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Strategic Issues

Avi Shlaim, an Israeli historian who opposes Zionism, believes that the current war on Gaza cannot be understood without considering its historical context. In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, Shlaim explains why he thinks this war is "meaningless" and discusses the biased support that the West provides to Israel.

The Historical Background

Shlaim argues that the conflict did not start on October 7th. To understand why Hamas carried out the attack, we need to look back to 1967 when Israel occupied Palestinian territories. The Israelis claim that they offered the Palestinians the chance to turn Gaza into a prosperous place like Singapore, but instead, they turned it into an open prison.

The Disproportionate Response

While media attention focused on the Hamas attack, Shlaim condemns both the attack and the Israeli reaction. He believes that the Israeli response was cruel, brutal, and completely disproportionate. Revenge is not a solution, and what Israel is doing can be considered state-sponsored terrorism.

Netanyahu and the West's Handling of the War

Shlaim predicts that Netanyahu will not survive politically, and he criticizes the Western response to the crisis for its hypocrisy and double standards. He points out that when Hamas won the elections in 2006, Israel, the European Union, and the United States refused to recognize the Hamas government and imposed economic sanctions. The Western powers have been biased towards Israel and have given it the green light to carry out horrific acts instead of calling for a ceasefire.

Potential Consequences

Shlaim notes that over the past 20 years, Jewish hostility towards Arabs in Israel has increased significantly. The current right-wing government, influenced by religious Zionism, is the most extreme, chauvinistic, and racist government in Israel's history. Because of the war in Gaza, public sentiment may shift further to the right and become more hostile towards Arabs.

Anti-Semitism vs. Anti-Zionism

Shlaim clarifies the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. Anti-Semitism is hatred towards Jews solely because of their Jewish identity and has nothing to do with Israel. Anti-Zionism, on the other hand, is criticism and opposition to the Zionist ideology, particularly regarding Israel's policies towards Palestinians, such as occupation, apartheid, and the use of force.

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Source: Al Jazeera