The Colonial Project: How History Shaped the Genocide in Gaza

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Threads of Justice: The Colonial Project, exploring historical influences on Gaza conflict and global justice.

Exploring the Roots of Zionism with the Historian Ilan Pappe

The ethnic cleansing unfolding in Gaza today has deep historical roots tied to a colonial project envisioned over a century ago.

Designed by the Anglo-Evangelical Jewish elite, it sought to prevent the migration of Eastern European Jews into Western Europe, particularly Britain.

Palestine was chosen as the focal point of this geopolitical and religious strategy, blending imperialist ambitions with theological convictions.

Strategic and Political Interests

As Zionist ideas took root among Jewish intellectuals in Eastern Europe, they served multiple purposes: addressing European antisemitism, modernizing Jewish identity, and advancing imperialist goals. Anglo-Jewish aristocrats, in particular, saw Zionism as a way to prevent an influx of Eastern European Jews into Britain while strategically positioning Palestine within British imperial control.

Key historical figures like James Finn, the British consul in Jerusalem during the mid-19th century, encouraged Jewish settlement in Palestine. This approach diverged from Britain’s usual strategy of collaborating with local elites in colonized territories, reflecting the unique religious and imperialist motivations surrounding Palestine.

Christianity, imperialism, and Jewish nationalism converged to propose colonizing Palestine, creating not just a British colony but a Jewish-British state

The Origins of Zionism and Christian Evangelism

Israeli historian Ilan Pappe explores this complex history in his latest book, Lobbying for Zionism on both sides of the Atlantic, shedding light on Zionism’s origins.

Pappe argues that Zionism initially emerged as a Christian evangelical idea, rooted in the Protestant Reformation and grew through the 17th and 19th centuries. Evangelical thinkers envisioned a divine mission: to relocate Jews to Palestine as part of a larger eschatological scheme.

These religious motivations aligned with British imperialist interests as leaders sought to weaken the Ottoman Empire, which controlled Palestine.

Pious evangelical Christians and British politicians forged a strategic alliance, advocating for Palestine to become a part of the Western world.

Theodor Herzl and Romantic Nationalism

A pivotal figure in the Zionist movement, Theodor Herzl, initially aspired to integrate into German nationalist circles but turned to “Jewish Romantic Nationalism” when faced with antisemitic exclusion.

Herzl’s vision crystallized at the First Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897. He recognized that colonizing Palestine required international support and laid the groundwork for the Balfour Declaration, though he did not live to see it realized.

Herzl’s writings openly acknowledged the presence of Palestinians in the region. Yet he rationalized their displacement as necessary for creating a “new Europe” in Palestine—a notion embraced by subsequent Zionist leaders.

The Moral and Historical Consequences

While religious Jews initially opposed the idea of a Jewish nation-state as interference with divine will, the Zionist movement gained momentum through political alliances and strategic narratives.

The result was a colonial project that merged evangelical Christianity, British imperialism, and Jewish nationalism, ultimately planting the seeds of Palestinian dispossession.

Understanding this history is crucial for comprehending the present-day atrocities in Gaza.

As Pappe highlights in his interview with Aaron Bastani, the Zionist project’s origins and its enduring implications reveal a complex interplay of religious, political, and imperial forces that continue to shape the region’s struggles.

Anti-Zionism, Occupation, and the Redefinition of Jewish Identity

Edwin Montague: A Prophetic Critic of Zionism

Over a century ago, Edwin Montague, a prominent Jewish member of the British Cabinet, delivered a scathing critique of Zionism that remains strikingly relevant.

In his 1917 memorandum, Montague described Zionism as “a mischievous political creed, untenable by any patriotic citizen of the United Kingdom.”

Montague’s concerns stemmed from his deep unease with the ideological, political, and religious foundations of Zionism.

He saw its potential to create social and political injustices, particularly in Palestine, where indigenous Muslim and Christian populations would be displaced.

(source: https://labouraffairs.com/2024/04/01/edwin-montagu-anti-zionist-jew-august-1917/)

A Visionary Warning

In his memorandum, Montague explicitly warned about the consequences of prioritizing Jewish nationalism in Palestine:

“I do not know what this involves, but I assume that it means that Mohammedans and Christians are to make way for the Jews… Turks and other Mohammedans in Palestine will be regarded as foreigners, just in the same way as Jews will hereafter be treated as foreigners in every country but Palestine. Perhaps also citizenship must be granted only as a result of a religious test.”

His words anticipated what international bodies, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), now define as “unlawful occupation” in the region.

Montague’s critique remains a powerful historical document that underscores the moral and political complexities of Zionism and its impact on Palestinian communities.

(ICJ: https://www.icj-cij.org/node/204176)

Zionism Versus Judaism

Montague’s argument centred on his belief that Judaism is fundamentally a religion, not a nationality.

He rejected the notion that Jewish identity should be conflated with political Zionism. This view is gaining renewed attention today, particularly among younger Jewish communities in the United States.

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, many young Jews have begun dissociating themselves from Zionism, emphasizing their religious identity over nationalist aspirations. For them, Judaism is rooted in faith rather than territorial claims. To explore these issues further, watch this documentary, “Israelism.”

Israeli Holocaust Scholar Prof. Omer Bartov: Why Gaza is a Genocide

In this video, the journalist Owen Jones interviews Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Omer Bartov, who explains why Gaza is a genocide.

