Ilan Pappé

My mother is the only member of my maternal family, besides myself, who isn't a zionist. I've been anti-zionist since the first time I read anything about what's happening in Palestine, in the late '90s or early 2000s. It struck me as one of the most obvious cases settler colonialism imaginable, before I even knew what those words meant. In 2024 it feels like you have to be intentionally blind not to see it, but still, I figured I'd read a book so I could learn more about the history of the area.

This book was published in 2017, six years before the most blatant genocide since the holocaust. Zionists have weird memories these days: they remember biblical times (which may or may not have even happened), the holocaust, and October 7th; but seemingly nothing in between. The reality is a lot different though, and Pappe does a good job of explaining history while dismantling a few commonly believed myths. He admits in the introduction that it isn't a balanced book, but instead it's “yet another attempt to redress the balance of power on behalf of the colonized, occupied, and oppressed Palestinians,” and I appreciate that.

I'd love to write a long review, complete with a breakdown of each of the chapters, but who has time for that? I'll tell you my favorite myth-busting chapters though: “Palestine was an empty land,” “Zionism is Judaism,” and “the Oslo mythologies.” Of all the books I've read about that area of the world, this one has perhaps given me the most things to hold on to.

I would recommend this book for everyone, but I'm afraid the zionists have completely lost their minds. So many liberal zionists have been ruthless to Trump supporters over the past eight years for their inability to comprehend facts that go against their belief system, for their racism and xenophobia, and for their hate-backed anger. Now they are becoming the same people. If facts in their faces every day don't do anything to get them to be against genocide, then reading a book won't either.… (plus d'informations)

It was hard for me to write this review because I care about the Palestinians, the Israelis, and the truth. I don’t like to give negative reviews but this book deserves it.
Ilan Pappe dedicated THE BIGGEST PRISON ON EARTH “To the Palestinian children, killed, wounded, and traumatized by living in the biggest prison on earth.”
If he really cared about the lives of those children, he would write a book that is not filled with lies, distortions, omission, and propaganda. The book, while popular among people who hate the idea of a democratic Jewish state in the Middle East will find a lot of support for their prejudices within it but will not find ideas that will show positive information about Israeli nor negative information about the Palestinian leaders. That attitude does not help the Palestinians at all.
Ilan Pappe’s anti-Israel bias is obvious throughout THE BIGGEST PRISON ON EARTH: Israel is always wrong and guilty. The Palestinians are always right and innocent victims.
For example, the Ottoman Empire controlled historic Palestine for several centuries. It did not establish an independent Palestinian state. After the British took over the area following WWI, the Balfour Declaration said historic Palestine would become a Jewish homeland, as it had been for centuries before the Jews were ousted in 63 CE. Arabs (they were not referred to as Palestinians until 1964 with the formation of the PLO) living in the new state were asked to remain and become Israeli citizens. Those who left did so partly because their leaders told them they should so the Jews could be wiped out and the Arabs could return to take the land. Those that did remain, became citizens.
Mt. Scopus, home to Hebrew University, Hadassah Hospital, and the Knesset had been located there for several decades. In 1937, the Palestinian flag had a Jewish star. The Palestinian Orchestra and the members of the Palestinian Brigade which fought along side the British in WWII were both comprised of Jews. (The Arab leaders supported Hitler.)
Millions of people have become refugees since 1945. Most of them were resettled within fifteen years with the help of the United Nations Human Rights Council Agency for Refugees. About 875,000 of them had families that lived in Arab countries for almost 2000 years but were forced out by their Arab countrymen. Only the Palestinians were considered to be refugees even if they had never lived in that land. And only the Palestinians remained living in refugee camps because their co-religionists and brothers refused to grant them citizenship.
When Jordan captured the West Bank in the 1948 War, the entire area became off limits to Jews. Jews were evicted from their homes, synagogues became barns and cemetery tombstones were used to pave roads.
They Arab states attacked the new state in 1949, 1967, and 1973 and lost every time. The positions where the fighting stopped in 1949, the Green Line, became a temporary border. The final border was to be determined by Israel and the Palestinians. Jordan took over the West Bank while Egypt took over Gaza. Neither country made any effort to establish an independent Palestinian state nor was any pressure put upon them to do so.
Since World War II, there have been scores millions of immigrants throughout the world. Most have been resettled within fifteen years. This includes the 850,000 Jews evicted from their ancient homes in Arab countries. Only the Palestinians have remained refugees for a longer period of time. Part of the reason is that only UNWRA considers people who are descendants of the people who left in 1948 are counted as refugees, even those who have become citizens of other countries. Other reasons include the refusal of other Arab countries to grant them citizenship and the Palestinian leaders who, for political purposes, have refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza, areas totally controlled by Palestinians.
Over the years, despite agreements for the Arab and Israeli governments to reach a peace agreement and determine permanent borders, the Palestinian leaders repeatedly refused to sign such an agreement because it would mean recognizing Israel as a Jewish state. They also refused to present any alternative agreement.
Until that happens, The West Bank was divided into three areas: Area A was under Palestinian control. Eighty percent of the Palestinians live there. Area B was under the security control of both Israel and the PA. Area C was under Israeli control where about 500,000 Israelis live. The original UN plan calls for border adjustments to provide security. The details were to be worked out by the two parties. When Jews and Palestinians try to work together, e.g., Palestinians working in Jewish-owned businesses on the West Bank where they earn the same salaries and receive the same benefits, there is pressure (e.g., from the BDS movement) to close the businesses which results in the loss of jobs and income.
Peace treaties between Israel and Egypt and Israel and Jordan eventually did occur and Israel returned the Sinai to Eqypt. Jordan took over the West Bank.
I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.… (plus d'informations)