On October 15, 2025 Nakasone Peace Institute hosted an Open Webinar on "Israel from the Perspective of the History of 'Eastern West Eurasia'" with Tsurumi Taro, Associate Professor, Graduate School, University of Tokyo as the guest speaker. The webinar was moderated by Hirose Yoko, leader of the Russia Study Group and the research project "Intrinsic Examination of East Asian International Issues: The Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait Issues from a Regional Studies Perspective." There was a lively discussion between the panelists and participants.

Moderator

　Hirose Yoko, Senior Fellow, NPI; Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University

Speaker

　Tsurumi Taro, Associate Professor, Graduate School, University of Tokyo

The main points discussed were as follows:

　To understand the historical background of Israel, the geographical concept of the eastern part of West Eurasia is crucial. In this region, the relationship between ethnicity and nation is intricately intertwined. Zionism originated as an awakening of national consciousness among Jewish intellectuals in the Russian Empire and was not simply an escape; rather, it was a movement aimed at restoring dignity and self-respect.
　The history of population movements and forced migration before and after World War I is the background to the founding of Israel and illustrates the complexities of ethnic friction and negotiations. Israel is known as an "ethnic democracy," characterized by Jewish-centric governance and asymmetrical relations with other ethnic groups.
　Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Jewish immigrants significantly contributed to Israel's political shift to the right and led to a more hardline stance on the Palestinian issue. The Jewish concept of nationhood transcends the nation state and has a transnational character that connects Jews worldwide. The history of pogroms and persecution profoundly influenced the formation of Jewish identity and strengthened Jewish national consciousness.
　Israel's diplomatic strategy is based on balancing ethnic interests with pragmatic international relations, while the political and social structures of modern Israel are heavily influenced by the ethnic policies of the Russian Empire era.