From the start, political Zionists identified their program with Judaism the religion (despite their secularism, even atheism).

Also from the start, Jews — including the most tradition-bound Jews — vigorously disavowed that identification. They were shamed as self-hating traitors to “their people.” As a consequence, many went silent and eventually acquiesced in the creation of Israel, the self-identified “Jewish state.” Some even converted to Zionism.

So don’t blame non-Jews for being unclear about the relationship between Zionism and Judaism.