The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi A Century of Struggle, Survival, and the Fight for Justice
Prepared by the researche : Hadeel Abdelmottaleb Abdelaziz Youssef – Senior Analyst, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, School of Science and Engineering, AUC-Egypt
Democratic Arabic Center
Journal of extremism and armed groups : Seventeenth Issue – November 2024
A Periodical International Journal published by the “Democratic Arab Center” Germany – Berlin
:To download the pdf version of the research papers, please visit the following link
Abstract
Rashid Khalidi’s The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine is a book that doesn’t just recount history—it reclaims it. Through a blend of meticulous research and deeply personal storytelling, Khalidi presents the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not as a tragic accident of history or a clash of two equal claims, but as a long, deliberate campaign of settler colonialism, dispossession, and resistance. Spanning from 1917 to 2017, this book is an unflinching examination of a century of systemic efforts to erase Palestinian identity, balanced by an equally compelling chronicle of Palestinian resilience.
Khalidi brings a paradigm shift when it comes to understanding the conflict. He asserts it to be a war, a war of the Palestinians waged against them by the Zionists and supported by external forces, Britain and the USA. We see him construct an argument against the distorted realities reflecting the long existing ideas of the innocent West through unblushing lies, and no, it is not a conflict but a stage of an active colonization.
Author Background and Perspective
Rashid Khalidi is a prominent scholar, born in Jerusalem and witnessing the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His extensive academic career, including his role as Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, positions him as a critical voice in the discourse surrounding Palestine. Khalidi’s unique perspective as both a historian and a Palestinian exiled from his homeland informs his work, making it not only scholarly but also deeply personal. His dual identity as a Palestinian-American enriches the narrative, allowing readers to connect with the material on both an intellectual and emotional level.
Historical Evidence and Analysis
Khalidi’s narrative is rich in historical evidence, supported by a vast array of sources, including archival research, oral histories, and contemporary accounts. His meticulous attention to details enhanced the book’s credibility, allowing readers to witness the unfolding of events through a well-documented perspective.
The inclusion of maps and photographs serves to illustrate the geographical and political transformations over the decades. For example, maps depicting the changing borders and settlement patterns effectively convey the physical manifestations of colonialism and occupation. These visual elements provide context, helping readers visualize the complex dynamics of land and identity that defines the conflict.
Khalidi’s accessible writing style balances scholarly rigor with narrative fluidity, making the book engaging for both academic and general audiences. His ability to articulate complex historical events in clear language ensures that readers can understand the conflict without feeling overwhelmed.
Structure of the Book
The book is structured into six chronological chapters, each detailing pivotal moment in Palestinian history from the Balfour Declaration of 1917 to the contemporary era.
- Chapter 1: The Balfour Declaration and Its Aftermath (1917-1947)
Khalidi begins with the 1917 Balfour Declaration, in which the British government expressed support for a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. This declaration laid the groundwork for a settler-colonial project, setting in motion the dispossession of the Palestinian population. Khalidi captures the hopes and fears of Palestinians during this period, illustrating how the declaration catalyzed both Jewish immigration and Palestinian resistance. - Chapter 2: The Nakba and Its Aftermath (1948)
The narrative shifts to the catastrophic events of 1948, “the Nakba”, which witnessed the forced displacement of approximately 700,000 Palestinians. Khalidi paints a vivid picture of the human suffering experienced during this period, using personal testimonies and historical accounts to convey the deep psychological and social impacts of this trauma. He highlights the loss of homes, livelihoods, and lives, pointing out that the Nakba is not just a historical event but a continuing reality for Palestinian refugees today. - Chapter 3: The Six-Day War and Occupation (1967)
Khalidi discusses the impact of the Six-Day War, during which Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip intensified the challenges for Palestinians. He details the transformations in Palestinian society, including the rise of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the shift toward armed resistance. This chapter serves as a critical exploration of how the occupation has altered Palestinian lives, culture, and political aspirations. - Chapter 4: The First Intifada and the Oslo Accords (1987-1993)
The book continues with the First “Intifada”, a public uprising against Israeli occupation that highlighted the resilience of the Palestinian people. Khalidi captures the spirit of resistance and the international solidarity that emerged during this time. However, he contrasts this with the disappointment over the Oslo Accords, criticizing them for not addressing key issues such as refugee rights and the status of Jerusalem. - Chapter 5: The Second Intifada and Its Consequences (2000-2005)
In discussing the Second “Intifada”, Khalidi reflects on the profound despair that consumed the Palestinian community after the peace process collapsed. He tackled the escalation of violence and the brutal military responses from Israel, illustrating how this period increased divisions and suffering. Khalidi’s analysis highlighted the disillusionment felt by Palestinians, emphasizing the urgent need for a reevaluation of the peace process. - Chapter 6: Contemporary Struggles and the Path Forward (2005-2017)
The final chapter addresses contemporary issues, including the fragmentation of Palestinian politics, the rise of Hamas, and the ongoing Israeli settlement expansion. Khalidi critiques the international community’s role, particularly the United States’ complicity in maintaining the status quo. He concludes with a call for solidarity and justice, urging readers to recognize the need for a just resolution to the conflict.
