Jewish state

The term "Jewish state" has widely been used as a synonym for Israel since its establishment in 1948. Establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine was the goal of Zionism, a nationalist movement that emerged in Europe in the late 19th century. Theodor Herzl's 1896 book Der Judenstaat ( 'The Jew State' or 'The Jews' State' in German) is often translated into English as The Jewish State. The Zionist Organization used the term 'national home'. The 1917 Balfour Declaration used the phrase "a national home for the Jewish people" in announcing the British government's support. The May 14, 1948 Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel formally declared the country's significance to Jews. Additionally, several Basic Laws of Israel collectively define it as a "Jewish and democratic state" in an official capacity. Israel is home to roughly half of the world's Jews, making it the only country in which Jews comprise more than 2.5% of the total population, and Israeli legislation is accordingly posited as addressing the 71.9% Jewish majority's values and aspirations. The "Jewish" definition of Israel's role and character as a state has generated internal and external debate on the secular–religious status quo (though Israel is not a Halakhic state), the status of Israelis who belong to the non-Jewish minority, and the legal and practical implications of integrating such a definition on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.