Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine

by Joel Kovel

Overview

Joel Kovel argues that the inner contradictions of Zionism have led Israel to a 'state-sponsored racism' fully as incorrigible as that of apartheid South Africa and deserving of the same resolution. Only a path toward a single-state secular democracy can provide the justice essential to healing the wounds of the Middle East.

Kovel is well-known writer on the Middle East conflict. This book draws on his detailed knowledge to show that Zionism and democracy are essentially incompatible. He offers a thoughtful account of the emergence and disintegration of Zionism that integrates psychological, political, cultural, economic, and ideological levels.

Ultimately, Kovel argues, a two-state solution is essentially hopeless as it concedes too much to the regressive forces of nationalism, wherein lie the roots of continued conflict.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780745325699
Publisher:	Pluto Press
Publication date:	04/20/2007
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	880,046
Product dimensions:	5.32(w) x 8.46(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Joel Kovel has served as a professor in Psychiatry, Anthropology, Political Science, Social Studies and Communications. He is currently editor-in-chief of Capitalism Nature Socialism (http: //www.cnsjournal.org/). Kovel has developed his distinctive approach, which draws on both psychoanalysis and Marxism, across a wide range of publications. His ten books include The Enemy of Nature: The End of Capitalism or the End of the World? (2002), White Racism: A Psychohistory (1970) and Red Hunting in the Promised Land: Anticommunism and the Making of America (1994). Kovel is also a political activist and a media commentator.

Table of Contents

Prologue
Part One COMING TO ZION
1. A People Apart
2. The Unnatural History of a Bad Idea
3. The Spectre of Shoah
Part Two THE JEWISH STATE
4. The Only Democracy in the Middle East
5. Facts on the Ground
6. Partners in Zion
7. Bad Conscience and State Racism
8. Slouching Toward Jerusalem
Part Three ZIONISM OVERCOME
9. Beyond the Two-State Solution
10. Palesrael: A Secular and Universal Democracy for Israel/Palestine
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

'An impressive, important book. If persons following the current discussion and concerned about the problems of Jews and Zionism and Israel and the Middle-East, even world peace, could have but one book on the subject on their shelf, it should be this one''Absolutely fundamental for those who reject the unfortunate confusion between Jews, Judaism, Zionism and the State of Israel - convincingly argues in favour of a single secular state for Israelis and Palestinians as the only democratic solution for the region''Joel Kovel's uncompromising criticism of Zionism is rooted in a very deep feeling of empathy and solidarity with his fellow-Jews caught in the death-trap of the Zionist adventure. The way out Kovel is suggesting - a bi-national Israeli-Palestinian state - may be challenged, but definitely not ignored'

From the Publisher