Gentle, Brilliant Jewish Historian Describes Growing Up in Iraq, Living in Peace With His Muslim Friends and Neighbors
Avi Shlaim, now an Oxford historian, is full of fascinating stories that shed light on the early years of the state of Israel, as well as on the Zionist project, which he calls “cruel Zionism.” Here he is interviewed by Muhammad Jalal (AKA “The Thinking Muslim“). The very structure of this dialog, and especially Shlaim’s gentle demeanor, gives me hope. Among other things he describes his peaceful childhood among Muslim friends and neighbors in Iraq. And, most fascinating, he describes the covert activities of Zionists in the 1950s, working in concert with the Mossad and Israeli Intelligence, activities which included setting off bombs among Jewish civilians in neighboring states (especially Iraq and Egypt) to create a sense of danger for Jews, driving them to seek refuge in the new state of Israel. Another fascinating tidbit: His wife is the great-granddaughter of David Lloyd George, who was the British prime minister at the time of the Balfour Declaration. She’s now a Palestinian rights activist. Thank goodness for another honest historian, whose honesty clearly flows from his faithfulness to his discipline.
Gaza: Cruel Zionism, Past and Present with Professor Avi Shlaim
RELATED LETTER (from the Jewish Virtual Library)
Anti-Semitism: Mantagu Memo on the Anti-Semitism of the British Government (August 23, 1917)
