure they faced no political obstacles. In 1946, Irgun bombed the the British Mandatory authorities of Palestine at the King David Hotel bombing, leaving 91 people dead.[4]
The influx of armed Jews to Palestine came at a catastrophic cost: the Nakba (“catastrophe”), the expulsion of over 700,000 Palestinians and the destruction of hundreds of villages. Historian Walter Hixson notes this was “enabled by the ongoing dispossession, repression, and slaughter of Palestinians” [5].
Weizmann’s rhetoric laid bare Zionism’s colonial logic. In 1919, he declared Palestine should become “…as Jewish as England is English or America American,” dismissing the indigenous Arab population as “…rocks of Judea, obstacles that had to be cleared” [6]. This dehumanisation became a recurring theme, justifying policies of displacement and apartheid.
AIPAC: The Unchecked Power Behind the Throne
The ability of Zionist organisations to garner Western support has been truly remarkable. Without a doubt, Zionist lobbies are helped by two factors. Firstly, the Jewish state has often been described as “America’s aircraft carrier in the Middle East”. It was former President Biden himself who declared famously in 1986, “…If there were not an Israel, we’d have to invent one.” [7] Its success in the Six Day War deeply impressed the US and besides, the Americans had one eye on European influence over the Zionist state. What better way to avoid competition than by taking complete custody? Secondly, perpetual conflicts and wars at the behest of Israel feed the US’s insatiable military industrial complex. The Zionist outpost plays an important role in preventing the revival of an Islamic civilisation in the Middle East that would control the most important trade routes, choke points and resources of the world as well as exporting successful culture. The US’ open door policy to the Zionist agenda however, has allowed a level of control from a foreign client state over its patron that simply has never been seen, in arguably any era of human history.
The US’ open door policy to the Zionist agenda however, has allowed a level of control from a foreign client state over its patron that simply has never been seen, in arguably any era of human history.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), founded in 1954, emerged as Zionism’s political enforcer in Washington. With a $77 million annual war chest and billionaire donors, AIPAC rewards loyalty and crushes dissent. In 2024 alone, it spent $100 million targeting progressive lawmakers like Rep. Jamaal Bowman, branding criticism of Israel’s Gaza bombardment as “…antisemitic.”[8] The results are staggering: Israel has received over $150 billion in US aid since 1948, including $3.8 billion annually in military funding—more than any other nation. [9].
AIPAC’s influence transcends dollars. The 2005 AIPAC espionage scandal revealed senior officials receiving classified US intelligence, yet the group’s clout remained unscathed. Meanwhile, AIPAC-aligned groups conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, a tactic Rep. Ilhan Omar condemned as “push[ing] for allegiance to a foreign country”. Its bipartisan façade masks a ruthless machine: in 2024, AIPAC targeted 389 congressional races to ensure “pro-Israel” loyalty.
In the lead up to both his 2016 and 2024 election campaigns, Trump ran on the mantra of “America First”. He lamented America’s involvement in Middle East wars and the strain it had put on the US economy. Since his inauguration, the MAGA and “Groypers” base that formed his most loyal bloc have both grown increasingly disillusioned. Not a day seems to pass without a reference to Israel, anti-semitism and continuing the war against Palestinians as well as igniting a major conflict with Iran. It is suspected that a $100 million donation from Zionist Miriam Adelson has influenced Trump’s rhetoric and actions, ensuring it is business as usual and once again, underlines the power of Israeli lobbying and finances.
AIPAC is, in fact, one of 51 pro-Israeli lobbying groups in the US.[10] Across the Atlantic, groups such as Labour Friends of Israel and Conservative Friends of Israel carry out the same function in the U.K.
Netanyahu’s “Mafia Diplomacy” and the Gaza Bloodbath
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, embodies Zionism’s brazen dominance. His 2015 speech to Congress—orchestrated with Republicans to sabotage Obama’s Iran nuclear deal—marked a turning point in foreign interference [11]. With Donald Trump, Netanyahu’s alliance grew darker. Trump’s gifts—moving the embassy to Jerusalem, recognising settlements—were repaid with a personal gold pager with a screen reading “press with both hands.”[12]
The stranglehold of Zionism over Western media has often been low hanging fruit for conspiracy theorists. The evidence, however, is overwhelming; the one issue the whole spectrum of the mainstream media outlets seem to find common ground with is their “iron-clad” commitment in supporting Israel and parroting the Hasbara talking points.
For Boomers and Millennials, movies like Ben-Hur and Schlinder’s List left deep impressions and helped shape positive opinions about the Zionist movement. For Generation Z and Alpha, it has been the effective use of influencers and social media outlets. Netanyahu of late has used his position to tighten his grip on America’s conservative right, enjoying close relations with Ben Shapiro of the Daily Wire, Dennis Prager, owner of PragerU and Jordan Peterson. But this isn’t just limited to the media.
