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A review by buddhafish
On Palestine by Noam Chomsky
3.0
5th book of 2024.
3.5. A mix of essays, Socratic-like dialogues and an adapted Chomsky speech, published post-Operation Protective Edge [1] looking at Palestinian solidarity, the similarities between Israel and the history of South Africa, the dehumanisation of Palestinians which has led to genocide and colonisation, and the support Israel has had from the US and the complacency of Europe. The nature of this compilation means there are several repeated ideas throughout the book in different formats, but I didn’t find it off-putting as it only reinforced them in my memory. A lot of the book seemed to be surrounding the comparisons and differences of Israel and South Africa. Chomsky, especially, makes multiple attacks on the US and their position.
Chomsky says it first, somewhat broadly, that one could replace the word South Africa with Israel throughout history (though he later says there is a big difference between comparing them, after Pappé makes some counterarguments: the white population needed its ‘Black counterpart […] It was its workforce. Israel does not want the Palestinians.’) The beginning of the dialogues go back and forth in that vein as well as discussing the idea that Israel is like a pre-20thC colonising power, and that the idea of a Jewish State is an ‘anomaly’:
Though the introduction claims to have chosen the ‘best’ bits of the talks between Pappé and Chomsky, particularly the ones that caused the most passion and disagreement, I found at almost every point they agreed with each other. A few times, one would say, Yes, but… But on the whole, there wasn’t as much debating as I had anticipated. Both of them are very much on Palestine’s side and lay down the narrative as they see it: that Israel has, for decades, been brainwashing, dehumanising and oppressing Palestine. There is some discussion later in the book about Operation Protective Edge, West Bank and Gaza. They do not speak kindly of Obama or Netanyahu, either.
Overall, an interesting look at some of the main arguments and discussions. I didn’t find it overly detailed or deep, but as a digestible introduction, more than fine. I suppose the primary sources (i.e. their books), would be a better place to research. I do have another book to start soon titled Blaming the Victims, which I am hoping is more detailed and investigative.
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[1] As Operation Protective Edge ended, Israel announced its largest appropriation of West Bank land in thirty years, almost 1,000 acres. Israel Radio reported that the takeover was in response to the killing of the three Jewish teenagers by “Hamas militants.” A Palestinian boy was burned to death in retaliation for the murder, but no Israeli land was handed to Palestinians, nor was there any reaction when an Israeli soldier murdered ten-year-old Khalil Anati on a quiet street in a refugee camp near Hebron on August 10, while the most moral army in the world was smashing Gaza to bits, and then drove away in his jeep as the child bled to death […] To none of this is there any reaction, just as there was no reaction while Israel killed, on average, more than two Palestinian children a week for the past fourteen years. They are unpeople [a], after all.
[a] As coined by Orwell.
3.5. A mix of essays, Socratic-like dialogues and an adapted Chomsky speech, published post-Operation Protective Edge [1] looking at Palestinian solidarity, the similarities between Israel and the history of South Africa, the dehumanisation of Palestinians which has led to genocide and colonisation, and the support Israel has had from the US and the complacency of Europe. The nature of this compilation means there are several repeated ideas throughout the book in different formats, but I didn’t find it off-putting as it only reinforced them in my memory. A lot of the book seemed to be surrounding the comparisons and differences of Israel and South Africa. Chomsky, especially, makes multiple attacks on the US and their position.
Chomsky says it first, somewhat broadly, that one could replace the word South Africa with Israel throughout history (though he later says there is a big difference between comparing them, after Pappé makes some counterarguments: the white population needed its ‘Black counterpart […] It was its workforce. Israel does not want the Palestinians.’) The beginning of the dialogues go back and forth in that vein as well as discussing the idea that Israel is like a pre-20thC colonising power, and that the idea of a Jewish State is an ‘anomaly’:
[NC:] It took a long time for France to become a state. A lot of violence and repression took place. In fact all state formation is a process of extreme violence. That’s why Europe was the most violent place in the world for centuries. Once a state is established, any citizen is a citizen of the state. No matter who you are, if you are a French citizen, you are French. If you live in Israel, and you are an Israeli citizen, you are not a Jew […] Why should we accept this unique anomaly?
Though the introduction claims to have chosen the ‘best’ bits of the talks between Pappé and Chomsky, particularly the ones that caused the most passion and disagreement, I found at almost every point they agreed with each other. A few times, one would say, Yes, but… But on the whole, there wasn’t as much debating as I had anticipated. Both of them are very much on Palestine’s side and lay down the narrative as they see it: that Israel has, for decades, been brainwashing, dehumanising and oppressing Palestine. There is some discussion later in the book about Operation Protective Edge, West Bank and Gaza. They do not speak kindly of Obama or Netanyahu, either.
Overall, an interesting look at some of the main arguments and discussions. I didn’t find it overly detailed or deep, but as a digestible introduction, more than fine. I suppose the primary sources (i.e. their books), would be a better place to research. I do have another book to start soon titled Blaming the Victims, which I am hoping is more detailed and investigative.
__________________
[1] As Operation Protective Edge ended, Israel announced its largest appropriation of West Bank land in thirty years, almost 1,000 acres. Israel Radio reported that the takeover was in response to the killing of the three Jewish teenagers by “Hamas militants.” A Palestinian boy was burned to death in retaliation for the murder, but no Israeli land was handed to Palestinians, nor was there any reaction when an Israeli soldier murdered ten-year-old Khalil Anati on a quiet street in a refugee camp near Hebron on August 10, while the most moral army in the world was smashing Gaza to bits, and then drove away in his jeep as the child bled to death […] To none of this is there any reaction, just as there was no reaction while Israel killed, on average, more than two Palestinian children a week for the past fourteen years. They are unpeople [a], after all.
[a] As coined by Orwell.