Editing Zionism (section)

== Non-Jewish support ==

=== Christian support ===
{{Main|Christian Zionism}}
From the beginning of the Zionist movement's development, it was dependent on support from the Christian world.<ref>{{harvnb|Penslar|2023|p=27}}: "The Zionist movement was created by Jews, but from the start it was dependent on support from the Christian world."</ref> The Christian restorationist movement held the belief that the "return" of Jews to Palestine would trigger the second coming of the Messiah, the resurrection of the dead, and ultimately lead to the conversion of the Jews to Christianity.<ref>{{harvnb|Pappé|2004}}: "Zionism in many ways began as a Christian project, as part of a restorationist movement believing that the 'return' of the Jews to Palestine would precipitate the second coming of the Messiah, the resurrection of the dead and eventually the conversion of the Jews to Christianity. These ideas influenced Jews looking for a haven when it was clear that anti-Semitic Europe will not allow them to be assimilated or integrate."</ref> In this sense, Christian ideas of "restoration" were a prerequisite for Zionism.<ref>{{harvnb|Penslar|2023|p=27}}: "Restorationism was therefore a prerequisite for the success of Zionism."</ref>

Christian Zionism is primarily driven by the belief that the return of Jews to the Holy Land will either lead to their conversion to Christianity or their destruction. This belief is criticized by Gershom Gorenberg in his book "The End of Days," where he highlights the troubling aspect of this messianic scenario—the disappearance of Jews. Evangelical figures like Jerry Falwell believe the establishment of Israel is a pivotal event signaling the Second Coming of Christ and the eventual End of the World. As a result, Christian Zionists have significantly contributed politically and financially to Israeli nationalist forces, with the understanding that Israel's role is to facilitate the Second Coming of Christ and the elimination of Judaism.<ref>"The massive support extended to the State of Israel by the millions of Christian supporters of Zionism is overtly motivated by a single consideration: that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land will be a prelude to their acceptance of Christ or, for those who fail to do so, to their physical destruction. In his book, The End of Days, Gershom Gorenberg, a religious Jewish author, deplores the messianic scenario dear to many Christian Zionists, which includes the conversion to Christianity of great numbers of Jews and the destruction of those who refuse. In his view, "the evangelical scenario is a drama in five acts, where the Jews disappear in the fourth" (Cypel).For the evangelical preacher Jerry Falwell, the founding of the State of Israel in 1948 has been the most crucial event in history since the ascension of Jesus to heaven, and "proof that the second coming of Jesus Christ is nigh.... Without a State of Israel in the Holy Land, there cannot be the second coming of Jesus Christ, nor can there be a Last Judgement, nor the End of the World" (Tremblay, 118).These groups have provided massive political and financial assistance to the most resolute nationalist forces in Israeli society. In their view, the principal function of the State of Israel is to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ and to eliminate Judaism and those who profess it. This would explain why Christian Zionists have come to play an increasingly significant role in the financial and political support of the State of Israel." {{harvnb|Rabkin|2006}}</ref>

One of the principal [[Protestantism|Protestant]] teachers who promoted the biblical doctrine that the Jews would return to their national homeland was [[John Nelson Darby]]. His doctrine of [[dispensationalism]] is credited with promoting Zionism, following his 11 lectures on the hopes of the church, the Jew and the [[gentile]] given in Geneva in 1840.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sizer |first=Stephen |title=Christian Zionism: Road-map to Armageddon? |publisher=IVP |date=Dec 2005 |location=Nottingham |page=298 |isbn=978-0-8308-5368-7}}</ref> However, others like [[Charles Spurgeon|C H Spurgeon]],<ref>Sermon preached in June 1864 to the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews</ref> [[Horatius Bonar|both Horatius]]<ref>'The Jew', July 1870, The Quarterly Journal of Prophecy</ref> and [[Andrew Bonar]], [[Robert Murray M'Cheyne|Robert Murray M'Chyene]],<ref>Sermon preached November 17, 1839, after returning from a "Mission of Inquiry into the State of the Jewish People"</ref> and [[J. C. Ryle|J C Ryle]]<ref>Sermon preached June 1864 to London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews</ref> were among a number of prominent proponents of both the importance and significance of a Jewish return, who were not dispensationalist. Pro-Zionist views were embraced by many [[Evangelicalism|evangelicals]] and also affected international foreign policy.

The largest Zionist organisation is [[Christians United for Israel]], which has 10 million members and is led by [[John Hagee]].{{sfn|Rubin|2010}}{{sfn|Savage|2021}}{{sfn|Kornbluh|2022}}

=== Hindu support ===
{{see also|India–Israel relations|Hindu nationalism}}
After Israel's creation in 1948, the [[Indian National Congress]] government opposed Zionism. Some writers have claimed that this was done in order to get more Muslim votes in India (where Muslims numbered over 30 million at the time).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers2/paper131.html |title=India–Israel Relations: The Imperatives for Enhanced Strategic Cooperation&nbsp;– Subhash Kapila |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211233957/http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers2/paper131.html |archive-date=February 11, 2010 |publisher=South Asia Analysis Group |website=southasiaanalysis.org |url-status=usurped |access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref>

In more current times, conservative Indian parties and organizations tend to support Zionism.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://us.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/10sharon11.htm |title=RSS slams Left for opposing Sharon's visit: Rediff.com India News |publisher=Us.rediff.com |date=September 10, 2003 |access-date=June 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617073538/http://us.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/10sharon11.htm |archive-date=June 17, 2010}}</ref> A 2012 international opinion survey found that India was the most pro-Israel country in the world.{{sfn|Eichner|2012}} This has invited attacks on the [[Hindutva]] movement by parts of the Indian left opposed to Zionism, and allegations that Hindus are conspiring with the "[[Jewish Lobby]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ghadar.insaf.net/June2004/MainPages/zionism.htm |title=Ghadar. 2004 |publisher=Ghadar.insaf.net |access-date=June 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421115747/http://ghadar.insaf.net/June2004/MainPages/zionism.htm |archive-date=April 21, 2016}}</ref>