Ilan Pappe, a Israeli Jewish historian, is one of the best writers on the Palestine-Israel problem.

He explores these key questions:

• Was Palestine an empty land at the time of the Balfour Declaration?
• Were the Jews a people without a land?
• Is there no difference between Zionism and Judaism?
• Is Zionism not a colonial project of occupation?
• Did the Palestinians leave their homeland voluntarily in 1948?
• Was the June 1967 War a war of -no choice-?
• Is Israel the only democracy in the Middle East?
• Were the failed Oslo negotiations of 1992 the PLO’s fault?
• Was it a question of national security to bomb Gaza?
• Is the Two States Solution still achievable?

This book is a great starting point to learning more about Israel. He lays out the history of Israel by exploring the 10 myths that the Israeli state has propagated since the beginning of its existence. It is incredible how much the UK and other Western powers helped Israel dispossess Palestinians of their land right from the beginning. Sadly, until the US stops protecting Israel and supplying it with weapons and money, it will be hard to dismantle this state. I am glad that people are moving towards BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) to move Israel to change. This is what was used against apartheid South Africa.

After reading this, I hope it helps you think about some of your biases and notions of Israel that have probably come from mainstream news. Remember being anti-Israeli oppression doesn’t mean you are against Judaism, no matter what Israel says.

Rating: ★★★★★

Book #44 in my 2022 Reading Challenge