Recent comments by media personality Tucker Carlson have reignited a long-running political argument over Zionism, Israel, and the values of Western civilization. In an appearance on The Shawn Ryan Show on November 25, 2025, Carlson claimed that Zionism “doesn’t acknowledge the human soul,” promotes the idea that one group is “morally superior” to others, and poses a fundamental threat to the West. He went further, calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the “main enemy” of Western civilization.
Those claims are not only inaccurate but directly contradicted by Zionist history, Jewish theology, and Israel’s own founding principles.
What Zionism Actually Is
At its core, Zionism is a national movement. Formally articulated in 1897, it defined its goal as creating “a home for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, secured by law.” Zionism emerged in response to centuries of persecution of Jews in Europe and the Middle East and sought political self-determination, not racial or moral hierarchy.
No Zionist doctrine—secular, religious, or political—has ever taught that Jews are superior to other peoples or that non-Jews lack a soul. Claims to the contrary are absent from Zionist platforms, Israeli law, and Jewish religious sources.
The Jewish View of the Human Soul
Far from denying the existence or value of the human soul, Jewish thought affirms it unequivocally. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, widely regarded as the father of Religious Zionism and the first Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel, repeatedly taught that “the soul of every human being is a light of God” and that the life of every person has immeasurable value. He emphasized that different nations have different spiritual missions, not different moral worth.
This view aligns closely with the Judeo-Christian moral framework often cited as a foundation of Western civilization.
Israel’s Legal and Founding Commitments
Israel’s legal system also undercuts Carlson’s claims. One of Israel’s foundational Basic Laws affirms “the value of the human being, the sanctity of his life, and his being a free person.” Israel’s Declaration of Independence goes further, promising full equality of social and political rights to all inhabitants “irrespective of religion, race or sex.”
These principles are not symbolic. They are routinely cited by Israel’s Supreme Court and embedded in the country’s legal culture.
Netanyahu and the Amalek Controversy
Carlson also alleged that Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel is fighting Palestinians because of how they were “born” or because of “inherent evil.” There is no record of Netanyahu making such a statement.
The claim appears to stem from a speech Netanyahu delivered in October 2023, after the October 7 Hamas massacre, in which he referenced the biblical command to “remember Amalek.” In Jewish tradition, Amalek represents a symbol of genocidal evil, not a biological or ethnic category. Netanyahu’s remarks were explicitly directed at Hamas terrorists responsible for mass murder, not Palestinians or Arabs as a people.
A Double Standard on Moral Superiority?
Critics of Carlson have also pointed out an apparent inconsistency in his argument. While condemning Zionism as a belief system allegedly based on moral superiority, Carlson has publicly defended Islam against similar scrutiny. Yet Islamic scripture explicitly states that Islam is “superior over all other religions” and instructs Muslims to fight Jews and Christians until they submit and are subdued.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with Islamic theology, critics argue that singling out Zionism—while ignoring or excusing explicit supremacy claims elsewhere—raises serious questions about consistency.
“A Light Unto the Nations”
Some detractors cite the biblical phrase describing Israel as “a light unto the nations” as proof of Jewish or Zionist supremacy. Jewish interpretation, however, understands this phrase as a moral responsibility, not a claim of dominance. It means serving as an ethical example, not ruling over others.
The same language has been used by American leaders across the political spectrum. President Donald Trump, for example, has repeatedly described the United States as “a light unto all nations,” emphasizing leadership through values rather than conquest.
The Bigger Picture
Zionism is not a doctrine of supremacy, tribalism, or denial of the human soul. It is a national movement rooted in self-determination and informed by a moral tradition that affirms the dignity of every human being. Israel’s laws, founding documents, and religious influences all reflect commitments that align with—rather than threaten—the core values of Western civilization.
For many pro-Israel conservatives, the controversy highlights a deeper concern: that false accusations against Zionism are increasingly being laundered through the language of “Western values,” even when those accusations contradict historical fact.
As the debate continues, one point remains clear. Claims that Zionism is inherently immoral or anti-Western are not supported by Zionist ideology, Jewish theology, Israeli law, or the historical record.
