The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine Summary: Heartbreaking Truth

The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine Summary: Unmasking a Century of Colonial Conflict

Introduction: A Family Story, A National Catastrophe

What if everything you thought you knew about the Israel-Palestine conflict was missing the core truth? Rashid Khalidi’s “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine” hit me like a revelation. It’s not just history; it’s his family’s story intertwined with a century of loss and resistance.

This book shatters the comfortable myth of a mere “clash” between two peoples. Instead, Khalidi meticulously argues it’s been a relentless colonial war waged against the indigenous Palestinians, backed by powerful outside forces.

Reading this The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine summary, I understood this isn’t ancient history – it’s the key to the heartbreaking headlines we see today. Khalidi, drawing on deep family archives and unparalleled scholarship, forces us to confront an uncomfortable reality often obscured.

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Core Argument: The Israel-Palestine conflict is a century-long colonial war (since 1917) against indigenous Palestinians, waged by Zionism/Israel with crucial British & US backing.

• Mechanism: Zionism operated as a settler-colonial project, requiring displacement/subjugation of natives, enabled by an “Iron Wall” of external power support.

• Key Events: Structured around Six “Declarations of War” (Balfour 1917, UN Partition 1947, UN 242 1967, Lebanon Invasion 1982, Oslo Accords 1993, Second Intifada/Gaza Wars 2000-2014).

• Themes: Negation of Palestinians, systematic dispossession & ethnic cleansing (especially Nakba 1948), Palestinian resilience (Sumud), fragmentation, and vast power imbalance.

• US Role: The US is not a neutral broker but the primary enabler of Israeli policies through massive aid and diplomatic shielding.

• Critique: Khalidi critiques all sides: Israel/Colonial project, enabling powers (UK/US), Arab regimes, and Palestinian leadership failures.

• Solution: The only just future requires full equality of rights for all people in Palestine/Israel.

• Rating: 5/5 Stars. Essential, transformative, meticulously researched, and powerfully written. A must-read.

• Audience: Anyone seeking a deep, historically grounded understanding beyond headlines – students, scholars, activists, policymakers, general readers.

• Pros: Original framework, impeccable research, unique personal perspective, clear writing, moral clarity.

• Cons: Devastating subject matter; some diplomatic/political detail can be dense (but necessary).

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The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine Summary and Review

Questions This Powerful Book Answers

Khalidi directly tackles these critical questions:

1. Is the Israel-Palestine conflict simply a clash between two national movements? (No, it’s a colonial war against an indigenous population).

2. What role did Britain play in creating the conflict? (Crucial enabler via Balfour and the Mandate).

3. What really happened during the Nakba (1948)? (Systematic ethnic cleansing to create a Jewish majority state).

4. Why did the Arab armies “lose” in 1948? (Disunity, self-interest, lack of coordination, facing a well-organized Zionist force backed by Western support).

5. How did the 1967 war change the conflict? (Reinforced Israeli dominance, began occupation of WB/Gaza/E. Jerusalem, shifted primary focus to Palestinian liberation from occupation).

6. Was the US ever a neutral peace broker? (No, Khalidi argues it has always been decisively pro-Israel, undermining Palestinian rights).

7. Why did the Oslo Accords fail to bring peace? (They entrenched occupation, normalized settlements, created a subcontracted PA, and ignored core issues like refugees and Jerusalem).

8. What is the “Dahiya Doctrine”? (An Israeli military strategy of disproportionate force and deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, used in Lebanon and Gaza).

9. How have Palestinians resisted over 100 years? (Evolving forms: political organizing, revolts, national movements (PLO), popular uprisings (Intifadas), cultural preservation, steadfastness (Sumud)).

10. Is there a path forward? (Khalidi argues only a future based on full equality of rights for all inhabitants can be just and sustainable).

What is “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine” About?

The Core Argument: A Colonial War, Not a Simple Conflict

Khalidi’s central thesis is stark and transformative: the struggle over Palestine since 1917 isn’t primarily a tragic national dispute between two equal claimants. Instead, he frames it as a continuous colonial war declared on the indigenous Palestinian population. This war aimed, and still aims, at displacing them to make way for a Jewish state. This perspective fundamentally challenges mainstream narratives. The engine driving this conflict? Zionism, viewed through Khalidi’s lens not just as a national liberation movement for Jews, but crucially as a settler-colonial project – one that required the removal or subjugation of the native population. He argues this project could only succeed with the indispensable backing of major external powers, first Britain and then, overwhelmingly, the United States.

The Six “Declarations of War

Khalidi structures his narrative around six pivotal moments he calls “declarations of war” against the Palestinians:

1. The Balfour Declaration (1917): Britain’s promise of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, made without consulting its Arab majority inhabitants, is the opening salvo. Khalidi details how the British Mandate systematically favored Zionist aims while suppressing Palestinian political rights and crushing their resistance, like the brutal suppression of the 1936-39 Arab Revolt.

