The Hundred Years' War on Palestine w/ Rashid Khalidi (pt.1)
Oct 10, 2023
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Frances Hasso guest hosts an extra-long conversation with Rashid Khalidi, discussing the construction of Palestinian identity, British National Archives, complexities of Palestinian history, lack of Arab knowledge, budgets and economic interests in Palestine, and the role of the USSR and Cold War politics.
Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires examining the role of Zionism, imperialism, and external powers rather than viewing it as a primordial struggle between Jews and Arabs.
The book 'The Hundred Years War on Palestine' counters pernicious myths by presenting settler colonialism as central to the conflict, emphasizing the importance of conveying complex arguments through historical episodes and human stories.
Appealing to public opinion and grassroots movements can weaken external forces in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the need to understand the politics and sentiments of different countries and communities rather than relying solely on diplomatic efforts.
Deep dives
Understanding the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
This podcast episode discusses the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with a focus on the role of Zionism, imperialism, and external powers. The speaker emphasizes that the conflict did not exist before the rise of modern political Zionism and British conquest of the Middle East. The episode explores how the conflict is rooted in settler colonialism and argues against the notion of a primordial struggle between Jews and Arabs in Palestine. It highlights the importance of understanding the specific historical events and declarations of war made by external powers, such as the Balfour Declaration, the British Mandate, and the UN partition resolution, in shaping the conflict.
Targeting a general audience and challenging myths
The episode focuses on reaching a general audience and aims to challenge pernicious myths about Palestine. It discusses the author's book, 'The Hundred Years War on Palestine,' which counters these myths by presenting the thesis of settler colonialism as central to understanding the conflict. The speaker explains how the book incorporates personal experiences and family materials to illustrate Palestinian history and appeals to people who may have limited knowledge about the topic. It emphasizes the importance of presenting historical episodes and human stories to convey complex arguments and spark broader discussions on the conflict.
The significance of public opinion and grassroots movements
The episode delves into the role of public opinion and grassroots movements in shaping the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It highlights the need for Palestinians to appeal to public opinion in order to weaken the power of external forces and split the ranks of the enemy. The speaker draws parallels to successful liberation struggles like those in Vietnam and Algeria, where winning over public opinion played a crucial role in achieving victory. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding the politics and sentiments of different countries and communities, rather than relying solely on top-level diplomatic efforts. It also mentions the current shift in public opinion and the growing grassroots change in support of the Palestinians.
Soviet Union's Strategic Interests and Influence in the Middle East
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union strategically supported various Arab countries and the PLO, not out of genuine concern for the Palestinian people, but to balance against the dominance of the United States in the region. The Soviets provided weapons to Arab countries and support to the PLO, although their influence waned in the late 70s and early 80s. After Egypt aligned with the United States, American hegemony became nearly absolute in the Middle East. The fall of the Soviet Union in 1989-1991 marked the end of an era, and the global power dynamics shifted.
The Need for a Unified and Effective Palestinian Strategy
In order to leverage global power dynamics to benefit the Palestinian people, it is essential for them to develop a unified national movement with a clear and effective strategy. Palestinian civil society has carried the struggle through initiatives like BDS, but without a unified movement, their impact remains limited. Powerful countries in the region, such as Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, strategically play global rivalries to their advantage. A unified Palestinian strategy would allow them to navigate these power dynamics more effectively in a changing world order. However, at present, the Palestinian leadership lacks legitimacy and is aligned with American and Israeli interests, while Gaza is dependent on external funders. Achieving independence from these external forces is crucial for the Palestinians to have a chance at playing world powers for their benefit.
*This episode is divided into two parts; the full conversation clocks in at almost two hours! You can listen to the second half by becoming a patron of the podcast $5 level on Patreon.com or you can watch for free on the East is a Podcast YouTube channel*
Friend of the podcast Frances Hasso (@nasawiyya) guest hosts an extra-long conversation with Professor Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. Check out his latest book, The Hundred Years' War on Palestine (2020)
