Zionism is a Jewish nationalist movement that originated in eastern and central Europe in the latter part of the 19th century. Its goal is the creation and support of a Jewish national state in Palestine, the ancient homeland of the Jews. Zionists believe that Judaism is a nationality as well as a religion, and that Jews deserve their own state in their ancestral homeland, Israel. The movement secured support among Western European governments, particularly after Zionists agreed to create their Jewish state in historic Palestine. The vast majority of Jews around the world feel a connection or kinship with Israel, whether or not they explicitly identify as Zionists, and regardless of their opinions on the policies of the Israeli government. However, not all Jews are Zionists, and not all Zionists agree on what the Israeli government should look like. Arabs and Palestinians generally oppose Zionism, as the explicitly Jewish character of the Israeli state means that Jews have privileges that others don’t. Critics argue that Zionism has functioned like colonialism, pointing to the violent ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Palestinian population and the building of Israeli settlements.