Ben Shapiro, the prominent American conservative pundit, delivered a provocative message to a Toronto audience on Sunday: Zionism is not merely about the right to self-determination, but about earning a state through action. Speaking at the World Symposium Against Antizionism, Shapiro argued that Jews have successfully built and defended Israel, making it a reality through hard work and moral responsibility.
Redefining Zionism
Shapiro challenged common misconceptions, stating that Zionism is often misunderstood even by Jews. He emphasized that it is not just a right but a moral imperative backed by deeds. "It turns out that if you want a state, you have to earn it," he said. "You have to show on a moral level that you will become a good and positive state, and most of all, you have to do the work to build the state. You have to be able to defend it yourself. You have to be able to actually create and innovate. Well, Zionism won, the baby was born, and that’s why there is a state of Israel today."
The Moral Call to Action
According to Shapiro, Zionism was "predicated on a moral call to action." He noted that if every ethnic group in the world claimed self-determination, there would be countless new countries. However, Zionism succeeded because Jews took concrete steps to establish a viable state. He defined modern Zionism as the belief that the Jewish state should not be eliminated and that Israel should not be subjected to double standards or threats of destruction. "Anti-Zionism argues the opposite: that Israel should be destroyed, treated unlike any other country, because it is somehow uniquely evil," he added.
Symposium Highlights
Shapiro was the final speaker among nearly 30 at the symposium, which featured a lineup of prominent Zionist activists. The event was produced by Tafsik, a Toronto-based pro-Israel group, and Stop Antizionism. Other speakers included U.S.-based Eve Barlow and Lizzy Savetsky, Montrealer Gad Saad, and non-Jewish allies such as American veteran Nick Matau, Syrian-born Rawan Osman, and UAE-based Loay Alshareef.
Gad Saad on Anti-Zionism as a Virus
Gad Saad, a former Concordia University professor who has announced his move to the United States, described anti-Zionism as "the latest mutated form of a longstanding Jew-hating virus." Drawing an analogy to the immune system, he explained how the hatred mutates over time. Saad is the author of the new book Suicidal Empathy.
Natasha Pein on Ideological Convergence
Canadian academic Natasha Pein, who has a forthcoming book on the history of anti-Zionism, argued that the movement has been propelled by the convergence of progressive Marxist and Islamist ideologies. She said this has been "repackaged through the language of human rights, social justice, and liberation, DEI, and intersectional framework became its delivery system."
Conclusion
The symposium brought together a diverse group of voices to counter anti-Zionism and reaffirm the legitimacy of the Jewish state. Shapiro’s remarks underscored a central theme: Zionism is not a passive entitlement but an active achievement, earned through sacrifice, innovation, and moral clarity.
