President Biden Spotted Holding Book Criticizing Israel’s Policies
During a recent visit to Nantucket Bookworks, President Biden was seen leaving with a copy of “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017” by Rashid Khalidi, a professor emeritus at Columbia University. This book portrays Israel as a colonial power and emphasizes the Palestinian resistance. The President’s choice of reading material is significant, considering his repeated support for the Jewish state.
Author Rashid Khalidi, who has Palestinian and Lebanese heritage, expressed his reaction to Biden holding his book. He stated that while he did not speak to the New York Post (or the Times), he believed that the President’s interest came four years too late. It is worth noting that the newspaper did not agree to any off-the-record or on-background conditions for Khalidi’s response.
The book argues that the history of Palestine can be understood as a colonial war waged against the indigenous population, with various parties involved in forcing them to give up their homeland against their will. The exact circumstances of how Biden obtained the book remain unclear.
Criticism of Israeli Policies and Biden’s Support for Israel
Khalidi has been vocal in his criticism of Israel and its policies. He denounced the first Trump administration as a “mouthpiece” for Israel and condemned the humanitarian toll in Gaza following an attack by Hamas that resulted in the death of around 1,200 people, including American hostages. He expressed confusion about the political objectives of Israel, particularly in relation to the situation in the Northern Gaza Strip.
President Biden has faced criticism from both Israeli supporters and pro-Palestinian activists. While he has declared his support for Israel, he has also placed conditions on U.S. aid and temporarily halted the shipment of heavy munitions. Pro-Palestinian supporters have labeled him “Genocide Joe” and voiced concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza. The President has reportedly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu behind closed doors.
The Book’s Perspective on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
“The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine” was published in 2020, before the Trump administration facilitated diplomatic relationships between Israel and five Muslim countries. It criticizes Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and recognize Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, which were captured from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967. The book also highlights alleged discriminatory policies against Palestinians and praises the first intifada, a period of Palestinian resistance that took place from 1987 to 1993.
Khalidi argues that settler-colonial confrontations with indigenous peoples historically end in one of three ways: the subjugation or elimination of the native population (as seen in North America), the defeat and expulsion of the colonizers (a rare occurrence, such as in Algeria), or the abandonment of colonial supremacy through compromise and reconciliation (as witnessed in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Ireland).
