Zionist Colonialism in Palestine

Palestine Monographs #1

by Fayez Sayegh

Zionist Colonialism in Palestine traces the historical roots of the Zionist movement and the uprooting of the ancient Palestinian Arab people from their ancestral homeland. In their hopes of establishing a “national home” for the Jewish people, long persecuted in Europe and integrated into various nations oppressing them, Zionism emerged out of the thinking of Theodor Herzl, who declared the necessity for establishing a Jewish nation to end their plight. This manifested in what was called “Eretz Israel,” the lands of Palestine, laying Jewish claims on such populated cities as Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and Bethlehem. The Zionists’ enemy was not the vile anti-Jewish pogrom-mongers, but assimilationists who thought Judaism was a religion and not a nation. In other words, they were self-segregationists. Initially, this movement had little success in drawing settlers from Europe, and Herzl himself declared the Palestinians to be welcoming of the few who took the journey. However, the international situation changed after the First World War when Britain established its rule over Palestine and saw in Zionism a fortuitous prospect to extend their colonial possessions. The Balfour Declaration decreed such a Jewish homeland in Palestine and therein the Jewish population grew twelvefold in the inter-war period. After the world anti-fascist war, and with Britain losing its grip on all their colonies, Zionism needed a new, more reliable master — and found it in U.S. imperialism. The violent establishment of the state of Israel in the postwar period, the barbaric dispossession and expulsion of Palestinians from their lands, found its expression in the 1948 Nakba. In the 75 years since that event, the supremacy which the Zionists established over Palestinian lands has been based on the same racist basis of old European colonialism, except even more base, because in their eyes Palestinians are not even “useful” — they are only to be evicted and wiped from their land to fulfil a fantastical Zionist prophecy about a “chosen people” and a “chosen land” that could only have been chosen by racist prejudicial thinking.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Middle East, Theory, Race, 20th Century

78 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Fayez Sayegh is a Syrian-Palestinian academic and diplomat, mission envoy Kuwait to the UN in the mid-1970s.
In his youth, Sayegh was an important member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, but later left after disagreements with party founder, Antoun Saadeh.
He then completed a PhD in Existential Philosophy from Georgetown University, United States, before then held several academics and diplomatic positions, mainly in the US.

Reviews

[Zach Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palestine, you have my unwavering solidarity.

This is probably the most succinct and accessible introduction to zionist colonialism and the urgency with which we should treat the cause of Palestinian liberation (by any means necessary). Written in 1965, we can only add on to this with our own knowledge of the 1967 war, the numerous invasions of Lebanon (1978, 1982, and 2006 for starters), the massacres in Gaza (Cast Lead in 2009, Pillar of Defense in 2012, and Protective Edge in 2014), the suppression of the Great March of Return (2018), and the quotidian violences of dispossession, ethnic cleansing, military occupation, and apartheid.

The way that Fayez Sayegh lays out the ideological foundation of Zionism from its inception and how that materialized throughout the 1890s all the way through the Nakba is incredibly useful, and something we all need to study carefully.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction about what led to current day Palestinian conflict. It’s short, but informative. This gave me context and history of the systematic oppression of the Palestinians, and stressed the importance of why occupied Palestine (Israel) should be given back to its rightful people.

It can be read for free here: https://www.freedomarchives.org/Docum...

Please take the time to educate yourselves on this important topic.

[mUdd · Rating 5 out of 5]

FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

not to use buzzwords, but this essay is a must-read for anyone who wants to clearly see why the zionist settler colonial state of israel is the way it is. and how palestinians have been resisting it since its conception.

apart from its vital link with imperialism and its inescapable status as a total stranger to the middle east, in the heart of which it has chosen to plant itself, the political embodiment of zionist colonialism (namely, the zionist settler-state of israel) is characterised chiefly by three features: 1) its racial complexion and racist conduct pattern; 2) its addiction to violence, and 3) its expansionist stance.

