What led to the increasing push for a Jewish state before in the late 19th/early 20th century?

by cptnkitteh

I know the Holocaust was the catalyst for the creation of Israel, but what caused the growing desire for it before the Holocaust?

PrincessAnika

The push for a Jewish state prior to World War II was mostly a result of general racism across Europe and Russia, and in the case of Russia was a direct result of the pogroms. This was combined with the Zionist claim that the region of Palestine was largely desolate and forgotten, spurring a religious intention to "reclaim the holy land". If you want a more detailed history of the subject, I recommend "Genesis: Truman, the American Jews, and the History of the Arab/Israeli Conflict" by John Judis.