By Jeremy Salt
Its end as a Zionist state would be the start of a new beginning, undoing all the damage done since Balfour: the state can go but the people can survive alongside everyone else in a new state founded on the equality of all.
An Australian television discussion raised the question of Palestine recently, highlighting the urgent need to delve beyond the surface and cliches to understand the roots of the ongoing conflict. The Gaza genocide has exposed the true nature of Israel, entrenched in centuries of antisemitism and colonial aspirations.
Palestinians have been resisting occupation since the inception of Zionist settlement, with Gaza now becoming a symbol of their enduring struggle. The establishment of Israel violated moral and legal principles, leading to decades of stolen land and ongoing injustice.
Israel’s brutal response in Gaza has ignited global outrage, shedding light on its criminality and inhumanity. As the region teeters on the brink of more conflict, the need for a just resolution becomes increasingly imperative.
Jeremy Salt, an expert in Middle Eastern history, calls for a new beginning devoid of Zionist oppression, emphasizing the importance of equality and coexistence in shaping a sustainable future for all.
– Jeremy Salt taught at the University of Melbourne, at Bosporus University in Istanbul and Bilkent University in Ankara for many years, specializing in the modern history of the Middle East. Among his recent publications is his 2008 book, The Unmaking of the Middle East. A History of Western Disorder in Arab Lands (University of California Press) and The Last Ottoman Wars. The Human Cost 1877-1923 (University of Utah Press, 2019). He contributed this article to The Palestine Chronicle.