Can someone explain zionism to me?

This is very very wrong. Most Jews identify as Jewish first. As I said before, the country's symbols, holidays, etc all are strictly Jewish. Shit, we even have Jewish religious rulings on a few specific issues. The only exclusion is independence day, which ironically for the Arabs/Palestinians means a very different thing.

No, it's not wrong at all. It doesn't matter what they identify as first. I know British Jews who identify as Jewish first. That doesn't make them not British any more.

How is this in any way accurate? If you want to be French, and you're a citizen, you're French. The national symbolism is historic, not religious. The culture is the one bred in the country, and not by a vagabonding religious/ethnic group.

It's completely accurate. If you want to be French, and you're a citizen, you're French. If you want to be Israeli, and you're a citizen, you're Israeli.

The national symbolism is historic, not religious.

Whether the Israeli national symbolism is religious or not is completely down to interpretation. The Star of David is as much a sign of the Jewish people and culture as it is the religion. The menorah originates from a festival celebrating a lamp burning for 8 days. You could just as easily call this Jewish culture or history as religion. It's simply nomenclature.

The culture is the one bred in the country, and not by a vagabonding religious/ethnic group.

Plenty of Jewish and Israeli culture was developed in Israel. And even if it wasn't, so what? Why can't aspects of the culture come from elsewhere? Especially seeing as it wasn't really the Jews' fault they weren't able to stay in Eretz Israel.

A Muslim in France can choose to be French if he wants to. He can rally behind the symbols, behind the anthem, the flag, etc because they represent him as a French citizen.

A Muslim in Israel can choose to be Israeli if he wants to. There are plenty of Muslims who identify as Israeli. There are plenty of Muslims who wave the Israeli flag. This is not delusional at all - the facts on the ground are just not what you're insinuating. A Muslim may not identify with the Star of David alone, but the flag as a whole represents the country, not just the Jewish people. I agree that the anthem is very Jewish-focused though.

Pretty much all flags have national symbolism referring to the dominant national/ethnic group in the country, and anthems and symbolism often have references to periods of history that minority groups did not have a part in. While you may not like this in the case of Israel, it is very far from unique.

Jewish history commemoration days

This is a problem?? Pretty much all countries have official commemoration days! Whether it's commemorating a historical event, a famous person or a religious occasion, every country has it. Israel is Jewish-majority so naturally holidays will fall around Jewish holidays. I'm on my Easter holiday in the UK right now. If a Muslim or Jew thinks there's something wrong with this country celebrating a holiday that is relevant to the dominant group, they can shut up or go somewhere else. Look at all these Chinese-specific holidays and festivals which are public holidays in China. There is nothing wrong with this. Ethnic minorities hold their own festivals. In Southeast Asia, the majority ethnic group's holidays are official but the substantial Chinese minority are free to celebrate Chinese New Year and whatever else, just like Jewish holidays are official in Israel but Muslims can celebrate what they want.

/r/Israel Thread Parent