ABSTRACT
The birth of modern Jewish settlement in Palestine and of political Zionism occurred during a period characterized by fierce competition between the Powers in establishing colonial rule in Africa and Asia. In order to realize that dream the Jewish masses would have to be motivated to migrate to Palestine, to establish a national economy, to create new social and cultural patterns, and to revive an ancient language — in short, to build a nation from the very foundations. Even though from the geographical aspect Palestine was accessible to the Jewish immigrant, such was not the case in a juridical and political sense. The historical connection of the Jewish People with the land of Israel has been one of the crucial elements in its survival as a nation. The Jews in exile regarded the Return as the core of the religious and national aspirations, even though they had been cut off from the land for many generations.
