Raymond is in error, however, when she calls Israel “a settler colonial state built on the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Palestinian population . .” There has been a continuous Jewish presence in what is now the state of Israel for over 2,000 years. More than half of today’s Israeli Jews are immigrants from other countries in the Middle East or their descendants. Raymond might agree that Israel is thus different from other colonies like 17th century Massachusetts where land was stolen from the Nonotuck and other indigenous nations. Forcing people out of homes where they have lived for generations is not OK. We can stand together in opposition to oppression without calling Israel a settler colonial state.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 30, 2021 18:56 UTC