The Spokesman-Review · Spokane, Washington · 20 August 1905

CP-1905-001

Jewish Opposition to Zionism

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Transcribed from the clipping

“All was not harmony in the recent Zionist congress at Basle, Switzerland. Naturally a majority of the 764 delegates, more than half of whom came from Russia, favored the project of a Jewish state in Palestine, to which might be gathered the Hebrews of the world.

But in opposition to this romantic and dramatic ideal, more than one strong voice was raised, questioning the practicability and even the possibility of the undertaking.

It is conceded that Zionism is a beautiful dream, but whether it can or should be built into reality is disputed among Jewish leaders in almost every country; and it may well be questioned whether this or any later age will ever see a king in Judah or a state established with Jerusalem its capital.

Especially significant on this subject was the protest uttered at the Basle congress by George W. Ochs, proprietor of the Philadelphia Ledger. As an American Hebrew, Mr. Ochs spoke for men of his race who have found golden opportunity awaiting them in this country and who value American citizenship above anything that Jewish nationality in arid Palestine could offer.

He declared Zionism an obstacle to the Americanization of Hebrews living here, and emphasized the desirability of their being merged into the mass of American population and maintaining loyalty to American institutions… ‘The wail of nationalization, the talk of Zionism are but manifestations of cowardice, and do more harm to the Americanization, not only of the immigrant, but of the native American Jew, than all the edicts of Czar Nicholas… When misguided people go about the country advocating a Jewish state in Palestine or Africa, the deportation thither of all the Jews of the world, where they are to subsist on hot sand and lichen covered rocks, every Jew baiter howls with glee.’

This sounds like common sense. Moreover it speaks volumes for the justice and equality which the Jews have found in America and for the return which they are making in the loyalty of their citizenship.”

Context added by this archive

An editorial in a Spokane paper in 1905, endorsing the anti-Zionist case in its own voice in the last three lines. Palestine appears in it as arid, hot sand and lichen covered rocks, with nobody living there.

Cite this clipping

This clipping is read closely in the section below

• The day anti-Zionism was first compared to antisemitism

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More from the 1900s

• A Rare TreatOttumwa Semi-Weekly Courier · 18 May 1905
• What Do the Zionists Want?The New York Times · 2 December 1905
• Palestine Railways.The Standard Times · 6 February 1906
• JEWS FAVOR PALESTINEThe New York Times · 1 July 1906
• Zionists to Meet in Cooper UnionThe New York Times · 25 March 1903
• JEWISH OPPOSITION TO ZIONISMEast Oregonian · 5 February 1907
• All 24 clippings from the 1900s →

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