This is not alas a literature survey or a bibliographic essay, both of which are needed on this topic. Rather, I briefly describe here sources that I personally have found both accessible and instructive. For the history and some excellent analysis, see merip.org and balfourproject.org and for a thoroughly researched yet still readable account (as the author is both an academic and a journalist) see Jeremy Salt 2008 The unmaking of the Middle East: a history of Western disorder in Arab lands (University of California Press). The balfour project team sometimes posts talks or history films on YouTube . Other good commentary on YouTube is provided by Owen Jones, Chris Hedges, Middle East Eye and Democracy Now. Anything by or with Edward Said, Ilan Pappe or Noam Chomsky or John Mearsheimer or Jeffrey Sachs is also usually worth watching. I learnt a great deal from reading Zionism: False Messiah by Nathan Weinstock(Ink Links, London 1979) Written from a socialist perspective, this book begins with an introductory interview with Moshe Machover , a founder of the journal Khamsin,who states (page xxv) “The socialist case against Zionism is not based primarily on the fact that the latter is ‘nationalist’. Zionism is not reducible to some generic nationalism nor is our opposition to it reducible to our generic opposition to nationalism We have a specific case against Zionism based on itsspecific features: 1) Zionism tells the Jews that it is a waste of time to struggle against anti-Semitism. It advises them to accept anti-Semitism as an inexorable fact. We believe that the struggle against anti-Semitism and all otherforms of racism is worthwhile and an integral part of the fight for a better world,for socialism. 2) Zionism is a colonisatory project, carried out at the expense of the Arab and in particular the Palestinian masses. It necessarily implies the denial of both the national and the individual rights of the Palestinians. For them that means both national oppression and racial discrimination No socialist can accept this 3) Zionism can only achieve its aims as a close ally of imperialism. It can be successful onlyto the extent that it enjoys imperialist support and sponsorship. The whole of the present book proves these points.”
Alain Gresh and Dominique Vidal, both authors of several books on our topic, are regular contributors to Le Monde Diplomatique,which is available in both French and English editions. Published here in Australia, Pearls and Irritations and Arena Quarterly both offer critical and insightful commentary and analysis.
Most of the books on our topic by the eminent French scholar Maxime Rodinson appear now to be translated into English. Studies in the realm of ideas are Gideon Shimoni, The Zionist Ideology (Brandeis University Press 1997) and Daphna Levit Wrestling with Zionism: Jewish voices of dissent (Interlink Publishing 2020)
A good overview of international definitions of anti-semitism was provided by Joshua Shanes at the conversation.com on 1 Feb 2025.
I hope the above has provided at least a few pointers for anyone interested in this topic.
watchandact.net 