Prominent Israeli Historian: What is Happening in Gaza is Genocide and Zionism Has Transformed into a Racist Ideology

In his new book, published in English under the title 'Israel: What Went Wrong?', US-based Israeli historian Professor Omer Bartov concluded that Israel has committed and is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Bartov, a researcher specializing in genocide crimes, explained that what he observes within the Strip falls entirely under the definitions of the 1948 United Nations Convention, placing the state in an unprecedented moral, legal, and historical dilemma.

Bartov holds the position of John P. Birkelund Distinguished Professor of European History at Brown University, specializing in the Holocaust and genocide studies, and is considered one of the most cited scholars in this field globally. His conclusion has sparked widespread controversy in academic circles and Jewish communities, especially since he comes from a Zionist background in which he grew up, before reaching the conviction that Zionist ideology has exhausted its purpose and transformed into a tool of oppression.

In an interview with media outlets, Bartov revealed the difficulties he faced in publishing his book in Hebrew within Israel, where publishing houses, including those considered left-leaning, refused to adopt the book at present. He noted that the book will be published in eight international languages, while facing an intellectual blockade in Israeli society that refuses to confront the harsh realities of its army's practices in Gaza.

The historian believes that Zionism as a state ideology has abandoned the possibility of building a normal state for its citizens and has transformed into a military and expansionist system characterized by racism and extreme violence. He warned that the continuation of this approach will turn Israel into a full 'apartheid' state, which will ultimately lead to the emigration of educated elites and the remaining population in an isolated and internationally ostracized state.

Bartov predicted that Israel would lose the support of its most important allies in Europe and the United States, which have begun to see Israeli policies as a threat to their interests rather than a shield. He stressed that this shift is not a product of antisemitism, as some promote, but rather a direct result of Israel's actions that have delegitimized its historical existential arguments.

Regarding the use of the Holocaust in political discourse, Bartov explained that the Holocaust has become the 'glue' that unites Israeli society and is used to justify any military action as an existential threat. He criticized the politicization of this historical event, emphasizing that the response to the Holocaust cannot be to commit another genocide against another people, stressing that this logic cannot stand morally.

Concerning the events of October 7, Bartov described Hamas's actions as a war crime, but at the same time affirmed that armed resistance to occupation and siege is a legitimate act under international law. He compared the Palestinians' pursuit of self-determination to historical resistance movements, considering that Israel failed militarily to eliminate Hamas despite its comprehensive destruction of the Gaza Strip.

The historian sharply criticized the American administration, specifically President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken, considering that they did nothing real to stop the war. He affirmed that Washington had the ability to end the conflict within hours by exerting serious pressure on the Israeli government, but chose silence and participation in the continuation of the catastrophe.

Bartov linked what is happening today to the Nakba of 1948, noting that the current logic in Gaza is ethnic cleansing through systematic destruction. He explained that when attempts to displace the population failed due to a lack of a place for them to flee, the occupation moved to the option of mass killing, which represents the essence of the crime of genocide now being carried out in cold blood.

Bartov revealed his monitoring of the emergence of 'militias' within the Israeli army operating according to messianic and extremist religious orders, far from the traditional military hierarchy. He noted that these units receive prayers and inhumane directives before battles, reflecting the unprecedented infiltration of extremist ideology into the security, police, and Shin Bet agencies in the state's history.

The historian considered that Israeli society is undergoing a radical transformation towards a 'political religion' that blends Zionism with extremist messianic interpretations rooted in Rabbi Kook. This transformation creates a deep rift with Jews around the world, especially in America, who find it increasingly difficult to reconcile their liberal values with supporting a state that openly commits crimes of genocide.

Bartov warned of the danger of turning 'antisemitism' into a political weapon to silence any voice criticizing Israel, emphasizing that this behavior ultimately serves real antisemitism. He noted that student protests in American universities were essentially against the war, and not stemming from religious hatred, despite systematic attempts at distortion they faced.

In conclusion of his vision, Bartov noted that Israel, by its alleged representation of world Jewry, provides the 'best pretext' for the resurgence of racist forces in the West. He warned that future leaders in the United States might cut the close relationship with Israel if it continues to be a moral and political burden, putting the future of its existence in real danger.

It is worth noting that Omer Bartov is the son of the writer Hanoch Bartov, who won the 'Israel Prize,' and he himself participated in the 1973 war as a soldier in the Israeli army. His transition to academic work in the United States since 1989 gave him a broader critical perspective that enabled him to dismantle the myths underlying contemporary Israeli policy in dealing with the Palestinian issue.

It is ironic and tragic that a movement that began as an attempt to liberate Jews from persecution ends as a racist and violent movement.