This Zionism debate is defunct on both sides, which both are extremist sides. It is very much like the falling out between Ishamel (Arab peoples) and the people of Isaac (Israelites).
Zionism is a 'political movement', not a religious term.
It is NOT only a political movement for supporting the right of the Jews to establish their ancient homelands in the middle east. It is ALSO being used by orthodox Jews to try and support their beliefs in their religion called Judaism which is derived from the old covenant and law of Moses, and also from traditions of men by the scribes and leaders of Israel that began with their Babylon captivity, traditions which Lord Jesus rebuked.
In 1 Kings 11, when God split old Israel into two separate kingdoms because of what Solomon did, He promised that He would always leave one tribe at Jerusalem for His servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake. This is why there has always been at least a small remnant of the "house of Judah" (Jews) dwelling in the holy land, specifically at Jerusalem/Judea. It is also why they will continue there all the way up to Christ's future return, because of God's promise to them.
So the returning of many of the Jews back to the holy land is not actually because of Zionist doctrine, but by God's Own Hand, per Bible prophecy. How that is accomplished through man's hands is irrelevant. In Jeremiah 24, God reveals His plan to return many of the Jews ("house of Judah") back to the holy land, and not cast them out anymore. He showed His prophet Jeremiah two baskets of figs, one good for Judah, and another basket that had evil figs, to represent another people joined with them (i.e., the "tares", for even the scribes in Israel were foreigners of the Kenite peoples, a people from the land of Canaan).
These two different baskets of figs, one good put for Judah, and the other evil figs put for the "tares", reveals a foreign element that crept in among Judah long, long ago (see Jude 4). It thus means the basket of good figs (Judah) simply represents the Jews of God's people that God Himself 'blinded' away from The Gospel, so The Gospel would go to the Gentiles. It does NOT mean these blinded Jews (good figs) are forgotten by God! Apostle Paul explained this in the latter part of the Romans 11 chapter. When the fullness of the Gentiles comes in (at Christ's future return), that is when their 'blindness' to The Gospel will be removed. Then they will 'see' with spiritual eyes and hear with spiritual ears, and believe on Jesus of Nazareth as The Christ. Until then, like Apostle Paul said, they are enemies for The Gospel's sake.
Thus the two extremist sides of this Zionist argument:
1. The pro-Zionist Jews are stirred mainly by the leaders in orthodox Judaism. Their view is a return to the old covenant doctrine and religion, which must include another Jewish temple built in Jerusalem. A return to the homeland is a first requirement to start this process. By orthodox Jews is meant these still refuse Jesus of Nazareth as The Messiah. They are still waiting for The Messiah prophesied in The Old Testament to come. And these believe He will not come until they have returned to their homeland, set up borders, and prepare to build a new temple when he gets here.
2. Those who believe to the other extreme, like the Historicist, instead believes in 70 A.D. God ended the old covenant worship and temple requirement forever by Lord Jesus' Blood shed upon His cross. That is only partially true though, because He also gave Bible prophecy for the end that the deceived orthodox Jews will be allowed to build another temple and startup old covenant worship again, but under a false-Messiah. In other words, God is going to allow them to do that as a stroke of punishment, that is, upon the good figs (Judah) that actually do love Him. When Jesus is revealed to them, they will bow to Him in shame, and wish for the hills and mountains to fall upon them, because of their deception.
So today, the nation state of Israel, those religious Jews there think they are on the road to final Bible prophecy with Messiah soon to come, and establish His Kingdom there. This is why they are mistakenly quoting many Old Testament verses from the Old Testament prophets about God's Kingdom in final, when that is NOT happening today at all! What is happening there today is that God is simply fulfilling His Promise of 1 Kings 11 that He would always leave one tribe at Jerusalem, and also preparing them for the prophecies in the latter days that only WE CHRISTIANS are familiar with which Lord Jesus and His Apostles foretold us about involving the coming Antichrist/pseudo-Christ.
