Downstream: Arab Jews, The Hidden History w/ Avi Shlaim
Jul 22, 2024
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Historian Avi Shlaim discusses Israel's role in Jewish safety, Mossad in Baghdad, and hybrid Arab-Jewish identities. Topics include Islamic texts, Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Mizrahi Jews in Israel, and challenges facing the Jewish diaspora. Shlaim explores the impact of Zionism, Jabotinsky's views, and the complexities of Jewish identity in a nationalistic context.
Israel's establishment shifted Jewish identities, impacting Arab Jews' integration in Arab societies.
Mossad's involvement in influencing Jewish emigration from Arab countries raises questions about Israel's role in displacement.
Deep dives
Impact of the Israeli State on Jewish Identity
Israel and its supporters promote the idea that all Jews are represented by Israel, the ultimate guarantee of Jewish safety. However, conversations with historian Avi Shlaim shed light on how the establishment of Israel changed Jewish identity, particularly of Arab Jews. The once prosperous and well-integrated Jewish communities in Arab countries, like Iraq, faced challenges due to the emergence of Israel. This historical context reveals a shift in perceptions and experiences pre and post the establishment of Israel.
Cultural Integration of Arab Jews in the Middle East
Before Israel's formation in 1948, Arab Jews lived in harmony with their Muslim and Christian neighbors, sharing language, food, music, and culture. Their integration into Arab society was profound, contrasting with the status of Jews in Europe. Arab Jews in regions like Iraq felt like locals, not outsiders, in a diverse and tolerant environment, where religious tolerance was the norm.
The Impact of Zionism and British Support on Arab Jews in Iraq
The aftermath of World War I saw British support for Zionism, leading to the Balfour Declaration in 1917 and subsequent displacement of Arabs in Palestine. In Iraq, Zionist activities and British involvement influenced the upsurge of anti-Jewish sentiment. The establishment of Israel in 1948 intensified tensions, resulting in discriminatory measures against Jewish communities, notably in Iraq.
Role of Mossad in Jewish Immigration from Iraq
The exodus of Iraqi Jews in the early 1950s saw a significant movement to Israel. Evidence suggests Mossad's involvement in influencing Jewish departures through orchestrated events like bombings in Jewish areas. The tactics employed by Mossad, as recounted by witnesses and police reports, indicate a deliberate strategy to encourage Jewish emigration, raising questions about Israel's role in the displacement of Arab Jews.
A foundational principle of the state of Israel is that it keeps Jews safe. This principle has been profoundly challenged in the last nine or so months. But what if Israel never really had the will or capacity to keep all Jews safe and, in fact, has made them less safe? Avi Shlaim is a […]
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