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Where did the term ‘Jewish state’ come from? What impact has it had in history?
The concept of "Jewish state" is rooted in historical background, and with the establishment of Israel in modern times, it has gradually become a key term in international politics. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was officially established with the hope of creating a homeland for the Jewish people. The definition of this "Jewish state" was clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence that year and also appeared in the 1947 United Nations partition plan.
"According to Israel's Declaration of Independence, the Jewish State is the State of the Jewish People."
The concept of the Jewish state not only considers it as a symbol of national sovereignty, but also involves the identification of Jewish identity. As different political forces in Israel debate how to define the country, Jewish identity is emphasized both legally and culturally. Since 1948, the Israeli government has passed a number of laws related to Jewish identity and values, which in 2016 showed that about 75% of citizens support the country's Jewish character.
"The nature of the Jewish state has become an important focus in Israel's secular and religious debates."
But in Israel's pluralistic society, balancing the unique character of the Jewish state with the state's responsibilities to all its citizens remains a challenge. Historically, religious law has had a significant impact on the functioning of the Jewish state and the way its people live. In 1896, Theodor Herzl first proposed the idea of a Jewish state in his book The Jewish State, hoping to establish a model similar to that of European countries.
Herzl's ideal did not explicitly mention the "Jewish state", but chose the term "national home". The Biltmore Conference in 1942 clearly stated that "Palestine should become a Jewish federation", which laid the foundation for the future Jewish state. During their 1946 inquiry, the British and American committees realized that the Jewish state's demands went beyond the international legal basis of the time.
"The term Jewish state has been used extensively in the media since the creation of Israel and is used interchangeably with the name Israel."
The issue of the Jewish state has not only been discussed domestically, but has also sparked widespread commentary internationally. For example, US Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have both mentioned it on different occasions. The statement of "Israel as a Jewish state" is taken seriously by the Israeli government and has become a prerequisite for peace talks with the Palestinians.
Although the Palestine Liberation Organization recognized Israel's existence in 1993, Palestinians see Israel's demands for recognition of their Jewish statehood as a new trap that would deprive them of their right to return.
“Israel’s new Basic Law, adopted in 2018, defines it as a state for the Jewish people.”
Israel has no official religion, but the legal definition of Jewishness complicates the relationship between state and religious law. Political interaction between the parties remained largely at the same level as during the British Mandate. However, with influences at home and abroad, debates over the role of Israeli culture and religion frequently arise.
The 1917 Balfour Declaration referred to the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people in Palestine", but the 1922 Churchill White Paper stated that the whole of Palestine would not be transformed into a Jewish national home. This concept of a national home is widely adopted in Israel's national policy and is clearly stated in Israel's Declaration of Independence.
“Israel’s Law of Return states: ‘Every Jew has the right to come to this country as a new immigrant.’”
The domestic debate on the nature of the Jewish state has focused primarily on how to integrate Jewish culture, religious education and law. Secular-religious tensions exist at every level of politics and society. Whether Israel should strengthen its Jewish character or transform into a purely egalitarian civic state remains one of the central questions.
For a Jewish state, opinions are sharply divided within society. Some people advocate strengthening the status of Jewish culture, while others hope that Israel will become a country that accommodates all ethnic groups. The future direction of this debate may affect Israel's internal structure and international status and draw attention to the concept of a Jewish state around the world.
How does the concept of a Jewish state affect current international politics and human rights issues?