[Sleepless Dreamer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let’s set the scene. It’s 1965. There are no Israelis anywhere in the West Bank, Gaza or East Jerusalem. All Jews were ethnically cleansed from those areas. No military occupation, no blockade, no wall. Israel will give equal citizenship to all Arab/Palestinian citizens in two years. The UN partition plan was denied by the Palestinians 18 years ago. Israel declared independence in 17 years ago. In two years, Israel will win a defensive war against Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon in six days, triple its size and promptly spend 54 years (and counting) trying to figure out what to do with (some of) that land.

Sayegh published this book in the good old days before the power imbalance, back when the Arab-Israeli conflict overshadowed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

So I was excited to read this book because it’s so old. I was hoping to gain insight to Palestinian perspectives in the past. Sayegh writes from Lebanon during the establishment of the PLO. This is, of course, before the PLO signed agreements with Israel, before the PLO committed a series of terror attacks, before they got international recognition as the sole representatives of the Palestinians.

If anything, this book showed me how much the Palestinian narrative has remained exactly the same. As an Israeli leftist, I hold that it’s on us to get our army out of the West Bank. It’s our responsibility, no matter what happens around us. If the cost is rockets on Tel Aviv, so be it. We can grow stronger, we can win wars. An occupation can not be won. Nothing can improve with it, it is a constant stalemate.

However, reading this book made it also painfully clear that the conversation isn’t about the military occupation. This Palestinian narrative doesn’t have room for any form of Jewish sovereignty. And as long as Palestinians believe Israel has no right to exist, that Israel is evil from the start, that Israel’s existence is an insult and an injustice, what’s the point? If you truly believe every inch of Palestine belongs to Palestinians, how can you possibly accept Israel, be it on 1967 or even 1948 borders? There’s nothing to work with for Israelis, no real motivation to change anything. This is the root of the “managing the conflict” strategy.

I am grateful that this book gave me perspective. It is tempting for many of us to speak of 1967, of the Israeli military occupation, of the blockade on Gaza but we cannot forget that an occupation, a wall and a blockade are a result of an existing conflict, not its cause. They add fuel, certainty, but it is as a leftist that I cannot allow myself to be tempted into believing that if only we fix Gaza’s humanitarian issues, we’ll end the conflict. We need courage to look at the face of 1948 and 1929 (Hebron Massacre) and see that our reality is directly shaped by our ancestors.

There was much that stood out to me in this book. For example, much of his arguments hinge on what he refers to as “afro-asian” interests. The idea that Israel is problematic because it’s “European”, it’s a foreigner in the “afro-asian” space. I do not hear many speak of “afro-asian” unity nowadays nor do I get the impression that Palestinians see themselves as afro-asian. It seems that the fall of the soviet union also hurt some of the afro-asian sense of unity.

If anything, it seems that geopolitics work in Israel’s advantage now, which Sayegh couldn’t have predicted. As Sunni countries worry about Iran, Israel gains prominence, especially when it seems clear the United States won’t help anyone. In this sense, the “afro-asian” interest is to support Israel, despite the Palestinian rage. Palestinians can ban Emiratis from entering Al Aqsa Mosque and still, the dynamic has changed. Really, the Middle East is going through such changes, there’s definitely reason to pay attention to the earthquakes here. The idea of a Middle Eastern NATO would have been absurd a few years ago but now it seems like a distinct possibility.

Sayegh recognizes that Jews lack an empire. That is, unlike colonialists, Sayegh is clear in stating that "Zionist colonialism" is not supported by any empire. This is interesting because nowadays, it's very common to suggest that Israel is was supported by the British Empire and is now somehow supported by American imperialism.

In general, Sayegh takes time to try to defend the idea that Zionism is colonialism, despite the gapping differences. Nowadays, the people who hold these thoughts usually don’t bother trying to have the conversation. I think there’s definitely room to look at Zionism as a complex movement, one that was influenced by European Orientalism but also by a Jewish nationalism revival. It is both. I respect that Sayegh takes the time to put forth the argument, even if I disagree with it.

The constant attempt to frame Zionists as land hungry maniacs is hilarious. Truly, I struggle to take it seriously. As if Zionists are just here plotting to rule the entire middle east. In the end, he literally issues a warning to Arab countries, suggesting that they must be careful for the Zionists are coming for them next.

