The Bible and Zionism: Invented Traditions, Archaeology and Post-Colonialism in Palestine-Israel

by Nur Masalha

Does the bible justify Zionism? Since the foundation of the Israeli state in 1948, Torah and tank have become increasingly inseparable, resulting in the forced expulsion and subjugation of millions of indigenous Palestinians.

Nur Masalha's groundbreaking new book traces Zionism's evolution from a secular, settler movement in the late 19th century, to the messianic faith it has become today. He shows how the biblical language of 'chosen people' and 'promised land' has been used by many Christian and Jewish Zionists as the 'title deeds' for Israel, justifying ethnic division and violence. With Edward Said, Masalha argues that a new politics of peace can only be achieved through a single, democratic state, which replaces religious zealotry with secular equality.

Genres: History, Religion, Judaism, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2007

About the author

Professor Nur Masalha is a Palestinian historian and formerly Director of the Centre for Religion and History at St. Mary's University, Twickenham. He is Editor of “Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies”: http://www.euppublishing.com/journal/hls, published by Edinburgh University Press. He is the author of many books on Palestine-Israel. His current work focuses on religion and politics in the Middle East, oral history and social memory theory, subaltern studies, new Palestinian and Israeli historiography, the Bible and Zionism, Holy Land toponymy, Jerusalem archaeology, theologies of liberation in Palestine and Life-Long Learning in Palestine.

Reviews

[Ramzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book by Nur Masalha on Palestine.

He examines biblical narratives such as “Chosen People” and “Promised Land”—have been instrumentalized by Zionist ideology to legitimize territorial claims, settler-colonialism, and the dispossession of Palestinians. It critiques both Jewish and Christian Zionist theological frameworks as ideological “title deeds” for Israel.


Although this book is very Narrow focused on Zionism and biblical ideology and quite repetitive.

In his other book Palestine A Four thousand year history he offers a broader chronological narrative tracing Palestine’s history from the Bronze Age through successive empires to the present day.


There he emphasizes the continuity and depth of Palestinian identity, using archaeology, philology, cartography, and historical texts to reconstruct a long-standing indigenous presence by establishing the deep historical roots of Palestinian identity and presence over thousands of years .offering a clear account of the historical reality.

I recommend reading his other book first Palestine a Four thousand years history.
It's one of my favourites on Palestinian history.

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[Xiaochen Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

the general thesis is great but the writing can be a bit repetitive