“Israel’s Original Sin”, interesting piece by the National Post, Canadian pro-Israel paper. [View All]

But if you look at Zionism from a global perspective, one that acknowledges that Arabs are human beings, then the morality becomes much murkier. Unlike the peoples of Europe, the Palestinians weren't direct participants in the Holocaust. Why should Palestinians lose their land because of crimes committed by Germans, Poles, Ukrainians and other Europeans? It's difficult to look at the founding of Israel, the displacement of the indigenous population and the ongoing occupation, and not conclude that the Palestinians are paying a huge price for other people's sins.

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But in fact, because of its unique security situation, Israel is far from a normal country. Politically, socially and economically, it is hugely militarized (arguably, its recent economic boom has come in part from the new market for arms created by global instability). Like ancient Sparta, the citizen-soldiers of Israel have to constantly be on guard lest the helots revolt. The Arab population, both those who live in Israel as citizens and those under military occupation, are a constant source of worry. Israel's greatest point of pride, its claim to be a democracy, is undermined by the decades old occupation of Palestinian lands, a situation that resembles apartheid-era South Africa.

Moreover, Israel is completely dependent for its survival on the goodwill of the United States, a diminished imperial power. If the United States were ever to turn its back on Israel, as the superpower did to other controversial allies such as South Vietnam and apartheid-era South Africa, the Jewish state would face a friendless world.

Throughout the globe, Israel is losing legitimacy. This can be seen among young Jews in Canada and the United States, who are much colder toward Zionism than their parents and grandparents.