The Anti-Zionist Idea: History, Theory, & Politics (Liron Mor and Darryl Li)

Quick Overview

Zionism originated as a Christian and specifically British imperial and settler-colonial project, not inherently Jewish, and functioned as an anti-Jewish and anti-Oriental endeavor to extract value and serve as a Western frontier. Anti-Zionism should broaden beyond a Jewish-centric definition to include principled objections, as exemplified by Arab Jewish critics who prioritized political over ethical positions. The concept of "the anti-Zionist idea" requires critical examination, as diverse forms of anti-Zionism exist, including those rooted in indigenous dispossession, diasporic Jewish identity, and Asian-American solidarity, each with distinct analytical frameworks and material conditions.

Key Points: Liron Mor asserts that Zionism is not Jewish but rather a Christian and specifically British imperial and settler-colonial project, designed to serve European interests and extract value from the East. Mor argues that Zionism is "anti-Jewish" in a literal sense, formulated by non-Jews to the detriment of Jews and other Semites, and critiques the common US understanding of anti-Zionism as exclusively Jewish opposition. Mor highlights the historical counter-Zionist positions of Arab Jews, such as Kim Ben Kiki, who in 1921 advocated for Jewish immigrants to integrate into local Arab culture and politics, rejecting the imposition of European values. Darryl Li questions the notion of a singular "anti-Zionist idea," proposing that understanding the array of anti-Zionist perspectives, including those rooted in indigenous dispossession and diasporic Jewish identity, is crucial. Li explores Asian-American solidarity with Palestine, analyzing Viet Thanh Nguyen's essay "Palestine is in Asia" and Aiko Day's concept of "alien Capital" to understand the racialization of Asian-Americans in relation to imperial geopolitics. Li concludes that Zionism functions as a dual project of "racial Supremacy in Palestine as well as a project of racial exceptionalism in the diaspora," particularly in the United States, where it facilitated the assimilation of European-origin Jews into whiteness.