Wiesenthal Center calls for action by Venezuela

Or how about this... I'm cool with Jews and even TRUE Zionists, it's the pro-Israel Lobby and their fat cat crooks-in-Zionist-clothing that I can't stand.

Well Stickle, let me briefly attempt to answer this the best I can. I am by no means an expert on the topic of Zionism or Israel, but have read my fair share about U.S. political corruption (past and present) and now know when in doubt, follow the money trail.

As discussed by Norman Finkelstein, there seems to be a divide between those who actually believe in the creation of the state of Israel for biblical reasons. It seems that some people honestly believe in this concept, though they vary on how it ought to be accomplished and aren't necessarily inclined to agree with the methods used by the Israel Lobby, preferring a more peaceful stance.

The "false" Zionists I'd argue are those who only claim to be interested in "the Jewish cause" as a means of accomplishing goals related to the state of Israel that have absolutely nothing to do with Judaism, God, or the good of humanity. Their agenda is about money and nurturing the depraved alliance between the current (and last two decades') administrations in the U.S.A. and Israel to gain (and maintain) strategic positioning in the Middle East and combine and expand military operations throughout the region for what basically amounts to the plundering of other nations lacking centralized military capabilities for defense. These people, "false" Zionists as I called them, improperly influence U.S. foreign policy through one of the most powerful lobbyist groups, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). It is said by many that AIPAC caters more to neoconservative and corporate interests than to those of its supposed constituents, the Jewish people (Zionists in particular).

According to GlobalSecurity.org:

Israel produces a wide range of products from ammunition, small arms and artillery pieces to sophisticated electronic systems and the world's most advanced tank.

Having to fight five major wars in its first four decades, Israel built a comprehensive standing army – the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) - and furnished it with an arsenal of highly advanced military hardware. The government, which owns three major defense firms, also encouraged the formation of private companies to equip the IDF. The development of a sophisticated defense industry inevitably led to exports, which today account for a majority of its revenues and allows the country's defense industry to compete against some of the largest companies in the world for foreign contracts, in addition to producing many of the arms needed for Israel's own defense.

What I'm saying is that it's a fraud. These people don't care about the average Jewish person or any religious texts outside of how they might prove beneficial for advancing their agenda. They make money off of war and generate lucrative profits in the Military Industry by creating weapons of war (or of Mass Destruction as some might call them).

There are a lot of good Jewish people in the world just as there are good people all races, ethnicities and creeds. It's sad to see a group of savvy investors, neoconservatives, political theorists and military enthusiasts exploit and manipulate Israeli/Palestinian history and the Jewish populace (particularly in Israel and the U.S.) for the sole purpose of furthering their own financially-driven and power-hungry objectives. It has to nothing to do with and is completely devoid of God, spirituality or any religion, so I don't believe "Zionist" to be the proper term to ascribe to them. Calling them "Neocons" and "Imperialists" seems more fitting.

But then again, I am not Jewish so perhaps my understanding of Zionism is flawed.

Hi Stickle,

A quick check on Wikipedia showed Zionism to be a bit more complicated with lots of different beliefs held and actions taken toward realizing that end. But yes, I understand that's what it is in a nutshell. Zionism of old, as I understood, originated out of the Old Testament and is a prophecy for people of Jewish faith, so I thought "true" Zionism was about a spiritual, biblically-inspired quest. Which is not the same as a money and power-driven quest, right?

Plenty of folks in the "money and power quest" category who align themselves with APAIC aren't even Jewish and I don't believe they have any concern for the biblical quest aside from co-opting it as a means to their own perverted ends. They don't care about Jewish people or anybody else for that matter. They care about money and power. It bothers me when it's equated that with Zionism of old because that doesn't appear accurate. Unless of course Zionism has evolved to take on a whole different meaning in the last 40 years.

Yes, stickle, I know that wikipedia is not a definitive, authoritative source, BUT it's not a bad place for someone to start to get a general idea on the history and separate interpretations of Zionism. There's much to be learned here, but I'm not speaking as a historian or someone who aspires to become one. I'm pointing out a discrepancy that affects us today and has involved my country (the U.S.) in supporting and promoting the agenda of a few elitists parading as Zionists to garner public support.

Thank you for the resource though.

This back and forth seems to ignore my original statements and hasn't elaborated on the differentiation between Zionists and those pretending to push the Zionist cause as a means to reaching their own ideological ends that have absolutely nothing to do with Judaism, Jews or the historical records relating to them.

I'm not making it complex. I have no idea what point you're trying to make here though. There is A LITTLE more to Zionism than simply being Jewish and wanting to establish and maintain an Israeli state. It does go back to biblical prophecy, and therefore shouldn't be ascribed to just any old interest group that seeks control over Israel and the surrounding area. That's it. Moving on...