Gaza: Cruel Zionism, Past and Present with Professor Avi Shlaim
Jan 16, 2024
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Professor Avi Shlaim, an expert on Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, untangles historical facts from fiction. Topics include the historical narrative of Israel, Israeli involvement in bombings and false flag operations, the concept of 'cruel Zionism', nationalism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, policy guidelines of the Netanyahu government, the Balfour Declaration, the Palestinian refugee problem, and Israeli policies and settler influence.
The Zionist narrative of pervasive antisemitism in the Arab world is challenged, with emphasis on historical Muslim-Jewish coexistence.
Bombings targeting Jewish communities in Iraq in the 1950s played a significant role in the mass exodus of Iraqi Jews to Israel, potentially orchestrated by Zionist agents.
Israeli false flag operations, such as the LaVon Affair, aimed to create discord between Arab regimes and the West, involving exploitation of local Jews to carry out terrorist acts.
Deep dives
The Historical Context of Palestinian-Jewish Coexistence
Professor Avishai Margalit, an eminent historian, challenges the Zionist narrative that Jews faced pervasive antisemitism in the Arab world. He argues that while there was antisemitism, it was greatly exaggerated and transplanted from Europe. Margalit emphasizes the existence of Muslim-Jewish coexistence and harmony through the ages in places like Iraq. He draws on his personal experiences and family background to highlight the positive relationships between Jews and Muslims. Margalit also discusses the impact of historical events, such as the rise of Arab nationalism and Jewish nationalism, on the deteriorating relationship between Jews and Arabs in Iraq.
The Bombings as a Catalyst for Iraqi Jewish Emigration to Israel
Professor Avishai Margalit delves into the bombings that targeted Jewish communities in Baghdad, Iraq in the early 1950s. He shares his research on this matter, including interviews with individuals involved in the Zionist underground. According to Margalit, the bombings played a significant role in the mass exodus of Iraqi Jews to Israel, as they created panic and fear among the Jewish community. He suggests that some of the bombings were orchestrated by Zionist agents, who aimed to encourage Jewish migration to Israel. Margalit presents evidence, including police reports, supporting the involvement of Israeli intelligence in these bombings.
Israeli False Flag Operations in the Middle East
Professor Avishai Margalit highlights Israeli false flag operations, specifically the LaVon Affair in Cairo in 1954. He explores the motivations behind such operations, emphasizing their aim to create discord between Arab regimes and the West. Margalit also reveals the role of Israeli intelligence in carrying out these operations. The professor refers to these activities as 'cruel Zionism,' as they involve recruiting local Jews and exploiting them to carry out terrorist acts against their own communities in order to encourage Jewish migration to Israel. He cites evidence, including testimonies and secret documents, to support these claims.
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians and Israeli Apartheid
Professor Avishai Margalit sheds light on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly the recent crisis in Gaza. He labels the Israeli state as racist, citing the Jewish Nation State Law and discriminatory policies towards Palestinian citizens. Margalit discusses the historical context of the conflict, including the Balfour Declaration and the denial of Palestinian statehood. He criticizes Western hypocrisy on the issue and the failure to hold Israel accountable for its actions. Margalit also addresses the internal dynamics within Israeli politics, highlighting the influence of right-wing, ultra-nationalist settler groups in shaping policies towards the Palestinians.
Critique of Western Political Stances and the Labour Party's Position
Professor Avishai Margalit exposes the hypocrisy of Western countries, including the US and many European nations, in supporting Israel despite its human rights abuses. He criticizes UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer for his unconditional support of Israel and failure to address the Israeli-Palestinian issue from an international law and human rights perspective. Margalit argues that the current Israeli government, dominated by right-wing settlers, contributes to the escalation of violence and oppression against Palestinians. He emphasizes the need for a more objective and balanced approach in international politics and public discourse surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Today, we are confronting nothing short of a campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians of Gaza, not seen since the Nakba or Catastrophe of 1948. Yet many in the Western world are silent to the suffering. Much of what justifies Israel and its actions in the West is premised on history, and many European and American historians have been ready to present a compelling argument for Zionism and the case for Israel in the heart of the Middle East.
This historical justification, based on persecution and antisemitism, gives the story of Israel a potency that has for many years served to find acceptance in the West – of impunity to act without restraint - that is not offered to any other state. At the same time, the Palestinian story has been undermined by these same historians. They were a Bedouin community, readily able to vacate their land – it is said. Palestinians, according to leading Israeli politicians, is a mythical people.
Today, we are honoured to have Professor Avi Shlaim with us to untangle historical facts from fiction. Avi Shlaim is an eminent historian. He is an Emeritus Professor of International Relations at Oxford University and the author of The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World (2014) and Israel and Palestine: Reappraisals, Revisions, Refutations (2009). Professor Shlaim is a dual Israeli British citizen who lived in the country as a child. His family originated from Iraq and migrated to the newly founded state in 1950.
