Published in 2015 and structured around frank dialogues, interviews, and individual essays, On Palestine brings together two of the most influential critics of Israeli policy: MIT intellectual Noam Chomsky and Israeli historian Ilan Pappé. Edited by activist Frank Barat, the volume combines probing conversations and standalone reflections that dissect the roots, present realities, and future possibilities for the Israel–Palestine conflict news.uthm.edu.my+15paradigmshift.com.pk+15amazon.com+15the40weeks.net.
Dialogue Format: Structure & Tone
The core of the book comprises five conversations on distinct themes:
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The Past
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The Present
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The Future
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Inside Israel
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Inside the United States the40weeks.net
Following these, each author provides individual essays that recap or expand on prior themes. The format is conversational, offering clarity and insight though sometimes repetitive toward the end .
Settler Colonialism & Historical Context
Both authors assert that Israel functions as a settler‑colonial state. Pappé underscores parallels between Zionist settlement and colonial frameworks like those found in Australia and North America reddit.com+14paradigmshift.com.pk+14electronicintifada.net+14. Chomsky contextualizes this, noting that such settler states benefit from Western support rooted in colonial legacies news.uthm.edu.my.
On the conflict’s origins, Pappé takes a revisionist stance, arguing that ethnic cleansing was intentional from the outset. He outlines how Zionist planning targeted Palestinian displacement—a thesis developed in his earlier work The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine publishersweekly.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2. Chomsky corroborates large-scale displacement figures, estimating some 300,000 Palestinians fled by May 1948 en.wikipedia.org.
Critique of the Two-State Paradigm
A central disagreement centers on the two-state solution:
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Chomsky views it as the only feasible path, anchored by international consensus. He contends that U.S. pressure could force Israel to negotiate — though in its current form, the concept offers Palestinians hardly viable autonomy znetwork.orgelectronicintifada.net.
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Pappé dismisses the two-state framework as inherently flawed, arguing it legitimizes an ongoing settler‑colonial project and entrenches apartheid structures. Instead, he advocates for a single democratic state that grants full equality to all, including Palestinian refugees palestinechronicle.com+4electronicintifada.net+4aminaalijournalism.wordpress.com+4.
This divergence reflects a broader ideological rift: pragmatic internationalism versus radical structural change.
On BDS and International Solidarity
The authors offer separate perspectives on Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS):
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Pappé strongly supports cultural and academic sanctions, viewing them as tools against normalization of occupation shortform.com+3the40weeks.net+3en.wikipedia.org+3aminaalijournalism.wordpress.com+4paradigmshift.com.pk+4znetwork.org+4.
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Chomsky is more cautious. He argues that any boycott campaign should include Palestinians and prepare for counterarguments around free speech .
Despite this tactical difference, they agree on the vital importance of grassroots activism and changing public opinion as prerequisites for meaningful policy shifts .
Media, Propaganda & US Influence
Chomsky and Pappé emphasize that Western media frames Israel as the victim and Palestinians as aggressors—a misrepresentation that sustains the status quo en.wikipedia.org+15news.uthm.edu.my+15paradigmshift.com.pk+15.
Chomsky traces Western bias to imperial interests and lobby influence, labeling the U.S. a problematic “honest broker” palestinechronicle.com. Pappé adds that systematic Islamophobia paved the way for Western support of Israel .
Palestinian Agency and Outreach
A frequent critique is that the book lacks Palestinian voices. Pappé and Chomsky both acknowledge this absence electronicintifada.net+1pan-asian.blogspot.com+1. While the dialogue is primarily intellectual, a student reviewer noted the lack of first‑hand Palestinian narratives—a gap the authors themselves acknowledge .
Nonetheless, the work emphasizes Palestinian agency through discussion of social media mobilizations, grassroots campaigns, and legal advocacy .
Gaza and Ongoing Violence
Their previous collaboration, Gaza in Crisis (2010), reverberates within On Palestine with detailed critiques of Israeli military aggression, civilian casualties, and the role of U.S. arms transfers znetwork.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2publishersweekly.com+2. Gaza is depicted as a testing ground for systematic oppression—met with moral urgency and strategic urgency for change .
Criticisms of On Palestine
Despite praise from readers—some calling it essential reading ﹣ others criticize:
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The academic tone may feel repetitive.
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The lack of Palestinian voices and lived experiences is a valid critique .
Criticism also extends to Pappé’s methodology: some scholars accuse him of misrepresenting sources or over-politicizing history (though his supporters emphasize the value of his morally driven narrative) .
Significance and Legacy
On Palestine combines Chomsky’s analytical rigor—on media, geopolitics, and state power—with Pappé’s revisionist historiography—on colonialism and ethno-nationalism. Together, they challenge conventional narratives, urging the reader to question received truths and consider bold alternatives .
The book fuels global conversations about injustice, encouraging solidarity grounded in historical truth, legal parity, and structural change.
Conclusion
On Palestine is an intellectually engaging and morally urgent entry in the discourse on Israel–Palestine. Through their exchanges, Chomsky and Pappé illuminate why the conflict persists: entrenched settler-colonial power, media distortions, lack of accountability, and unaddressed rights of Palestinians.
Chomsky leans on diplomacy, consensus, and activist pressure; Pappé advocates for dismantling colonial structures and abolishing partition. Both see solidarity, justice, and public consciousness as indispensable to any resolution.
While the absence of Palestinian voices is a notable oversight, the book remains a vital resource for those seeking a comprehensive critique of conventional peace frameworks—and a deeper understanding of the struggle for Palestinian rights.
