Israel in audio/visual culture: An (non-obvious) introduction
Israel in audio/visual culture: An (non-obvious) introduction

Summary/Abstract: In the last quarter of the 19th century, Zionism emerged as a political and cultural movement, the main goal of which was to realize the everlasting quest of Jews to return to Zion, a quest expressed in Biblical texts and in daily prayers throughout Jewish history. The Zionist movement was inspired by the 19th century European wave of national aspirations and was fueled by disenchantment from the promises of modern emancipation that failed to end anti-Semitic persecutions and pogroms. The waves of Zionist immigrations from late 19th century to the 1930s lay the foundations for the Jewish state, with agricultural and urban settlements like the Kibbutzim, or the “first Hebrew city” Tel Aviv, social and political institutions, defense forces of underground organizations, along with impressive body of original cultural and artistic works that revived the Biblical Hebrew language. Zionist leaders had also engaged in intense diplomatic efforts to achieve international recognition for the quest of Jewish independence in the Land of Israel. In 1920, the League of Nations sanctioned a Jewish homeland in Palestine. In 1947, the United Nations decided on the establishment of a Jewish state, along with an Arab state in Palestine. Whereas the Arabs rejected the UN partition plan, the Zionist leadership declared the creation of Israel in May 1948, a move followed by diplomatic recognition from numerous countries, led by the USA and the USSR. In contrast, the declaration of independence was immediately followed with invasion by the armies of neighboring Arab states, whose stated goal was to destroy the new state and “throw the Jews to the sea.” Against all odds, the Israelis won in their war of independence.

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