Zionism’s essence drives settler colonization rather than contingent constraints limiting it

Evidence

Zionism’s inherent predilection for colonization—which is to say, its internal constitution as a thought and mental structure that defines its quiddity—means that such considerations as may bar it from undertaking genocide as an event or the implementation of the Transfer Plan are contingent realities, not essential attributes whose potential comes to the fore with fully tangible force once they are removed. Israel, in other words, is not only a nonexception to the modus vivendi of the modern state as constituted by the Distinction, but it represents in effect a paradigmatic exemplar of this state. — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 437

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the Distinction concept and positions Zionism’s quiddity (essential nature) versus contingent constraints.
• XREF: The ‘Distinction’ concept and modus vivendi of the modern state build on Hallaq’s broader argument about the modern state as inherently colonial/exclusionary. — connects to: Zionism is settler-colonial nationalism, not national liberation. — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized:…, 474; Territorial sovereignty over a diaspora required settler colonization. — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized:…, 477; Religious framing obscures settler colonialism and blocks secularization in Zionism — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized:…, 435 (+5 more)