Skip to main content

"Violent Settler Colonialism Caused This War" Rashid Khalidi. Detailed overview of this interview.

.                Rashid Khalidi 

Rashid Ismail Khalidi (Arabic: رشيد خالدي; born November 18, 1948) is a Palestinian-American historian specializing in the Middle East. He is the Edward Said Professor Emeritus of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University and a renowned scholar of Palestinian history and identity.

Academic Career

Khalidi retired from Columbia University on October 8, 2024. At Columbia, he served as Chair of the History Department, Director of the Middle East Institute, and co-founder of the Center for Palestine Studies. He also served as editor (2002–2020) and later co-editor (2020–present) of the Journal of Palestine Studies. Previously, he taught at the Lebanese University, the American University of Beirut, Georgetown University, and the University of Chicago, where he directed the Middle East Center and the Center for International Studies.

He holds a B.A. in History from Yale University (1970) and a D.Phil. in Modern History from Oxford University (1974), where he was a member of St. Antony’s College.

Contributions and Recognitions

Khalidi has been a pivotal figure in Middle Eastern studies. He served as President of the Middle East Studies Association and was an advisor to the Palestinian delegation during the Madrid and Washington Arab-Israeli peace negotiations (1991–1993).

He has received numerous fellowships and grants from prestigious institutions, including the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation. He was also awarded a Fulbright research fellowship.

As an academic mentor, Khalidi has supervised or co-supervised over 50 Ph.D. dissertations and served as a second or third reader on more than 50 others. 

Publications

Khalidi is the author of eight acclaimed books, many of which have been translated into multiple languages. Notable works include:

The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: 

A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 (2020), a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, winner of the MEMO Palestine Book Award.

Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East (2013), 

winner of the Lionel Trilling Book Award and MEMO Palestine Book Award.

Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness (1997),

winner of the Middle East Studies Association’s Albert Hourani Prize.

Other notable works include:

Sowing Crisis: American Dominance and the Cold War in the Middle East (2009)

The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood (2006)

Resurrecting Empire: Western Footprints and America’s Perilous Path in the Middle East (2004)

Under Siege: PLO Decision-Making during the 1982 War (1986, 2nd edition 2014)

British Policy towards Syria and Palestine, 1906-1914 (1980)

He has also co-edited works like Palestine and the Gulf (1982), The Origins of Arab Nationalism (1991), and The Other Jerusalem: Rethinking the History of the Sacred City (2020).

Scholarly Impact

Khalidi has published over 120 scholarly articles and book chapters on Middle Eastern history and politics, alongside numerous opinion pieces and op-eds. He is a frequent commentator on radio, television, and podcasts, offering insights on Middle Eastern issues.

Rashid Khalidi’s scholarship and public advocacy have solidified his reputation as one of the foremost historians and intellectuals of the Palestinian experience and modern Middle East.


Key points from Rashid Khalidi's interview, titled "Violent Settler Colonialism Caused This War":

1. Roots of the Conflict

Khalidi traces the origins of the current conflict to over a century of settler colonialism, where land dispossession and ethnic cleansing have been central strategies.

He views the Israeli state as a continuation of a settler-colonial project that began with figures like Theodor Herzl and was openly acknowledged by early Zionists.

2. Protests and Antisemitism

Khalidi differentiates between legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies and antisemitism, arguing that many protests, even those led by Jewish groups, are wrongly labeled antisemitic.

He rejects the notion that terms like “intifada” are inherently antisemitic, emphasizing that the term refers to resistance against occupation.

3. Historical Legitimacy of Israel

Khalidi questions the historical legitimacy of Israel as a settler-colonial state, comparing it to other colonial projects like the United States and Canada, which displaced indigenous populations.

He recognizes a historical Jewish connection to the land but rejects its use to justify displacement and occupation.

4. Scale of Current Violence

Khalidi highlights the unprecedented scale of the recent violence in Gaza, noting that the death toll surpasses earlier conflicts such as 1948 or the 1982 Lebanon war.

He links this violence to the Israeli government’s long-term strategy of demographic transformation.

5. Hamas and Resistance

Khalidi explains Hamas’ rise as a response to the perceived failures of the PLO, particularly after the Oslo Accords, which he argues strengthened Israeli control rather than enabling Violent Settler Colonialism Caused This War": sovereignty.

He emphasizes that continued colonization inevitably generates resistance, regardless of the methods or groups involved.

6. Global and Western Involvement

Western nations, especially the U.S., play a critical role in perpetuating the conflict through military and political support for Israel. Loo

He criticizes the international community, particularly Germany, for transferring historical guilt for the Holocaust onto Palestinians by supporting Israeli policies.

7. Shift in Discourse

Khalidi notes a shift in global discourse, with terms like "apartheid," "genocide," and "accountability" gaining prominence.

While Western powers resist these narratives, he sees the current openness as unprecedented in the history of the conflict.

8. Future Resolution

For Khalidi, resolving the conflict requires:

Reorganizing the Palestinian national movement.

