Conference – MENA Initiative

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Conference on Zionism:
History, Ideology, and its Manifestations

Program

28 November 2024, 12:00 – 21:00

This event brings together prominent scholars and advocates and creates a space to critically examine the history, power structures, and future of Zionism, focusing on its profound and often devastating impact on the Palestinian people.

Panel I, The Power Paradigm of Zionism, will expose the mechanisms of control and violence enacted through Zionist policies, exploring how these have displaced and oppressed Palestinians. Experts will highlight the harsh realities Palestinians face, from restricted access to healthcare and education to systemic social and political marginalization. Panel II, The History of Zionism (Late 1800s-1948), will trace Zionism’s origins and expansion, critically analyzing its role in the dispossession of Palestinians and the creation of Israel. This panel will challenge mainstream historical narratives and offer a decolonized perspective on Zionism and Palestinian history. Panel III, The Future of Zionism, will consider the future of Zionism in light of growing resistance, and envision pathways toward justice and liberation for Palestinians.

Attendees will come away with a clearer understanding of the ideology of Zionism and a strengthened framework of knowledge to support justice, equality, and self-determination for Jewish and Palestinian people. The discussion will comprise Israeli, Palestinian, and other scholars with diverse backgrounds bringing a multifaceted approach to the discussion. Check out this website for more information and to register for the event.

Panel I: The Power Paradigm of Zionism

with

Hagar Kotef

Dr. Raouf Salti

Joseph Daher

This panel will provide insights into the manifestations of Zionism in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the interplay of soft and hard power within Israeli institutions and their impacts on medical, academic, and social realms. It will explore themes of identity, displacement, and control, linking violence and the human experience. Ultimately, the panellists will discuss how the pursuit of the Zionist ideology led to the current horrific day-to-day reality for the Palestinian people.

Panel II: The History of Zionism (Late 1800s-1948)

with

Riccardo Bocco

Cyrus Schayegh

The focus of this panel will be on the history of Jewish Zionism from its inception in the late 1800s, its spread and adoption as an ideology, and its culmination in 1948 with the creation of the state of Israel. It will begin with a short documentary screening titled: “And There was Israel” (2018). Following this, the panellists will shed light on historical truths and counter dominant beliefs to elucidate a true, grassroots, and decolonized study of Palestine, Zionism, and their histories.

Panel III: The Future of Zionism

with

Ilan Pappé

Francesca Albanese (tbc)

Nur Masalha

This final part of the conversation will bring together the insights of the previous two talks linking the history of the Zionist movement to today’s reality. This third panel aims to focus on enriching the audience’s understanding of Zionism, the state formation of Israel, and the future of the Zionist project. Through the perspectives of Professor Ilan Pappé and Professor Nur Masalha, both incredibly successful historians, and the views of UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, this panel will provide insights about the future of Zionism.