The Power of Khalidi’s Perspective
What makes The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine so powerful is its deeply personal perspective. Khalidi is not just a historian—he is one of Palestine’s prominent families, and his life has been deeply impacted with the events he witnessed. From the rooftop of his family’s waqf (religious endowment property) in Jerusalem, he recalls gazing at the city’s ancient skyline, aware of the layers of history beneath its stones. He recounts going through his family’s archives—dusty books, faded letters, and brittle manuscripts—finding in them the voices of ancestors who lived through the earliest days of Zionist settlement.
This personal connection enriches the book with an emotional depth that many historical accounts lack. Khalidi is not just an observer but a participant as well, and his experiences and family history provide a magnified lens through which to view Palestine’s modern history. These stories humanize the broader narrative, reminding readers that the story of Palestine is not just one of politics and war, but also of real people—families, communities, and generations—who have lived, loved, and resisted under extraordinary conditions.
A Profound Reclamation of History and Identity
Rashid Khalidi’s The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine stands as both an academic masterpiece and personal narrative, offering a perspective on the history of the Palestinian people that is often missing from mainstream discourse. By framing the conflict as a century-long colonial war against Palestinians, Khalidi not only reexamines the political and historical dynamics of the region but also restores voice to a people frequently invisible in global narratives.
This book is more than just history; it is an indictment of colonialism, a critique of international complicity, and a testament to the enduring resilience of the Palestinian people. Khalidi skillfully blends historical analysis with personal insights, drawing on his unique position as both a scholar and a descendant of one of Palestine’s notable families. The result is a deeply compelling account that challenges widely held assumptions and provides a much-needed corrective to the dominant narratives surrounding this ongoing conflict.
A Personal Lens on a Global Conflict
What sets The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine apart from other historical accounts is Khalidi’s deeply personal connection to the material. As a member of the Khalidi family, whose roots in Jerusalem stretch back centuries, the author brings a unique perspective that blends the scholarly with the intimate. His childhood memories, family archives, and personal anecdotes add layers of emotional depth to the historical analysis.
For example, Khalidi recalls his time living in the Khalidi family waqf in Jerusalem’s Old City, where he immersed himself in the family’s extensive collection of manuscripts and historical documents. These archives, containing everything from 19th-century letters to rare books in Arabic, Turkish, and Persian, serve as a foundation for many of the insights presented in the book. Through this personal lens, Khalidi connects the broader historical narrative to the lived experiences of Palestinian families like his own, offering readers a rare glimpse into the human dimension of the conflict.
This personal connection allows Khalidi to vividly portray the impact of key historical events on individuals and communities. His family’s displacement during the upheavals of World War I, his father’s memories of the British Mandate period, and his own experiences during the Israeli occupation provide a poignant counterpoint to the broader geopolitical analysis. These moments remind readers that the story of Palestine is not merely a tale of politics and diplomacy but one of real people whose lives have been shaped—and often shattered—by the forces of history.
The Colonial Nature of Zionism
Central to Khalidi’s argument is the assertion that Zionism, from its inception, was a colonial project designed to displace Palestine’s indigenous population. He situates this within the broader context of 19th-century European settler colonialism, drawing parallels to similar projects in North America, South Africa, and Australia. Khalidi challenges the notion—often propagated by Zionist narratives—that the establishment of Israel was a unique and inevitable response to Jewish persecution in Europe. Instead, he argues that it was a deliberate colonial endeavor supported by Western powers, particularly Britain and later the United States.
Khalidi meticulously documents how the British Empire, through policies like the 1917 Balfour Declaration, facilitated the Zionist project at the expense of Palestine’s Arab majority. The declaration’s language, which promised a “national home for the Jewish people” while vaguely assuring that the “civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities” would be respected, is dissected to reveal its colonial implications. Khalidi points out that Palestinians—who comprised 94% of the population at the time—were deliberately excluded from the political rights promised to Jewish settlers. This erasure of Palestinian identity, he argues, was a cornerstone of the Zionist strategy.