Recognizing both peoples’ rights to self-determination.

International accountability, particularly from Western nations, to cease enabling the violence.

9. Hamas as a Negotiation Partner

Khalidi compares potential negotiations with Hamas to past resolutions involving groups like the IRA and the ANC, suggesting that a genuine peace process must include all major stakeholders, even those labeled as "terrorist organizations."

This interview offers a comprehensive critique of settler colonialism and its role in shaping the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Khalidi advocating for systemic changes to address longstanding injustices.

Source:

https://jacobin.com/2024/05/rashid-khalidi-settler-colonialism-palestine


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Columbia President ( Katrina Armstrong) Is Replaced as Trump Threatens University’s Funding. Key Points. NYTimes

Key Points & Further Details on Columbia University Leadership Change 1. Presidential Change at Columbia University Katrina Armstrong stepped down as interim president of Columbia University. Claire Shipman , a journalist and Columbia alumna, was named acting president . Armstrong’s departure marks Columbia’s third leadership change since August 2024. 2. Trigger for Leadership Change The Trump administration threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding from Columbia. This funding is roughly 20% of the university’s operating revenue . The university ultimately complied with government demands , causing internal and external backlash . 3. Government Demands & Columbia’s Compliance Columbia agreed to: Employ 36 campus safety officers with arrest powers . Adopt a formal definition of antisemitism . Review admissions policies . Increase oversight of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department . These changes sparked faculty and...

Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" Key Points. Mondoweiss

  Key Points from the Article: "Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" 1. Israel’s Resumption of War Israel resumed its military assault on Gaza early Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians , including 130 children . Key figures in Gaza’s civil administration were also targeted to weaken Hamas’s governance . 2. The Ceasefire Agreement and Israel’s Stalling Tactics A ceasefire deal was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S . two months prior. The second phase of the deal included discussions about ending the war and reconstructing Gaza in exchange for Israeli captives . Netanyahu stalled , aiming to release captives without committing to ending the war . 3. Israel’s Blockade and Its Impact In early March , Israel blocked the Rafah crossing and cut off humanitarian aid , causing a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza . Prices of goods soared , bakeries shut down , and hospitals ran out of fuel . 4. Hamas’s Unexpected Move ...

Havens for Open Debate Or Enforcers of Political Orthodoxy. From Mahmood Khalil to Rumeysa Ozturk: The Rising Cost of Pro-Palestinian Activism on Campus.

 The case of Rumeysa Ozturk , a Tufts University student detained by federal authorities , along with earlier incidents like that of Mahmood Khalil of Columbia University, raises serious concerns about the targeting of international students  for their political views, particularly regarding Palestine-Israel discourse. This situation has broader implications for academic freedom, free speech, and the reputation of U.S. universities abroad , especially given the significant financial and intellectual contributions of international students to American higher education. --- 1. Impact on International Students: A Revenue & Reputation Concern - Financial Contribution : International students contribute $40 billion annually  to the U.S. economy, with universities relying heavily on their tuition fees (often at higher out-of-state rates).   - Chilling Effect : Cases like Ozturk’s and Khalil’s may deter prospective students from applying, fearing political perse...

Ignoring Massacres in Gaza City While Protesting for Democracy in Tel Aviv, Hanin Majadli. Key Points. Haaretz

  Brief introduction of Hanin Majadli  Hanin Majadli Hanin Majadli is a Palestinian Israeli journalist and editor at Haaretz , Israel's liberal-leaning newspaper. She holds a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic and Islamic Studies from Tel Aviv University. As an opinion columnist, Majadli focuses on the experiences and challenges of Arab-Palestinian communities in Israel , examining their complex relationships with the state and its Jewish citizens . She gives particular attention to the history of the Nakba and its deliberate omission from Israel's social and political narrative. In her role as editor of Haaretz 's Arabic edition , Majadli aims to broaden the reach of alternative Israeli perspectives, presenting journalistic work that diverges from mainstream Israeli media. Before joining Haaretz, Majadli founded a popular spoken Arabic school in Tel Aviv, promoting Arabic language and culture . She has also been active in addressing pol...

"This Isn't Our War: Israel Is Waging a Far-right Offensive to Expel Gazans." Key Points. Haaretz

  Here’s a detailed overview of Zvi Bar El’s article in Haaretz, with key points and highlighted words: Title : "This Isn't Our War: Israel Is Waging a Far-right Offensive to Expel Gazans"  Subtitle : " The day after? Now it's 'the day after,' and the war's sole purpose is to fulfill the political bribe Netanyahu offered the criminal gang ensuring his hold on power."    Key Points & Highlights:   1. "This Isn't Our War" – Bar El argues that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza no longer serves national defense but has been hijacked by far-right political agendas .    2. "Far-right Offensive to Expel Gazans" – The article claims the war’s true objective is the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza , driven by extremist factions in Netanyahu’s government (e.g., Smotrich, Ben-Gvir).    3. " Political Bribe" – Netanyahu is accused of sacrificing strategic interests to appease his far-right coalit...