The Israeli-Palestine conflicts is a result of nationalism and not of "ancient hate"

TLDR

In "The Banality of Zionism," published in Liberal Currents on January 27, 2025, Nathan Goldwag argues that Zionism should not be viewed as a unique ideological movement but as a typical nationalist project, similar to those that shaped 19th- and 20th-century Europe. By comparing Zionism to other nationalist self-determination movements, Goldwag highlights how it follows common patterns of territorial claims, demographic engineering, and exclusionary politics. The article challenges both Zionist and anti-Zionist narratives by situating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within broader nationalist history, ultimately questioning whether nationalism itself can offer long-term solutions to ethnic and territorial disputes.

Nathan Goldwag presents a historical analysis of Zionism, arguing that it is neither an exceptional case of national liberation nor a uniquely colonialist project. Instead, he places Zionism within the broader framework of nationalist movements that emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries. He draws parallels between Zionism and nationalist movements in Hungary, Serbia, Romania, and Italy, which sought to establish ethnically defined states, often leading to the displacement or marginalization of other populations.
 
Goldwag critiques the common perception that Zionism is distinct from European nationalist projects. He argues that, like other nationalist movements, Zionism was driven by both the desire for self-determination and the necessity of demographic dominance. He points to historical examples where similar nationalist struggles resulted in territorial disputes and mass expulsions, such as the Greek-Turkish population exchange in 1923 and the post-World War II expulsion of Germans from Eastern Europe. In this view, the displacement of Palestinians during the Nakba of 1948 aligns with the broader patterns of nationalism rather than being an unprecedented event.
 
One of the article's key themes is how history is weaponized in nationalist discourse. Goldwag critiques both Zionist and anti-Zionist arguments that rely on historical claims to justify modern political realities. He compares Israeli leaders' use of biblical history to justify sovereignty over the West Bank with similar nationalist claims in Europe, such as Greece's insistence that Macedonia change its name to reflect historical Greek heritage.
 
He contends that nationalist movements frequently use historical narratives as tools for political legitimacy, often at the expense of current realities and the rights of minority populations. Goldwag also critiques the relationship between nationalism and liberal democracy, arguing that the two often exist in tension.
 
While nationalism is based on the idea of self-determination for a particular ethnic group, liberal democracy is supposed to ensure equal rights for all citizens. In Israel, this tension is particularly evident in policies that favor Jewish identity over full political equality for non-Jews. He extends this critique to nationalism in general, arguing that nationalist projects often lead to exclusionary policies, demographic engineering, and ethnic tensions that persist long after statehood is achieved.
 
Throughout the article, Goldwag underscores that Zionism is not a unique moral question but rather part of a recurring historical pattern. By framing Israel-Palestine as a nationalist conflict similar to others that have shaped modern nation-states, he argues that the tools for resolving it must come from the same approaches used in other post-nationalist transitions: compromise, pluralism, and institutional reform.
 

Concluding Reflections

Nathan Goldwag's "The Banality of Zionism" challenges conventional narratives about Israel and Zionism by contextualizing them within broader nationalist history. By drawing comparisons to nationalist movements in Europe, Goldwag reframes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as part of a well-established pattern rather than an exceptional case. His analysis critiques both Zionist and anti-Zionist perspectives that rely on historical claims for legitimacy, highlighting how nationalism often produces exclusionary politics and ethnic tensions. Goldwag suggests that instead of viewing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as uniquely unsolvable, it should be examined through the lens of historical precedents where nationalist conflicts have been addressed through pluralistic and institutional reforms.
 
Source:
Nathan Goldwag, "The Banality of Zionism," Liberal Currents, January 27, 2025.