Answer
Theodor Herzl, the visionary father of modern political Zionism, was born in Pest, Hungary, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A gifted writer and journalist, Herzl became disillusioned with the prevailing anti-Semitism and lack of Jewish self-determination in Europe. He dedicated his life to establishing a Jewish state where Jews could live freely and securely, paving the way for the creation of the State of Israel.