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yassirmorsi's review against another edition
4.0
Rose presents a thorough critique of some ideological underpinnings of Zionism, challenging the common narratives that have shaped Israeli claims to political and historical legitimacy over Palestine/Palestinians.
I found Rose's ability to mix historical analysis with political insight done particularly well. He debunks several long-standing myths, such as the portrayal of Palestine as a "land without people" and the idea that Israel was built purely through Jewish self-reliance. Rose reveals how British imperialism and later American geopolitical interests were critical in the establishment and survival of Israel.
One of the most striking parts of the book is how Rose reexamines Jewish-Arab relations, highlighting periods of peaceful coexistence that are often overlooked. His exploration of how Zionism, influenced by European colonialism, disrupted centuries of "symbiosis" between Jews and Arabs. Indeed, Rose discusses how Arabs, at times, collaborated with Zionists, especially in the early phases of Zionist settlement. This cooperation was not limited to a singular narrative of conflict; rather, it highlights the pragmatic and often transactional nature of these relationships
However, Rose’s argument is consistently clear: Zionism is not just about Jewish self-determination; it is also a political project with colonial characteristics.
I found Rose's ability to mix historical analysis with political insight done particularly well. He debunks several long-standing myths, such as the portrayal of Palestine as a "land without people" and the idea that Israel was built purely through Jewish self-reliance. Rose reveals how British imperialism and later American geopolitical interests were critical in the establishment and survival of Israel.
One of the most striking parts of the book is how Rose reexamines Jewish-Arab relations, highlighting periods of peaceful coexistence that are often overlooked. His exploration of how Zionism, influenced by European colonialism, disrupted centuries of "symbiosis" between Jews and Arabs. Indeed, Rose discusses how Arabs, at times, collaborated with Zionists, especially in the early phases of Zionist settlement. This cooperation was not limited to a singular narrative of conflict; rather, it highlights the pragmatic and often transactional nature of these relationships
However, Rose’s argument is consistently clear: Zionism is not just about Jewish self-determination; it is also a political project with colonial characteristics.
smalius's review against another edition
4.0
Simply essential reading for those wishing to make sense of Zionism and its horrendous consequences for the displaced people of Palestine and the status of the international jewry. The Israel-Palestine conflict, so shrouded in propoganda and misinformation, necessarily requires the wide perspective and sagacious research Rose formulates so lucidly.
Shedding light on its manifold contradictions within a framework on imperialist critique, Rose traces the complex history of jews in the middle east and beyond through the lens of dispelling the web of lies underpinning zionist claims.
Having been raised jewish within a zionist community and recieving an education swamped in parroted zionist dogma, I faced a calculated indoctrination into zionist ideology from a young age. The modern jewish education curriculum is absolutely uncompromising in its acceptance of zionism, which assumes a central position of self-evident truth, uncritically taught by teachers and (for the most part) unquestionably absorbed by students. Piling onto this the social stigma that comes with even entertaining anti-zionism as remotely legitimate, a 16 year old me would be shocked to learn that the idea of a jewish state is a distinctly modern invention bound up in imperial geopolitical interests, all but completely divorced from the reality and aims of ancient judaism so often cited as justification for the zionist claim.
As I matured, questioning my education on all fronts, a deep intuition began to emerge. Despite lacking the knowledge why, I suspected that there was something seriously perverse about the modern instatiation of zionism. Inevitably, by progressively engrossing myself in socialist thought, I encountered anti-zionist critiques more and more, and more and more did my image of a noble, victimised Israel start to seriously disintegrate.
By this point I had already resolved that Israel was, and continues to be an oppressive, colonialist enterprise. Though I of course maintain the integrity of this view, it's important for me to recognise my naivety at the time. This was made blatantly obvious to me upon discussing the issue with some zionist family members. Though I held fast to my convictions, the experience revealed to me some glaring gaps in my knowledge of zionism and its history. Uncomfortable though this was, it illuminated my pressing responsibility to investigate further.
The Myths of Zionism constitutes my most determined attempt thus far to educate myself, and my family and community in turn. The jewish community, at least the one I am familiar with, widely perpetuates and justifies a genocidal ethnic cleansing, whether knowingly or not. For them especially, works like these are indespensible resources. Actually convincing them to engage with such alien ideas, leading to the conclusion that the surrender of the zionist project is the only viable solution, is another challenge entirely.
Shedding light on its manifold contradictions within a framework on imperialist critique, Rose traces the complex history of jews in the middle east and beyond through the lens of dispelling the web of lies underpinning zionist claims.
Having been raised jewish within a zionist community and recieving an education swamped in parroted zionist dogma, I faced a calculated indoctrination into zionist ideology from a young age. The modern jewish education curriculum is absolutely uncompromising in its acceptance of zionism, which assumes a central position of self-evident truth, uncritically taught by teachers and (for the most part) unquestionably absorbed by students. Piling onto this the social stigma that comes with even entertaining anti-zionism as remotely legitimate, a 16 year old me would be shocked to learn that the idea of a jewish state is a distinctly modern invention bound up in imperial geopolitical interests, all but completely divorced from the reality and aims of ancient judaism so often cited as justification for the zionist claim.
As I matured, questioning my education on all fronts, a deep intuition began to emerge. Despite lacking the knowledge why, I suspected that there was something seriously perverse about the modern instatiation of zionism. Inevitably, by progressively engrossing myself in socialist thought, I encountered anti-zionist critiques more and more, and more and more did my image of a noble, victimised Israel start to seriously disintegrate.
By this point I had already resolved that Israel was, and continues to be an oppressive, colonialist enterprise. Though I of course maintain the integrity of this view, it's important for me to recognise my naivety at the time. This was made blatantly obvious to me upon discussing the issue with some zionist family members. Though I held fast to my convictions, the experience revealed to me some glaring gaps in my knowledge of zionism and its history. Uncomfortable though this was, it illuminated my pressing responsibility to investigate further.
The Myths of Zionism constitutes my most determined attempt thus far to educate myself, and my family and community in turn. The jewish community, at least the one I am familiar with, widely perpetuates and justifies a genocidal ethnic cleansing, whether knowingly or not. For them especially, works like these are indespensible resources. Actually convincing them to engage with such alien ideas, leading to the conclusion that the surrender of the zionist project is the only viable solution, is another challenge entirely.