Antisemitism is an irrational hatred of the Jewish people, for any number of reasons. It is a historic hatred that goes back millennia and is often described as a conspiracy theory, because the beliefs underlying it have no basis in reality. Antisemitism is a form of racism, and an Antisemite holds hostile, prejudicial, or hateful positions regarding the Jewish people.
Israel is a democracy in the same way that Canada, the United States, and Western European countries are democracies. It was established as such on May 14, 1948, when its Declaration of Independence was signed, extending “complete equality of social and political rights to all of its inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion,
When discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is an important distinction to be made between Arab-Israelis and Palestinian Arabs. Arab-Israelis live in Israel and have Israeli citizenship. With this citizenship, they have all the same rights as Jewish Israeli citizens, including the right to vote, run for office, access healthcare, and pursue employment. Today, approximately 2.2 million Arab citizens comprise 21%
For almost the entire history of political Zionism, Jewish leaders have sought peace with their Arab neighbours. This commitment dates to Theodor Herzl’s vision in his 1902 novel “Altneuland,” which depicted Jews and Arabs living together harmoniously in a future Jewish state. Israel’s Declaration of Independence clearly states that Israel will extend a hand to all neighbouring states in the
The October 7 Hamas terrorist assault on southern Israel began at dawn on October 7, 2023. It was the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust and the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history. Hamas terrorists breached the Gaza border fence and infiltrated Israeli territory, attacking more than 20 communities, military bases, and the Nova music festival. They murdered approximately
Aliyah (Hebrew for “ascent”) refers to Jewish immigration to Israel. The term reflects the spiritual significance of returning to the Jewish ancestral homeland and “ascending” to Jerusalem, which sits on a mountainous plateau. Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel has occurred continuously throughout history, even during periods when the vast majority of Jews lived in diaspora. Modern Aliyah is
Diaspora (from Greek meaning “dispersion”) refers to the historical dispersion of Jews outside their ancestral homeland in Israel. The Jewish diaspora began with the Babylonian exile in 586 BCE and expanded following the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE and the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE. Throughout this 2,000-year diaspora, Jewish communities maintained their distinct identity,
Settlements refer to Israeli civilian communities established beyond the 1949 Armistice Lines (the “Green Line”), primarily in the West Bank/Judea and Samaria. The legal status of these communities is complex. Israel maintains that these communities are built on disputed rather than occupied territory since no internationally recognized sovereign state previously controlled these areas. Jordan’s occupation of the West Bank (1948-1967)
UN Security Council Resolution 242, adopted unanimously on November 22, 1967 following the Six-Day War, established the “land for peace” formula that has formed the basis for subsequent peace negotiations between Israel and its neighbors. The resolution deliberately called for Israel to withdraw “from territories occupied in the recent conflict” rather than “from the territories” or “from all territories.” This
The Law of Return is an Israeli law passed in 1950 that gives Jews worldwide the right to immigrate to Israel and gain automatic citizenship. It was later amended in 1970 to extend eligibility to people with one Jewish grandparent and their spouses. This law reflects the core purpose of Israel as a refuge and homeland for the Jewish people
