Supplements, but not the woo-woo nutrition kind
Remember how Uncle Charlie tells us to engage in ruthless criticism of all that exists [except echidnas and babies], without being afraid of the results?
Here are some of the resources I devoured to helped me interrogate, critique, inform, go deeper, unwind, pause, think, etc. around my understandings of Zionism.
Substack made me send this list separately from my writings because I’m giving you so. many. links.
If I had to narrow this list down to one,
it would be to watch ISRAELISM: THE AWAKENING OF YOUNG AMERICAN JEWS.
It’s available to watch for free from several sources on Youtube.
For those of you interested in going deeper, here are some of my sources.
Your mileage may vary.
FILMS / VIDEOS
ISRAELISM: THE AWAKENING OF YOUNG AMERICAN JEWS. Directed by Erin Axelman and Sam Eilertsen. Tikkun Olam Productions; February 23, 2023.
EDWARD SAID ON ORIENTALISM. Video interview directed by Sut Jhally, 1998. (Better yet, read Edward Said’s seminal book, Orientalism.)
REEL BAD ARABS. 2006 documentary film directed by Sut Jhally, based on Jack Shaheen's acclaimed book of the same title. Critically examines a long line of degrading images of Arabs in Hollywood and U.S. popular culture -- from Bedouin bandits and submissive maidens to sinister sheikhs and gun-wielding "terrorists." Available free on Youtube from Media Education Foundation.
MOVEMENTS, MAGAZINES & ORGANIZATIONS
The New York Times War Crimes. Begun as a piece of agitprop to call attention to the wildly anti-Palestinian, pro-Zionist bias of the Old Gray Lady, The New York War Crimes has become a monthly publication. Excellent reporting and research. From Writers Against the War in Gaza.
Jewish Currents. Founded in 1946, Jewish Currents is a [quarterly] magazine committed to the rich tradition of thought, activism, and culture of the Jewish left.
Project48. Project48 delivers the history and ongoing realities of the Nakba and its impact on Palestinian lives.
Jewish Voice for Peace. JVP is the largest Jewish Palestine solidarity organization in the world. “Not in our name:” join Jews and non-Jews fighting to end Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.
If Not Now. If Not Now is a movement of American Jews and non-Jews organizing to end U.S. support for Israel's apartheid system and demand equality, justice, and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis.
BDS Movement. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement works to end international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.
Palestinian Youth Movement. PYM is a transnational, independent, grassroots movement of young Palestinians dedicated to the liberation of our homeland and people.
Middle East Children’s Alliance. The Middle East Children’s Alliance [MECA] is a nonprofit organization working for the rights and the well-being of children in the Middle East. MECA supports dozens of community projects for Palestinian children and refugees from Syria. Since 1988 they have delivered $31 million in food and medical aid to Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon. MECA welcomes the support of all people who care about children and their future.
Students for Justice in Palestine. SJP aims to develop a student movement connected, disciplined, and equipped with the tools necessary to pursue Palestinian liberation on campuses.
American Friends Service Committee. AFSC works for a just, peaceful, and sustainable world free of violence, inequality, and oppression. We join with people and partners worldwide to meet urgent community needs, challenge injustice, and build peace.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS OF ZIONISM
“The Jewish State,” by Theodor Herzl. 1896.
How to Cook in Palestine. Histadruth Nashim Zionioth, Palestine Federation of the "Wizo" (Women's International Zionist Organization). 1990.
“The Iron Wall,” by Vladimir Ze’ev Jabotisnky. November 4, 1923.
PALESTINE: Report on [Jewish] Immigration, Land Settlement, and Development. By Sir John Hope Simpson, C.I.E. Presented by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Parliament by Command of His Majesty. 1930.
I did a lot of poking around to read documents from this Historic document timeline from Frontline.