The book goes on to highlight how Zionist leaders like Theodor Herzl and Ze’ev Jabotinsky openly embraced colonial rhetoric, viewing Palestine’s indigenous population as an obstacle to be removed. Khalidi quotes Jabotinsky’s infamous “iron wall” doctrine, which argued that the establishment of a Jewish state could only be achieved through force and the suppression of Palestinian resistance. By framing Zionism within this colonial context, Khalidi offers a powerful critique that challenges readers to reconsider the moral foundations of the project.
Perhaps the most enduring motif of The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine is the involvement of international forces in the active and ongoing dispossession of Palestinians. From Britain’s pursuit of colonies in the early 20th century to modern America’s partnership with Israel, Khalidi demonstrates that in all instances, outside powers favored the Zionist project against Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
The British Mandate period (1920-1948) is descriptive of that nexus that order and chaos apparently work in complex ways together. Khalidi explains how Britain nurtured and advanced the Zionist cause by allowing large-scale Jewish immigration, providing military and financial assistance, and quelling Palestinian resistance. The so-called Arab revolt 1936-1939, an armed mass uprising by the Palestinian people against both British imperialism and Zionist encroachment, is perceived by Khalidi to have marked an important stage in their struggle. Soon explains Khalidi, the British met the uprising with, mass deportation, indiscriminate shooting, and relentless military campaigns leading to the occupation and burning of many Palestinian towns, thus crippling the head and spine of any cohesiveness in the Palestinian national movement.
In the subsequent scenes of the 20th century that is the post World Wars I and II era, Khalidi turns his attention to the United States, stating ‘This has been the key to Israeli control and growth ever since’. He criticizes U.S. policymakers for their unconditional support of Israel, often at the expense of international law and Palestinian rights. Khalidi traces this relationship back to the Truman administration, which recognized Israel within minutes of its declaration of independence in 1948, and examines how successive administrations have continued to prioritize Israeli interests, from military aid to diplomatic backing at the United Nations.
Palestinian Resistance and Resilience
While The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine is a sobering account of dispossession and betrayal, it is also a celebration of Palestinian resilience. Khalidi devotes significant attention to the various forms of resistance that have shaped the Palestinian struggle, from armed uprisings to cultural preservation. He highlights moments of resistance, such as the 1936–1939 revolt, the first and second intifadas, and the ongoing protests against Israeli occupation and settlement expansion.
Khalidi also emphasizes the importance of cultural resistance, including the role of Palestinian literature, art, and music in preserving national identity. He describes how Palestinian writers like Mahmoud Darwish and Ghassan Kanafani have used their work to articulate the aspirations and grievances of their people, ensuring that the Palestinian narrative remains alive even in the face of relentless efforts to erase it.
Importantly, Khalidi rejects the notion that Palestinians are passive victims of history. Instead, he portrays them as active agents who have continually adapted their strategies and tactics in response to changing circumstances. Whether through political organizing, grassroots activism, or international advocacy, Palestinians have demonstrated remarkable determination in their quest for justice.
A Critique of Narratives and Myths
One of Khalidi’s most significant contributions is his critique of the myths and narratives that have shaped Western perceptions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He challenges the idea that the conflict is a tragic but inevitable clash between two equal sides, arguing instead that it is a profoundly asymmetrical struggle in which one side wields overwhelming power while the other fights for survival.
Khalidi is specifically critical of the portrayal of Palestine as a “land without a people” awaiting a “people without a land.” He traces this trope back to early Zionist propaganda and shows how it has been perpetuated in Western media, literature, and political discourse. By exposing the colonial origins of this narrative, Khalidi challenges readers to confront how language and framing have been used to legitimize Palestinian dispossession.
The greatest strength of The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine lies in its ability to combine scholarly rigor with personal storytelling. Khalidi’s deep knowledge of history, politics, and international relations is evident throughout the book, but it is his personal connection to the material that gives the narrative its emotional resonance. The book is both a scholarly analysis and a heartfelt plea for justice, making it accessible to both academics and general readers.
The Hundred Years War on Palestine possesses the greatest strength of integrating academic depth and language with personal history. Khalidi is knowledgeable in history, politics and international relations and this is amply manifested throughout the book, but what is truly unique is his love for the subject. This is in autobiographical format. The two stands make the book worthwhile, it is an academic discussion of the subject and at the same time it calls for justice.
Conclusion: A Vital and Timely Contribution
The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine is a vital contribution to the study of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To this end, the book is immensely scholarly and of a moral call. It successfully makes a case of a structural perspective that can transform perceptions of the conflict.
This book should be on the shelf of everyone who aims to comprehend the reasons behind this conflict and why it has persisted. “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine” provides profound historical context, an intimate perspective, and an uncompromising ethical vision—it is not merely a book. It is an endorsement.