2. The UN Partition Plan (1947): The international community’s vote for partition legitimized creating a Jewish state on majority-Arab land. Khalidi chronicles the ensuing Nakba (Catastrophe) of 1948: the systematic ethnic cleansing that expelled over 700,000 Palestinians, destroyed hundreds of villages, and seized their property, cementing a Jewish majority state. He also highlights the damaging role of disunited and self-interested Arab regimes.

3. UN Resolution 242 (1967): Following Israel’s decisive victory in the Six-Day War and occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, Resolution 242 became the “third declaration.” Khalidi argues it effectively legitimized Israel’s 1948 conquests and reduced the Palestinian issue to a mere “refugee problem,” ignoring their national rights, while the US-Israel alliance deepened.

4. The Invasion of Lebanon (1982): Israel’s assault on Lebanon, culminating in the siege of Beirut, targeted the PLO explicitly. Khalidi reveals US complicity (“green light”) and details the horrific Sabra and Shatila massacres. While the PLO was expelled, the invasion ironically shifted resistance focus back inside Palestine.

5. The Oslo Accords (1993): Khalidi delivers a scathing critique of Oslo, calling it a “fifth declaration.” He argues it was designed not to end occupation but to manage it indefinitely, creating a Palestinian Authority (PA) with limited autonomy acting as Israel’s security subcontractor. He points to PLO miscalculations, especially during the Gulf War, that weakened their position.

6. The Second Intifada & Gaza Wars (2000-2014): The collapse of Oslo hopes led to the violent Second Intifada. Israel responded with overwhelming force and implemented the “Dahiya doctrine” (deliberate disproportionate destruction of civilian areas) in successive wars on Gaza (2008-9, 2012, 2014). Khalidi also examines how the Fatah-Hamas split was exploited to further fragment Palestinians.

Core Themes: Erasure, Dispossession, Resilience

Throughout this century, Khalidi identifies relentless themes:

• Negation of Palestinian Existence: From Balfour’s “non-Jewish communities” to Golda Meir’s infamous “there were no such thing as Palestinians,” denying Palestinian identity and nationhood was key to justifying their displacement.

• Settler Colonialism in Action: Land acquisition (through purchase initially, then mass expulsion), the “empty land” myth, and laws designed to prevent Palestinian return or reclaim property are hallmarks of this framework.

• Overwhelming Power Imbalance: Khalidi constantly emphasizes the vast disparity – Zionist/Israeli organization, resources, military might, and crucially, unwavering Great Power support vs. Palestinian disunity, limited resources, and unreliable Arab backing.

• Palestinian Resistance & Steadfastness (Sumud): Despite catastrophic losses and fragmentation, Khalidi underscores the remarkable resilience and persistence of Palestinians in maintaining their identity and fighting for their rights, evolving through different forms of resistance.

• The Indispensable Role of External Powers: Britain’s initial sponsorship and America’s subsequent, massive diplomatic, military, and financial backing are presented as the essential “iron wall” enabling the Zionist/Israeli project to proceed.

Beyond the Narrative: Analysis & Impact

Khalidi’s Writing & the Book’s Impact

• Writing Style: Khalidi masterfully blends rigorous academic history with deeply personal narrative. His access to family archives (like his ancestor’s 1899 warning letter to Herzl) adds a unique, poignant dimension. While dealing with complex history, his prose is clear, direct, and accessible, though the subject matter demands attention. It’s scholarly without being dry, passionate without being hysterical. His use of primary sources, including damning quotes from Zionist leaders and Israeli officials, is powerful.

• Pacing: The book moves purposefully through the century. The “declarations of war” structure provides a strong backbone. Some sections covering intricate diplomatic maneuvers or internal Palestinian politics can feel dense, but the sheer weight of the narrative and the human stories keep it compelling. The pacing reflects the relentless nature of the conflict itself – moments of intense crisis punctuating periods of grinding oppression.

• The Ending & Conclusion: Khalidi doesn’t offer easy solutions but concludes with a powerful moral imperative: the only just future is one based on complete equality of rights for all people in Palestine/Israel. He forcefully reiterates the colonial nature of the conflict and the denial of Palestinian self-determination. It’s not a “happy” ending, but it’s a necessary and intellectually honest one, fitting the devastating history he has chronicled. It left me convinced that acknowledging this history is the first, non-negotiable step towards any possible justice.

• Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars. I found this book utterly essential. It’s not just informative; it’s transformative. Khalidi provides the crucial historical framework missing from most mainstream discussions. It’s meticulously researched, courageously argued, and deeply human. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the roots of today’s headlines.