Moshe Dayan’s Eulogy for Roi Rutenberg - April 19, 1956
HISTORICAL TIMELINE / OVERVIEW
This History of The Question of Palestine from the United Nations. (2023 I think).
PODCASTS
Citations Needed. There are many episodes of Citations Needed to recommend. You can go to their website and search for Israel. A good one to start with is Episode 201: The Conservative, Faux-Erudite Rise of Nuance Trolling. May 15, 2024. Some swearing.
The Dig - Zionism vs. Anti-Zionism with Shaul Magid Episode 1 and Episode 2 . December 7 and 17, 2023.
Trillbilly Worker’s Party - Episode 372: Stealing The Voice Of Authority (featuring Writers Against the War on Gaza). December 15, 2024. NSFW: lots of swearing.
ARTICLES & ESSAYS
Adam Johnson and Othman Ali, “How the US Media Helped the Biden Administration Distance Itself From the Horrors of Gaza” in The Nation. November 25, 2024.
Adam Johnson and Othman Ali, “Coverage of Gaza War in the New York Times and Other Major Newspapers Heavily Favored Israel, Analysis Shows” in The Intercept. January 9, 2024.
Daniel Denvir, “Zionism’s History Is Also a History of Jewish Anti-Zionism: An interview with Shaul Magid,” in Jacobin. 7 December, 2023. Also available to listen to on The Dig pod, linked above.
Sophia Stamatopoulou-Robbins, “COSTS OF WAR: The Human Toll: Indirect Deaths from War in Gaza and the West Bank, October 7, 2023 Forward.” Watson Institute of International & Public Affairs. Brown University, 1 October 7, 2024
Iffah Abid Kitchlew, “Hollywood’s Relentless Discriminatory Depictions of Arab Characters” in NUQ Views - Northwestern University Qatar. [date unknown]
Jack G. Shaheen, “Hollywood’s Bad Arabs” in The Cairo Review of Global Affairs. Winter 2015.
Stephen Shepard, “Poll: Majority of voters back Trump travel ban” in Politico. 07/05/2017.
Michael Lipka, “Muslims and Islam: Key findings in the U.S. and around the world” published by Pew Research Center. August 9, 2017.
Andrew Harman, “A One Percent Chance: Jabotinsky, Bernadotte, and the Iron Wall Doctrine,” Master’s Thesis in War, Diplomacy, and Society. Chapman University. May 2016.
The Feminist Solidarity Network for Palestine, “How The New York Times Helps Israel Weaponize Rape Allegations Against Palestinians: An Analysis.” In The New York Times War Crimes. Published by Writers Against the War on Gaza, 2024.
BOOKS
Nur Masalha. Expulsion of the Palestinians: The Concept of "Transfer" in Zionist Political Thought, 1882-1948. Institute for Palestine Studies, 1992.
Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick. Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics. The New Press, 2021.
Rebecca Vilkomerson and Alissa Weiss. Solidarity Is the Political Version of Love: Lessons from Jewish Anti-Zionist Organizing. Haymarket, 2024.
Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé, edited by Frank Barat. On Palestine. Haymarket, 2015.
Jewish Voice for Peace, Foreword by Judith Butler. On Antisemitism: Solidarity and the Struggle for Justice. Haymarket, 2017.
Ta-Nehisi Coates. The Message. One World, 2024.
Michael Scott-Baumann. The Shortest History of Israel and Palestine: From Zionism to Intifadas and the Struggle for Peace. The Experiment, 2023.
Norman G. Finkelstein. Beyond Chutzpah: On the Misuse of Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History. University of California Press, 2008.
Benny Morris. Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-2001. Penguin, 2001.
Ilan Pappé. Ten Myths About Israel. Verso, 2017.
Edward Said. The Selected Works of Edward Said, 1966 - 2006. Vintage, 2019.
Noura Erakat. Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine. Stanford University Press, 2019.
I hope these can be interesting and fruitful to your own explorations.
Thanks, as ever, for reading.
XOXO