It is always easier to frame your opponent as insane and evil. I do not respect Israelis or Palestinians that do this. Israel’s borders have shifted and changed throughout the years (Sinai, what?) but the rational behind the border changes has always been security and defense capabilities first (and then a sense of vengeance second, tbh) . Lebanon-Israel borders highlight this.

Suggesting Israel is racially segregated while also supporting the existence of an Arab country is remarkable. Early Zionists held that Jews should do the work themselves. Unlike colonialism in which native populations are used to further the foreigner's economic interests, Zionists wanted to avoid this so they established their own communities. In retrospect, this was not the best idea as it increased alienation and ethnic tensions but the inherent idea wasn’t racial segregation but self- sufficiency. A minority group that built a society of itself.

“Hebrew work”, building institutions that spoke Hebrew (shoutout to Hebrew University), becoming independent, this can be seen as a Jewish awakening after centuries of oppression. After millennia of Jewish degradation, it is an insistence on one’s own narrative. Jews wanted to prove to themselves that they could do it, that despite everything they had been told about themselves, they could create a functioning independent Jewish society. That’s empowerment, rather than racism.

Sayegh describes Israel as an apartheid. In 1965. To me, that signals that really, such claims have so little to do with a particular Israeli policy. Pro-Palestinian activists struggle to draw a line and pinpoint when the alleged apartheid started because there’s no policy, there’s no watershed moment. This suggests that the watershed moment was actually when Israel was established, that the true crime is Israel’s existence, rather than any particular policy.

To conclude, this is a prominent piece of Israeli-Palestinian literature, if only because of its antiquity and display of the Palestinian narrative. I disagree with basically everything but you know, that’s to be expected.

So what did I take from this book?
- Despite the issues with the Palestinian narrative, we still have an obligation to be fair. Our settlements in the West Bank are inexcusable. I can think of millions of excuses but the reality of it is not acceptable.

- I wish I could tell Sayegh that I became a Zionist as a result of meeting Palestinians. Just like that. I used to see Zionism as old-fashioned and irrelevant, as particularist. Seeing Palestinians misunderstand Zionism made me begin identifying as a Zionist in order to prove that Zionism is diverse, Zionism was Brit Shalom and Martin Buber and Albert Einstein and MLK and so many others, to minimize Zionism to the Nakba is to commit a grave misdeed against the Jewish Diaspora.

- I don't want to say antisemitism but Sayegh says that Germany was "cleverly manipulated by World Zionism" and well, that is not a great look

- He is right about being bitter about German repartitions though- Israel wouldn’t have survived economically without it. This is an uncomfortable fact but Israel was falling apart in the 50s.

- Sayegh refers to Palestinians as Arabs throughout the entire book. This isn’t surprising, it’s mostly funny. I’m not a believer in the Israeli “Palestinians are just Arabs” stance but it is interesting to see that shift. It explains a bit why prior generations also refused to recognize Palestinians.

- if Sayegh knew what happened to the PLO nowadays, he would be deeply disappointed.

- The attempt to frame Zionism as solely colonialism is always funny to me. Yes, the big colonizers: the British Empire, the Dutch Empire, and a group of Jewish Marxist refugees from the Russian Empire and the Holocaust.

-----------------------
I wish I could avoid my assignments as elegantly as Sayegh avoids mentioning Judaism/ Jews.

And me, when Israel doesn't give time off for Hannukah: the Zionist entity feeds off of violence

Review to come!

[misael · Rating 5 out of 5]

For whenever and wherever the dignity of but one single human being is violated, in pursuance of the creed of racism, a heinous sin is commited against the dignity of all men, everywhere.

Fayez Sayegh, pensador pan-árabe e uma das mais destacadas figuras da resistência palestiniana, aborda, neste ensaio, a ocupação sionista na Palestina desde os seus primórdios – no século XIX – até à sua legitimação, com a criação do Estado sionista de Israel, em 1948, bem como as ocupações (em incumprimento com as resoluções aprovadas em sede da ONU) ulteriores ao estabelecimento legal e político de Israel na Palestina ocupada.

