Zionism usually refers to the rights of Jews to reoccupy the land of Israel. As far as I know, Napoleon was the first to come up with the idea of repatriation of the Jews as a way to solve the European "Jewish problem."
Later, the Austrian Theodore Herzl began to push the idea although he never visited the Holy Land.

Although started before WWII, repatriation of Jews was accelerated following the inexcusable behavior by Germany in the late 30s and early 40s. My understanding is that Jewish Messianism has been replaced by Zionism.

I am often asked about whether we are in the final days. My answer is yes, and it began with the re-establishment of the nation of Israel in 1948. Then I amplify the answer by saying I don't know how long the final epoch will last: 100 years? 200? 500? I don't know. I recommend reading the Letter to Romans, where Paul distinguishes between the children of Abraham and the children of the promise.

Two final points:

There is often an attitude that the problems in the Church are caused by Jews. There are several reasons we have the present problems, but Jews have little to do the situation. The intellectual causes come from the Germans, especially the German Jesuits (cf Rahner et al).

I have grown up with Jews and am from a Protestant family, with a German grandfather. My experience and that of friends who have converted is that Protestant anti-Catholicism is much deeper than most care to realize.