Zionism in the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Zionism in the Middle East - Essay Example The essay "Zionism in the Middle East" describes the basis of the political movement Zionism and the position of this movement in today world. Zionism started as a nationalist movement supporting the re-establishment of Jews and is often perceived as an activity dominated by violence. The movement gained acceleration especially after the break-up of the Ottoman Empire and the British Balfour Declaration, which guaranteed a homeland for the Jews in exchange for certain services to the British Empire. The proposed Jewish homeland was authorized and created after the end of World War II, with a precondition that it would not be created at the expense of the majority Arab population of Palestine. The subsequent policies adopted by the United Nations have been severely criticized for its anti-humanistic treatment of the Palestinian Arabs, the large-scale destruction of their houses and property, and several other incidents that clearly violated and disregarded the international law. Post the infamous holocaust, at the hands of the Nazis, the Jews gained widespread support and sympathy and were then forced to flee their homes in Eastern Europe to settle in Palestine, where they remained a minority community. Alarmed by such large-scale influx of foreign residents, the Palestinian Arabs showed resistance in lending their support to these refugees. Soon they were overcome by the power of the Zionist armed forces, which used their powers and arms to â€Å"cleanse† the land of Arabs and create a homeland for themselves.