It’s time to lean into our Zionism, not away from it

This article is part of a debate. It responds to Why Herzog’s visit is a bad idea for Australian Jews by Nomi Kaltmann.

I have great respect for Nomi Kaltmann, so my critique of her concerns about President Herzog’s imminent visit is neither personal nor rancorous—but I believe she is mistaken.
 
My overwhelming conviction is that this is a time to lean into our Zionism, not away from it. A powerful and insidious campaign seeks to stigmatize Zionism and transform it into a dirty word. We must not capitulate or pander to this effort.
 
We should be confident that Zionism is legitimate. It is not settler-colonialism, and it is not racism. Israel is a state with every right to exist—a multicultural, multiethnic democracy based on the rule of law. It sits in the indigenous homeland of the Jewish people, expressing our valid aspiration to return to our land of origin and live in independence, freedom, and safety alongside non-Jewish minority groups who enjoy full rights. The President of the State of Israel has every right to visit Australia without facing threats or harassment. We should not concede this basic point.

Moreover, there is nothing wrong with the President of Israel—the world’s only Jewish state—coming to bring comfort to Australia’s beleaguered Jewish community, particularly in Sydney, where we continue to grieve after a murderous antisemitic attack. The President is not a political figure responsible for the Israeli Government’s policies. He represents the entire nation of Israel, including its non-Jewish citizens, and while he will surely attract protests, that prospect must not become a successful act of intimidation.