Left-wing Jewish critics of Zionism and Israel

Abstract

This chapter examines the history of left-wing Jewish attitudes to Zionism and Israel, and particularly the increasing prominence in recent decades of vocal Jewish critics of Zionism and Israel. We argue that most of these Jewish critics are not anti-Zionists, but rather Left Zionists or non-Zionists who are critical of specific Israeli policies but nevertheless support Israel’s continued existence as a Jewish state. Only a tiny minority of Jews overall and indeed a small minority of left-wing Jews identify as anti-Zionists who reject Zionism and Israel per se.