O autor aborda a questão de forma progressiva e elucidativa, focando-se em três pontos indispensáveis à compreensão do movimento sionista e do Estado sionista de Israel: o racismo estrutural, motor do regime de apartheid social e político; a adopção da violência e do terror como métodos preferenciais de acção; e, por último, a natureza expansionista e colonial do movimento (e do Estado), baseada em pretensões bíblicas e ultra-fundamentalistas, de "direito divino" à terra e "herança nacional" dos territórios ocupados (bem como de outros, ainda não conquistados, mas que fazem parte dos planos expansionistas de Israel, como o Líbano, a Síria, a Cisjordânia e outras partes do Egipto).

The zionist concept of the "final solution" to the "Arab problem" in Palestine, and the nazi concept of the "final solution" to the "Jewish problem" in Germany, consisted essentially of the same basic ingredient: the elimination of the unwanted human element in question. The creation of a "Jew-free Germany" was indeed sought by nazism through more ruthless and more inhuman methods than was the creation of an "Arab-free Palestine" acomplished by the zionists: but behind the difference in tecniques lay an identity of goals.

São igualmente exploradas as questões relativas ao apoio internacional ao movimento sionista e ao Estado colonial de Israel, desde logo as simbióticas relações com o Império Colonial Britânico, no século XIX e no início do século XX, explicável por interesses mútuos entre o colonialismo europeu e o movimento sionista, mas também, e particularmente após o fim da 2ª Guerra Mundial, a aliança estratégica com os Estados Unidos, que assumem um papel de patrocínio, apoio institucional e financiamento do Estado terrorista de Israel.
Fica ainda visível a firme oposição dos países africanos (à excepção da África do Sul, que ainda vivia sob o tenebroso regime de apartheid ), asiáticos e sul-americanos à criação do Estado de Israel, que contrasta com o apoio da generalidade das ex-potências coloniais europeias, da América do Norte e da Austrália.

Este livro é essencial para quem quer explorar a ocupação sionista da Palestina e a heróica resistência árabe à ocupação terrorista. Ao povo palestiniano não é só negado o seu direito inalienável à autodeterminação: é também suprimido, através da mais vil e incapacitante violência, o seu direito à terra, à paz e à vida. Não é um mero conflito nos confins do mundo, é um projeto neocolonial de ocupação e apartheid , sustentado em racismo, violência e crimes de guerra, e patrocinado pelas grandes potências do mundo, em particular os EUA e a UE.

[Σταμάτης Καρασαββίδης · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very important book explaining and describing what Zionism is its bloody and evil history.
From it's practical initiation in 1880, its never ending allying with all Western colonial empires, not hesitating to seek the support of one in favour of another, as Zionism first allied with the British and when the British saw the threat that Zionism could have for their own colonialist gains, Zionism quickly changed, favouring U.S.A. and Germany as its main allies.
Fayez is very correct when he states that the Zionist forms of colonisation is different than the typical european form of colonisation. While the standard European form of colonisation either in north America, or Indonesia, or Rhodesia, or South Africa, or Congo, has been one of exploiting the native population and classifying it as "inferior" with a strong ideological apparatus to support "ideas" like "scientific racism" and the "psychology" that created Drapetomania, Zionism seeks to completely eliminate the "inferior people" and aims for a completely cleansed "homeland. While French colonisation of Algeria and Tunisia saw a big influx of Algerians and Tunisians going to France for a supposed better future, Zionism aims to displace, eliminate all non ethnic Jews from the "Eretz Israel" whose borders are still and will never be clear, as Zionists, ever since their formation, were never honest about their intentions that started by publicaly stating that "they do not wish for statehood".

