Zionism’s flipside: a reconsideration of settler colonialism in Israel/Palestine

Abstract

This article offers a corrective for how the concept of settler colonialism is often understood and used in research and commentary on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For more than a decade, the term “settler colonialism” has become central to scholarly and activist discussions about Zionism, the Palestinians, and their ongoing conflict–especially after October 7, 2023. This article applies a settler-colonial framework to Zionism to explain two simultaneous trends: the aggressive ethnonationalism that impacts Palestinians today and a historical drive toward Jewish-Arab parity and integration. In doing so, this article suggests that current perspectives on Zionism frequently overlook its historical dynamism and the role of Palestinians in shaping it. Such a shift in understanding of settler colonialism and Zionism promises not only a richer historical analysis but also a more constructive approach to engaging with the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.