The David McWilliams Podcast Memoirs of an Arab Jew
Jun 19, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Israeli historian Avi Shlaim, author of 'The Memoirs of an Arab Jew', shares his unique perspective as an Iraqi Jew navigating the complexities of identity amidst the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He challenges the dominant Zionist narrative, revealing the historical amnesia surrounding Arab Jews and their rich cultural heritage. Shlaim discusses the impact of colonialism, the Holocaust, and the socio-political dynamics in Israel, ultimately critiquing its transformation from a refuge to a settler-colonial state.
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Ottoman Pluralism vs Colonial Nationalism
- The Ottoman Empire allowed minorities like Jews significant autonomy and pluralism.
- Colonial rulers replaced this order with divisive nationalism, undermining regional stability.
Holocaust Shifted Zionist Focus
- Zionism initially focused on European Jews, marginalizing Arab Jews.
- The Holocaust shifted Zionist policy to include Jews from the Arab world as essential for the Jewish state.
Balfour Declaration's Colonial Impact
- The British Mandate incorporated the Balfour Declaration granting Jews preferential national rights.
- Palestinians, the majority population, were denied self-determination under this mandate.