His July 2024 Capitol Hill spectacle, met with 79 Republican standing ovations, laid bare the GOP’s fealty even as Gaza’s death toll topped 40,000. His genocidal campaign following Hamas’ October 7th, 2023, assault—killing over 32,000 Palestinians, 70% women and children—ignited global condemnation. The US, complicit through vetoed UN cease-fires and rushed arms shipments, now faces blowback: protests dog Israeli-linked corporate speeches, Houthi rebels blockade Red Sea shipping, and Global South nations decry U.S. hypocrisy [13].
However, the decentralisation of news through social media also inadvertently caused the biggest shift in public opinion on the issue of Israel. Algorithm manipulation from Meta and TikTok have been unable to quell the viral and organic spread of images emerging from Palestine. For the first time, people are seeing Zionist crimes and beliefs in real time.
The Unraveling: Zionism’s Global Reckoning
October 7th shattered the myth of Israeli invincibility. Netanyahu’s retaliation—labeled “genocidal” by international courts—has exposed Zionism’s moral bankruptcy. A 2025 Pew poll reveals 53% of Americans now hold unfavourable views of Israel, with 69% of Democrats opposing Netanyahu’s policies [14]. Even stalwarts like Chuck Schumer denounce him as an obstacle to peace, urging new Israeli elections .
The cracks are seismic. Youth-led movements like BDS erode Zionism’s cultural hegemony, while Israel’s apartheid laws alienate Western allies. Household brands like Starbucks and McDonalds have suffered billions of dollars of losses and Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp has stated Netanyahu will be arrested in the Netherlands.[15] “Israel’s days of impunity are numbered…” argues Raed Jarrar of DAWN. “The world sees the truth now”. Resignations from the Biden administration, like Josh Paul and Tariq Habash, underscored the shift. They condemn unconditional aid as a “strategic liability,” noting Israel’s actions fuel regional instability and drain US resources .
Dissent has even reached Hollywood, long considered an impenetrable fortress of Zionism. Interestingly, many of those who spoke out have been Jewish themselves, most famously at the Oscar speech for ‘No Other Land’. IDF soldier Gal Gadot’s appearance as the Wicked Witch in Snow White led to many shunning the movie with the Disney remake set to lose an astonishing $115 million at the box office.[16] While damage control and scapegoating other actors has already begun, there is no doubt — Zionism’s link to the Jewish people has become toxic and untenable.
Conclusion: The End of an Era?
Zionism’s armour, polished by decades of propaganda, is rusting. AIPAC scrambles to crush dissent, but it’s bipartisan façade fractures: 52% of Democrats oppose Gaza funding, and progressive Jews reject Zionism’s conflation with Judaism.[17] Mounting evidence of Israel’s link to the USS Liberty bombing (1967) and alleged ties to JFK’s assassination following declassification — long whispered in conspiracy circles— are becoming mainstream talking points. Yet the core truth endures: Zionism’s grip on America is slipping.
Trump has been forced to violate the First Amendment with his introduction of anti-semitism laws [18] and his deportation of Muhammad Khalil, the Palestinian protester studying at Columbia University, on no other grounds than for protesting against Israel. The use of such direct force to shore support for Israel is unprecedented in American history and points to a difficult future ahead for Zionism.
What started as nationalist endeavour where Zionists wanted to prove their civility and refined values to the western world became a display of the most brazen barbarism and disregard for human life and dignity that the world has ever seen. It is a damning indictment whose effects will not disappear for centuries with or without the existence of the supremacist state. And for the first time, this is fast becoming the majority opinion for the Israeli entities chief donor, the US.
As Hixson warns, AIPAC’s “pervasive influence” ensures no threat to US support—for now [19]. But with global protests, shifting polls, and a generation rejecting apartheid, the question is no longer if Zionism falls, but when.
[1] Zionism’s History Is Also a History of Jewish Anti-Zionism https://jacobin.com/2024/01/shaul-magid-interview-zionism-anti-zionism-judaism-history
[3] A Brief Biography & Quotes https://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Famous-Zionist-Quotes/Story645.html
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_David_Hotel_bombing#:~:text=The%20British%20administrative%20headquarters%20for,Irgun%20during%20the%20Jewish%20insurgency.
[5] Weizmann https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/about/history
[6] Weizmann https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/about/history
[8] Zionism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism
[9] ibid
[11] Golden Pager https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-netanyahu-golden-pager-b2693896.html
[12] Ibid
[13] Zionism’s History Is Also a History of Jewish Anti-Zionism https://jacobin.com/2024/01/shaul-magid-interview-zionism-anti-zionism-judaism-history
[14] Ibid
[17] Zionism’s History Is Also a History of Jewish Anti-Zionism https://jacobin.com/2024/01/shaul-magid-interview-zionism-anti-zionism-judaism-history
[19] Weizmann https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/about/history
