Ilan Pappé

My mother is the only member of my maternal family, besides myself, who isn't a zionist. I've been anti-zionist since the first time I read anything about what's happening in Palestine, in the late '90s or early 2000s. It struck me as one of the most obvious cases settler colonialism imaginable, before I even knew what those words meant. In 2024 it feels like you have to be intentionally blind not to see it, but still, I figured I'd read a book so I could learn more about the history of the show more area.

This book was published in 2017, six years before the most blatant genocide since the holocaust. Zionists have weird memories these days: they remember biblical times (which may or may not have even happened), the holocaust, and October 7th; but seemingly nothing in between. The reality is a lot different though, and Pappe does a good job of explaining history while dismantling a few commonly believed myths. He admits in the introduction that it isn't a balanced book, but instead it's “yet another attempt to redress the balance of power on behalf of the colonized, occupied, and oppressed Palestinians,” and I appreciate that.

I'd love to write a long review, complete with a breakdown of each of the chapters, but who has time for that? I'll tell you my favorite myth-busting chapters though: “Palestine was an empty land,” “Zionism is Judaism,” and “the Oslo mythologies.” Of all the books I've read about that area of the world, this one has perhaps given me the most things to hold on to.

I would recommend this book for everyone, but I'm afraid the zionists have completely lost their minds. So many liberal zionists have been ruthless to Trump supporters over the past eight years for their inability to comprehend facts that go against their belief system, for their racism and xenophobia, and for their hate-backed anger. Now they are becoming the same people. If facts in their faces every day don't do anything to get them to be against genocide, then reading a book won't either. show less

I thought when I picked up this book it would take about a week to read. It took most of my summer because I had to put it down for days at a time to come to grips with the subject matter. Beyond the killings, beatings, rapes and cultural destruction of the Palestinian people hard to stomach, but the 'whitewashing' of the facts for so many years is yet another dishonor to the innocent people who suffered during the Nakba. Ilan Pappe has done a masterful job of research with details and show more accounts that have to be told for peace to ever transpire in the Middle East. As we witness this genocide now in 2023-24 in Gaza, nearly all the history that has led up to this point can be traced back to the ethic cleansing and crimes against humanity in Palestine from late 1947 to the early 1950s. show less

a comprehensive and painstaking examination of the history of israel, which was predicated on the eradication of the palestinian peoples and nation. making use of first-hand accounts, archival israeli documents (most of which have been heavily censored), and juxtaposing them with past and existing propaganda, pappe does his part to highlight the cruel and selfish foundation upon which israel exists. major points of blame lie on balfour of britain for claiming ownership on behalf of britain show more and later bestowing palestinian land to an abstract jewish population; the jordanian agreement which prioritized the king's claim to land over indigenous people's right to their land (thus betraying the ummah); the apathy the british troops stationed in palestine had regarding the ongoing nakba for as long as they were stationed there and their lack of retroactive protest upon pulling out of the region; the lack of action on behalf of the surrounding so-called muslim arab nations, which arguably were too weak at the time to intervene but certainly grew enough manpower and influence to step in (to this day, they remain immobile); the american and ussr armament of the israeli military forces, and the continued political support america shields israel with to this day. while there are first-hand palestianian accounts in this book, it mostly rigorously covers each and every systemic atrocity israeli military forces enacted in their seizure of palestinian lands. with detailed accounts of specific propaganda employed, this book dispels the myths israel still uses to justify their supposed ancient connection to the land at the expense of the palestinians who had been peacefully co-existing with other religious and ethnic groups in the region for centuries. while it doesn't comprehensively speak for the palestinian perspective, this book is a robust rebuttal against the israeli narrative used to continue justify ethnic cleansing. show less

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: A renowned Israeli-British historian argues Israel is fracturing, and considers the issues that must be centered for a peaceful future for Palestinians and Jews alike

In this timely book, historian Ilan Pappé argues that with the 2022 election of the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and the subsequent Israeli war on Gaza, political fractures inherent in the Jewish state have expanded show more dangerously—and will potentially lead to Israel's collapse. With the goal of working towards a transition that is as peaceful as possible, Pappé sets out his thoughts about the risks and opportunities emerging from this historical moment.

Eight “mini-revolutions,” he argues, will be necessary for this more hopeful future to emerge, including:

Relocating the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees to the center of the future vision

Establishing a new definition for the Jewish collective in historical Palestine

Finalizing a plan for the future of the Jewish settlements built in the West Bank since 1967, and

Creating a new strategy for a united Palestinian national movement

Pappé concretely envisions a more just future—a democratic decolonized state for both Palestinians and Israelis—and how we might get there.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Ilan Pappé's PALESTINE IN A WORLD ON FIRE (q.v.) contained temperature-taking interviews with many of the world's eminent progressives on the subject of public perception of Palestine. Now there comes via Beacon Press the proposal for a roadmap out of this quagmire.

Considering more West Bank Jewish settlements were approved this week I don't foresee the proposals herein being enacted or taken seriously by Israeli officials.

Considering the state of the world's opinion of Bibi and his gang of thugs, it feels more like we should be preparing for a collapse of the state.

It is a good idea for honest, morally sound people to get their heads around what eminent and practical thinkers propose as the future course of this extremely troubled part of the world. Much disgusting vitriolic hysteria will be spewed as things change, so have the antidote in your head already so as not to add to the chaos that's coming. show less