Historically, genocides often did not begin with explicit blueprints but emerged from ideologies that framed entire populations as existential threats. This rationale—conflating Gaza’s civilian population with Hamas—has been echoed in Israeli policies and rhetoric, such as claims that Palestinians serve as “human shields” or that genocide can be justified as “self-defence.”

Gaza, a densely populated area primarily inhabited by refugees, has been framed by Israeli policymakers and military leaders as the source of violence against Israel.

The perceived “solutions” to this issue have oscillated between political and military strategies. Politically, efforts to negotiate coexistence have faltered, while militarily, Israel has attempted to “manage” Gaza through blockades and indirect control for 75 years.

The events of October 7, however, revealed the failure of this containment strategy. Left without viable political or containment solutions, the remaining approach appears to be one of systematic destruction—a devastating outcome rooted in decades of unresolved conflict.

In the spring of 2024, Prof. Omer Bartov published an essay for The Council for Global Cooperation titled Weaponizing Language: Misuses of Holocaust Memory and the Never Again Syndrome. In his introduction, he tackles critical questions about the Holocaust’s legacy and its impact on contemporary issues.

He writes, “If the Holocaust was the clearest justification for the need to create a Jewish state, what role has it played in Israel’s history for the last seven decades? Finally, I would like to suggest how a better understanding of the misuse of the terminology of Holocaust, antisemitism, and genocide can help us not only perceive the current crisis in Israel and Gaza more clearly, but also imagine and work toward a new path of reconciliation and justice for all.”

Bartov’s reflections offer a framework for critically examining how history is invoked, sometimes distorted, to shape narratives and policies and how a deeper understanding might pave the way for justice and reconciliation.

(source: https://home.watson.brown.edu/research/research-briefs/weaponizing-language)

Historian Enzo Traverso: The Weaponization of Holocaust Memory to Justify Genocide

Preserving historical integrity is essential to preventing the manipulation of language and concepts. Enzo Traverso, a prominent Italian scholar of European intellectual history and author of works on critical theory, the Holocaust, Marxism, and memory, sheds light on how Holocaust memory has been profoundly distorted.

“The memory of the Holocaust experienced a paradoxical metamorphosis,” he observes, “and it was weaponized by Israel and most Western powers to justify unconditional support for the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.”

This, Traverso argues, has created a troubling paradox: “The perpetrator is Hamas and the Palestinians, and the victims are the Israelis. This is a reversal of reality.”

Faith vs. Politics: How Misusing Judaism and the IHRA Endangers Justice

It appears clear how the deliberate conflation of Zionism with Judaism has become a strategic tool for silencing criticism of the Israeli government, labelling dissent as antisemitism to deflect accountability.

This tactic not only stifles legitimate debate but also places Jewish people worldwide in a precarious position by equating their identity with the actions of a state.

At its core, Judaism is a religion deeply rooted in ethics, spirituality, and a covenantal relationship with God, emphasizing justice, compassion, and the pursuit of peace.

By framing Zionism as synonymous with Jewish identity, this narrative distorts the essence of Judaism, reducing it to a political ideology.

It also fuels resentment and hostility, endangering Jewish communities globally and perpetuating the very antisemitism it claims to combat.

The weaponization of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism further exacerbates this issue, as it is frequently misused to equate anti-Zionism or criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

This not only undermines the fight against genuine antisemitism but also chills free speech and suppresses advocacy for Palestinian rights.

To honour the integrity of Judaism, protect Jewish communities, and uphold universal principles of justice, it is crucial to challenge this conflation and reject the misuse of frameworks like the IHRA definition as tools of political censorship.

Confronting Our Capacity for Evil: A Call for Vigilance and Humanity

As Chris Hedges profoundly reminds us, the capacity for cruelty and violence is not confined to any one race, nationality, or religion—it resides in all of us.

“The line between the victim and the victimizer is razor thin,” he warns.

The dark allure of supremacy and the hatred that fuels the dehumanization of others are universal poisons. Without constant vigilance over our own capacity for evil, we risk becoming what we most condemn.

In the face of the horrors unfolding in Gaza, these words urge us to reflect on our shared humanity and the moral imperative to resist becoming monsters ourselves. It is a call to stand against all forms of dehumanization and injustice, no matter where they occur or who commits them.

Continuing the Thread

In the previous article, part one, I introduced my series, “Threads of Justice,” as a pathway where each thread represents a perspective, a voice, or a force that shapes the broader story of justice and the pursuit of peace in our world.

In the next piece, I will delve into the systematic efforts to weaken global accountability mechanisms, including the United Nations, the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). These attacks are not just legal or procedural—they strike at the heart of global justice and the fight against impunity. Stay tuned as I continue unravelling the threads of justice.

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Nancy Perin

Nancy is a caring individual with a background in sociology and a strong desire to connect people. She has improved workplaces and communities with her almost two decades of experience in management teams, human resources, coaching, and community project management. Nancy has also served on the board of directors of the Italian Personnel Managers Association and participated in a humanitarian mission to Dakar, Senegal, to support family centres.

Her intercultural love story sparked her interest in migration-relatedtopics and led her to launch @journeysta, a project that aims to strengthen cultural ties between Canada and Italy.

Nancy oversees the Gallery of Human Migration and believes in the possibility of creating caring communities that are involved in the processes of welcoming, acceptance, and integration. Join her on this journey of discovery and cultural exchange.

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