• Comparison: Unlike many histories that present the conflict as a tragic symmetry or focus narrowly on diplomacy, Khalidi’s settler-colonial framework offers a far more coherent explanation for the power dynamics and Palestinian dispossession. It shares the Palestinian perspective focus of works by Edward Said (Khalidi’s colleague and friend) but provides a comprehensive century-long historical sweep structured around its powerful central thesis.

The Author: Rashid Khalidi: Voice of History, Voice of Heritage

Rashid Khalidi isn’t just an academic writing about Palestine; he’s a descendant of one of Jerusalem’s oldest and most prominent families, living this history. Currently the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, he’s a towering figure in Middle Eastern scholarship.

He also edits the crucial Journal of Palestine Studies. His previous books, like Palestinian Identity and Brokers of Deceit, laid essential groundwork, but The Hundred Years’ War feels like his magnum opus. What makes it unique is the seamless blend of impeccable scholarship and profound personal connection.

He spent over a year immersed in the Khalidi family’s private archives and libraries in Jerusalem, founded in 1899. This gives him access to intimate letters, diaries, and documents, like his ancestor Yusuf Diya’s 1899 warning letter to Theodor Herzl. His father and uncle were direct participants in the events he describes, especially the trauma of 1948. Khalidi himself witnessed key moments, like the 1967 war and its aftermath.

Your Burning Questions Answered (FAQs)

Q: Is The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine a good book?

A: Absolutely. It’s widely acclaimed as a groundbreaking, essential, and profoundly insightful history. It’s meticulously researched, powerfully argued, and offers a transformative perspective on the conflict. Expect it to challenge your understanding. Highly recommended. (5/5 stars)

Q: Has Israel and Palestine been fighting for hundreds of years?

A: Khalidi argues the modern conflict, defined as a colonial war waged against the indigenous Palestinians, began specifically with the Balfour Declaration in 1917 – hence the “Hundred Years’ War” framing. While tensions existed earlier, the systematic colonial project backed by major powers marks the start of this distinct century-long struggle.

Q: Who started the 1947-1948 Palestine war?

A: Khalidi’s analysis shows it wasn’t a war that simply “started” in a vacuum. It was the violent culmination of the colonial project enabled since 1917. The immediate trigger was the UN Partition Plan (Nov 1947), which Palestinians and Arab states rejected as unjust. However, Zionist forces were already prepared and implemented Plan Dalet in early 1948, which involved the systematic expulsion of Palestinians before any Arab state intervention in May 1948.

Q: What was the purpose of the original Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)?

A: This refers to the medieval war between England and France. It was a complex series of conflicts primarily over rival claims to the French throne and control of French territories held by the English king. It involved dynastic rivalry, feudal obligations, and national identity formation, fundamentally different from the modern colonial conflict Khalidi describes in Palestine.

Q: What is Khalidi’s main thesis?

A: Khalidi argues the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is best understood as a century-long colonial war (beginning 1917) waged against the indigenous Palestinian population, primarily by the Zionist movement (later Israel) with indispensable support from external powers (Britain, then the US), aiming to displace them and establish a Jewish state.

Q: Does Khalidi only blame Israel?

A: No. While Israel/Zionism is the primary actor in the colonial war framework, Khalidi is highly critical of Britain’s foundational role, the US’s decisive enabling support, the self-serving actions and disunity of Arab regimes, and the strategic errors and fragmentation of Palestinian leadership itself.

Q: Is this book only for academics?

A: Not at all. While deeply scholarly, Khalidi writes clearly and accessibly, weaving in powerful personal narratives. It’s essential reading for anyone seeking a serious understanding of the conflict, not just specialists.

Q: What solution does Khalidi propose?

A: Khalidi concludes that the only just and sustainable future is one based on the complete equality of rights for all people living in Palestine/Israel, rejecting systems built on supremacy or the denial of the other’s national existence.

Conclusion: Why This Book Matters Now More Than Ever

Finishing Rashid Khalidi’s “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine” left me with a profound sense of clarity, albeit a painful one. This isn’t just history; it’s the essential backstory to every news report from Gaza or the West Bank.

Khalidi’s central argument – that this is a century-long colonial war against an indigenous people, backed by superpowers – isn’t merely an academic point. It’s the key that unlocks understanding the relentless displacement, the crushing power imbalance, and the desperate resilience we witness.

His use of family history makes the colossal tragedy heartbreakingly personal. While unflinchingly critical of all sides, including Palestinian missteps, the book compels us to confront the systemic injustice at the conflict’s core.

The key takeaway? Lasting peace is impossible without acknowledging this colonial history and fundamentally committing to equality and justice for all. If you want to move beyond soundbites and understand the roots of this enduring crisis, this book is not just recommended; it’s indispensable.

Grab your copy of “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine” today and see the conflict through a truly transformative lens.