The Zionist movement, which took its name from “Zion” - the Biblical name for Jerusalem - emerged in the 19th century in Central and Eastern Europe as a national revival and liberation movement. Zionism advocated the return of the Jews from the Diaspora to the Land of Israel, the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland and state there, and the creation of a 'new society' based on humanistic, democratic and Jewish values. It also sought to obtain international legitimacy for the inalienable rights of the Jewish people to self-determination and freedom in its historic homeland.

Between 1882 and 1914, while the area was still under Ottoman rule, approximately 60,000 Jews returned to the Land of Israel in two major waves of immigration.