Ottoman Jewish Opposition to Zionism

The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 brought a new era of parliamentary rule to the Ottoman Empire, inspiring hopes for equality among its minorities. Among the hopeful voices was that of David Fresco, a leading Jewish journalist in Constantinople and strong advocate of Ottomanism. Fresco promoted a shared Ottoman citizenship that transcended ethnic and religious lines and urged Jews to assimilate culturally and linguistically. In 1909, Fresco published articles in the Ladino press (later translated into French) denouncing Zionism and Jewish settlement in Palestine as threats to Ottoman unity. His position sparked fierce backlash, revealing deepening divisions within Ottoman Jewry.