A War of Words: Defining Terms in the Gaza Conflict
The ongoing conflict in Gaza is not only a military struggle but also a battle over language and meaning. understanding the nuances of key terms - Hebrew, Jew, Zionist, and israel - is crucial for navigating the complex narratives surrounding the war. This breakdown, based on definitions from sources like the Royal spanish Academy (RAE), FundéuRAE, the Anne Frank Museum, and the jewish Virtual Library, aims to clarify these ofen-confused concepts.
Hebrew
The RAE defines “Hebrew” as relating to a person who historically inhabited the region of Canaan, later Palestine, also known as an Israelite or Jew. FundéuRAE notes a common practice of reserving ”Hebrew” for the ethnic and Jewish concept, while using ”Jew” for the religious aspect – a distinction they recommend maintaining. “Hebrew” also refers to the official language of Israel.
jew
The term “Jew” encompasses individuals who practice Judaism, and those who identify as Jewish based on family heritage, history, tradition, and culture, even if they are not actively religious. It’s crucial to recognize that being Jewish is distinct from being Zionist or Israeli. Many Jews live outside of Israel and do not identify as zionists.
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement originating in the late 19th century. As defined by the Spanish Royal Academy (RAE), it initially focused on the formation of a state of Israel and, since its proclamation in 1948, on supporting and defending that state. The anne Frank Museum explains that not all Jews are Zionists, nor are all Zionists religious jews.Zionists “believe in the right to the existence of a Jewish state” and can be religious or non-religious Jews, as well as non-Jews.
The movement was spurred by the rise of antisemitism in Europe, spearheaded by Austro-Hungarian journalist of Jewish origin, Theodore Herzl. Herzl posited that Jews were a nation like any other and therefore deserved a sovereign state as a solution to their plight. The Jewish Virtual Library highlights Herzl’s “revolutionary premise” in this regard.
Initially, various locations were considered, but the majority of Zionists ultimately advocated for establishing this state in Eretz Israel – the Land of Israel, or Canaan – the historical region of Palestine, situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. This region held significance as the Jews’ original homeland, according to the Torah, which recounts God’s promise of the land to Abraham. However, at the beginning of the 19th century, Jewish presence in the region was minimal, with approximately 90% of the Jewish population residing in Europe. The term “Zion” originates from Mount Zion in Jerusalem and later came to represent the city and the territory of Israel as a whole.
As the establishment of Israel in 1948, contemporary Zionism centers on the country’s defense against perceived internal and external threats, seeking international recognition, and encouraging Jewish immigration. A key tenet for many Zionists is the assertion of Jerusalem as Israel’s “indivisible” capital, a point of ongoing contention with Palestine.
Context of Current Conflict
These definitions are notably relevant in the context of the current conflict. In May 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to instantly halt its military offensive in Rafah, Gaza, citing ”the risk of genocide.” This order underscores the sensitivity surrounding the use of these terms and the gravity of the situation in Gaza, where the conflict continues to unfold.