"The minimum definition of the territorial scope of Palestine, as Zionism envisions it, was officially formulated in 1919; and it covers about double the area currently occupied by the Zionist settler-state. It includes – in present geographical terminology – the Kingdom of Jordan (on both sides of the River), the ‘Gaza strip’, Southern Lebanon, and Southern and south-western Syria, as well as the portions of Palestine now occupied by the Zionists. This area still falls short of the territory bounded, in accordance with the famous Biblical phrase, by the Nile and the Euphrates – which is the territory claimed as their national heritage by Zionists ‘extremists’. But, even if only the minimum Zionist concept of Palestine is taken to be the real basis of Zionist planning, that will leave the road towards Zionist territorial expansion in the future wide and open."

Definitely read this book! It's short, easy to read and extremely enlightening wrt Zionism, the history of Palestine and its colonisation, as well as the start of Palestinian resistance.

5/5

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief but thorough overview up to 1965. Very readable history of the origins of zionism, its relationship with British then American imperialism, and the oppressive functions of Israel. Unfortunately still relevant; reading this in 2021 makes apparent how successful Zionism’s ties with US imperialism has been, with US media and govt. propaganda about Israel as high as it is. An important resource to share given the misinformation that persists.

Full text here:
http://www.freedomarchives.org/Docume...

[shrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

death to israel. read this 21 page book here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/1...

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative, if perhaps a bit dated, primer on... Zionist colonialism in Palestine. Richard Becker's book, Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire is also recommended.

[sheikha ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

get in loser we're preparing for the liberation of palestine <3

[Shay｡ﾟ ☆ﾟ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and concise introduction to Zionism and the establishment of the Israeli settler-state.

Read it for free : https://www.freedomarchives.org/Docum...
Arabic version here: https://ia800902.us.archive.org/24/it...

[e☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy to digest and shines on a light on how Zionist Colonialism differs from European Colonialism. Also raises some important points like how Anti-Semitism and Zionism carry some similar qualities and how the agenda of Zionism is presented. Overall, I think it was really illuminating and an especially necessary read in light of current events.

i found the pdf here:
https://twitter.com/queersocialism/st...

[s · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easily understandable read and a great introduction to the extent and characteristics of Zionist colonialism in the formation of the “state” of I*rael (occupied Palestine). Clarified a lot of my initial confusion regarding Zionism and is definitely an important and necessary read in regards to the present context. Free Palestine and fuck imperialism forever

[Prismo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although old, this extremely concise book does a great job at depicting the prevailing conditions and ideologies undergirding Zionism (especially since it has remained basically unchanged to today). Highly recommend for everyone as this provides clear and vital context to better understand the Palestinian struggle for liberation.

[aisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

“For in the final analysis, the cause of anti-colonialism and liberation is one and indivisible.”

[Shane Longoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible introduction to the occupation of Palestine from the origins of zionist colonialism in the late 19th century to the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. It’s just short and informative enough to be an essential introductory work to understand the brutal occupation of Palestine.

[Muhammad Fadel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a recommended book for those who would like to get a summary of the Zionist project and its character in Palestine, starting from the late nineteenth century people to the end of 1940's, or after the Nakba. Fayez also reported how Palestinian response to the migration of Jews in different stages of the Zionist project. It was tragic to read the that Palestinian became victims of racism to those who just suffers the same tragedy, even those the former receive them with open arm.

If anything different that I got from this book that others, is Fayez call out on the three characteristic of Zionist project, which is racism (segregation, exlusivity, and supremacy), its addiction to terror and violance, and territorial expansion. Its present on other books, but Fayez does help to summarize its perfectly in this book.

To quote from Fayez at the end of the book:

And — as a racist system animated by doctrines Of racial self-segregation, racial exclusiveness, and racial supremacy, and methodically translating these doctrines into ruthless practices of racial discrimination and oppression — the political systems erected by Zionist colonists in Palestine cannot fail to be recognized as a menace by all civilized men dedicated to the safeguarding and enhancement of the dignity of man. For whenever and wherever the dignity of but one single human being is violated, in pursuance of the creed of racism, a heinous sin is committed against the dignity of all men, everywhere.

