In January 2006, I traveled to Palestine and Israel. As a young Jewish American woman who was raised on Zionist narratives and came of age during the second Palestinian Intifada, I was on a path towards my own re-education. I traveled to the West Bank on a Birthright Unplugged tour to see Palestinian life and listen to Palestinian voices.

While most of my time was spent with Palestinians, I spent a few days with my family members in Israel and their friends. Listening to both Palestinian and Israeli stories led me to realize how my lack of historical information impedes my ability to contextualize and interpret current perspectives.

Eight months after my return, I devoted an academic year to a full-time, self-directed study of Zionism and Palestinian nationalism (September 2006 to June 2007). During that time, I held bi-weekly Shabbat dinners in my home, sharing what I learned with my community. This process demonstrated for me just how joyful learning can be. The questions, excitement, and support my community offered me propelled me forward and sustained me during times of uncertainty. Upon finishing my project, I decided to put together a summary of what I learned – for those who traveled with me on my journey and those I have never met. This is my book report.

This is not a history of Israel or Palestine. It is a history of the Zionist and Palestinian nationalist movements. It is not a complete history; it is meant to offer historical context, to augment information you may get elsewhere. Through this process, I have realized how much there is to know. I want to share with you the information that I've learned while I honor the multitude and complexities that I have yet to uncover.

You will find that I have more material on Zionism than on Palestinian nationalism. One reason for this is the overwhelming amount of English-printed information on Zionism, and the deficit of English-printed material on Palestinian nationalism. Another reason is that I had more struggling to do with Zionism, and thus needed more material to assist me.

Through these pages, I argue that histories of Zionism and Palestinian nationalism need to be understood through the larger systems of nationalism, capitalism, colonialism, racism, and imperialism. Examining Zionist and Palestinian nationalist histories separate from these systems will not further our understanding of the past. Indeed, it may prevent us from ever understanding what has come before us. Changing our lens to focus on systems of oppression – this can enable us to truly understand the past – and envision a different future.

What does this mean for us today? I believe it means that there is no solution to the violence in Palestine/Israel that does not confront capitalism, nationalism, colonialism, racism, and imperialism. I believe that we endanger ourselves further by failing to see the connectedness of these systems throughout the globe.

The occupation of Palestine is inherently linked to the violence between India and Pakistan, the genocide of Native Americans, and the poverty of Sub-Saharan Africa. All are manifestations of the same systems of oppression. When we fail to attack the systems, we unfailingly attack each other. This is not the way towards liberation. Let us instead mourn the violence we have perpetrated against each other, and seek new systems for real collective liberation.

Clearly, I did not complete this project alone. Thank you Mary Jirmanus, Joseph Berman and Jessica Pulver for editing this booklet and providing continual challenge and encouragement. Thank you Joanna Kent Katz, Alexis Matza, Isaac Hodes, Winston Mann, Hannah Mermelstein, Micha Josephy, Liz Jackson, Judy Ellman, Nikki Morse and others for your support, ideas, resources, questions, disagreements, and Shabbat potluck offerings.

I offer this booklet with hope and love. I imagine that many readers will disagree with my analysis. I do not ask that you blindly agree with me. I do ask that you consider my ideas and share with me your own.

Love and learning,

Marjorie Dove Kent

August 2008, Boston, Massachusetts

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