What is Zionism?

Talking about Zionism and settler colonialism might sound a bit complicated; however, we'll try to break it down.

Zionism is a movement that started a long time ago. It's all about Jewish people wanting to have their own homeland. Back in the day, before Israel became a country, the British imperialists offered the Zionists different land options. One of these options was a place called "Osen Gishu" in Kenya. But the Zionists didn't go for it.

Types of Colonialism

 There are two types: the first one started in the 15th century when Europeans began colonizing other continents. The second type is called settler colonialism. This is when powerful countries take over lands that belong to indigenous people and force them to leave or submit. They also bring in their own people to settle in those lands. Examples of settler colonialism include North America, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and even Palestine.

The Uganda Plan

Here's an interesting fact: the British actually offered the Zionists a plan to establish a Jewish colony in Uganda, which is now part of Kenya. But the Zionists rejected this plan. If they had accepted it, things might have turned out differently for the Kenyan Maasai people.

Genocide and Violence

Now, let's talk about something serious. Genocide is when a group of people tries to wipe out another group. Kenan Toprak, a turkish writer mentioned in Yani Safak, that if the Zionists had accepted the Uganda Plan, they might have carried out a similar genocide against the Kenyan Maasai people. This is similar to what is happening in Gaza today.

Colonialism Today

Colonialism is not just something from the past. It still happens today. The writer compared what is happening in Palestine to what happened in other parts of the world, like Kenya, India, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, Namibia, South Africa, Algeria, Haiti, and many more. It's like history repeating itself.

Similarities with Apartheid

 The writer says that there are many similarities between the apartheid regime in South Africa and the current situation in Israel. Both involve unfair treatment and discrimination against certain groups of people. 

Source: Turkish press