[Billy · Rating 3 out of 5]

free palestine

[Nura · Rating 5 out of 5]

good foundational book about Palestine. Short, easy to digest, quick read

[kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was mind boggling, not surprising, but even more eye opening. a perfect, short, simple and terrifying explanation of the illegal occupation of israel in Palestine, and the foundation of this colonial ethnosate being ‘Zionism’ - we go more in depth on what this hateful ideal means and what it is backed by. including material on how israel has massacred martyred and displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians going back generations in a means to ethnically cleanse the indigenous from their land. death to israel, and free Palestine until it’s backwards. 🇵🇸 resistance is necessary

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/25/21: this is a must-read right now. it is a concise and thorough historical description of Zionist colonialism and Palestinian resistance. i recommend this to everyone

5/29/22: re-visited this text tonight just to sharpen my understanding

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an insightful and brief overview of Zionism’s roots, its development of strategy, and its collaboration with other colonial and imperialist forces—and Palestinians’ resistance. It’s also the first book where I’ve taken consistent notes (beyond highlighting), which has been cool and has helped gather and summarize my thoughts. So buckle up for a more comprehensive review below:

It traces Zionism’s aims as emerging from European settlers’ “Scramble for Africa” in the 1880s. While its roots are similar—and while the Zionist project has by its nature relied on collaboration with European colonialism and Western imperialism—Zionism also has its own distinct features (identified by the First Zionist Congress in 1897), and its leaders developed a strategy related to those features over its first few decades. World War I opened a door for reciprocal interests between Britain and Zionists, and World War II saw Zionists shift their alliance from Britain to the US. “[W]ithout the umbilical cord linking the Zionist settler-community with its extra-regional sources of supply and power, it has and can have little ability of its own to survive.”

Sayegh examines the features of Zionism: racism (relies on racial identification, requires racial purity, and sees its chief enemy not as antisemitism but Jewish assimilation), violence and terrorism (primarily targets Arabs who live on Zionists’ coveted land, but also directs it at anyone who stands in the way of its aims), and territorial expansion (remains a partially fulfilled goal and thus is at times obscured or denied). He also documents Palestinians’ use of a variety of resistance tactics as the aims of Zionism became increasingly clear and credits this persistent resistance for the Zionist settler-state remaining an illegitimate usurper; and he identifies Zionism as a threat not only to Palestinians but also to all Arab lands, people in Asia and Africa, and to all people dedicated to the dignity of humanity.

[Juhyundred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short overview of Zionist colonization of Palestine + the basic characteristics of Zionism as a racist/colonial expression of nationalism. Written in 1965 so obviously nothing past that is covered. An important document re: PLO from what I understand

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important and accessible information.

[Pres. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, but a great explanation of the Palestinian struggle from late 1800s - 1965.

[Amina Cherki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very educational. If you don’t have an idea about Palestine and the occupation of Israel and how it started. This book is a good beginner guide that explains very well what happened from late 1890s to 1948.

[Gigi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately severely anti-semetic in the description of Zionism as purposefully and violently racist, for example claiming that "Zionist colonialism" would be worse than European colonial history (and, to be clear, the entirety of global slave trade) because, and I quote: "If racial discrimination against the ‘inferior natives’ was the motto of race-supremacist European settler-regimes in Asia and frica, the motto of the race-supremacist Zionist settler-regime in Palestine was racial elimination".

[oceana · Rating 4 out of 5]

very simple and enlightening introduction to zionism that makes you realise the horrifying similarities between nazism and this nationalist movement (and no, this statement isn’t antisemitic) and a very brief account of early palestinian resistance, as proof the people of palestine never once approved of the colonialist settlement, as much as they didn’t have a say in it. as a final note, free palestine!

read it here: https://www.freedomarchives.org/Docum...

[Audrey ✧･ﾟ: *✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* - I really liked it

Great historical overview spanning and condemning the colonial expansionism of 'Israel' from the late 19th century to the mid-20th. Strong and excellent emphasis on the rightful refusal of the Palestinian people to just accept their new 'status quo', and on the combined efforts of Western colonial powers to bolster the Zionist state as and when it suited their own (geo)political endeavours.