How many bleedin' times, simmo, am I going to have to make the distinction between what is Zionism and not the COUNTRY THAT IS ISRAEL?
Look, try this: if we were discussing Germany in the context of 1939-45, we'd correctly talk about Nazi expansionism, but incorrectly (or lazily) about 'German expansionism', because it was the Nazi party which drove the expansionist ambitions of the German government, military, etc., but not ALL Germans were in favour of the Nazi party or its ethos. (Particularly German Jews, of course.)
It is elements of Zionist expansionism which drive the Israeli Government and its military today, not the 'State of Israel' itself. A country does nothing by itself, does it? It is the FORM of its government at a given time which drives what happens.
Therefore, it is very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very and, once more for emphasis, VERY, important not to confuse Israel, the country (with both its non-Jewish and Jewish non-Zionistic citizens) with Zionism. I would not say 'Israelis are stealing Palestinians' land' because only certain Israelis - those with Zionist beliefs - are doing so. Tarring all Israelis with the same brush is ridiculous, since 'Israeli' includes 'Israeli Arab' as much as 'Israeli Jew'!
Now, if you insist on confusing a country with a radical religio-political stance, then I shall come over and staple your ears to your head. But only for your own good, and in a warm and caring way, of course.
