Was Zionism founded by Ashkenazic Jews?

Yes, Zionism was primarily founded and driven by Ashkenazic Jews. The Zionist movement emerged in the late 19th century in Europe, where the majority of Jews were Ashkenazic, primarily from Central and Eastern Europe. Theodor Herzl, often considered the father of modern political Zionism, was an Ashkenazic Jew from Austria-Hungary. The movement aimed to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which culminated in the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. While Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews also played roles in the Zionist movement, the early leadership and ideological foundations were predominantly Ashkenazic.