The illusion of the engine of civilization

The idea was simple, despite its blatant colonial nature. It consisted of the Zionist movement carrying out the same actions previously perpetrated by European colonial powers such as Britain, France, Belgium, and others. The idea involved choosing a land and a people, striving to occupy it, killing as many of them as possible, and replacing them with large numbers of their own people, especially those with criminal records, prisoners, and the unemployed. This occurred in Australia, South Africa, Namibia, the Congo, New Zealand, the United States, and elsewhere.

Therefore, the Zionist movement ensured that European powers would not object to its actions, as they had already done the same. Furthermore, the exodus of Jews from Europe was a demand made by many European politicians at the time, driven by antisemitism. These sentiments remain alive among them. What strongly refutes the myth that Palestine was always the “Promised Land” is the intense and serious debate that took place at the First Zionist Congress regarding the selection of the “best homeland.”

Opinions ranged from Argentina to Uganda, but Palestine was ultimately chosen, seemingly by chance. Later, the San Remo Conference was held, preceded by the Balfour Declaration, which called on Britain to facilitate the immigration of European Jews to Palestine.

Subsequently, the United Nations issued a resolution in 1947 to partition Palestine, and the Jewish state was declared in 1948. The book titled “The Illusion of Western Civilization” reveals the extent of the genocide perpetrated against the Palestinian people, most recently in Gaza. The book’s author, Hamid Dabashi, explains the details of the test in which Western civilization failed, as well as the unholy alliance between the two sides. He asserts that Western support for Israel is the result of years of immoral collusion between them. What happened, and continues to happen, in Gaza today is not an exception, but rather a repetition of what has previously occurred in dozens of countries invaded and colonized by these powers, and a clear indication of their bankruptcy.

The outrage we have witnessed in some European capitals over the massacres in Gaza is nothing more than an attempt by some people with a conscience to restore the moral values that have been lost by the societies and intellectuals of those countries. The genocides in Gaza are merely a repetition of previous colonial genocides. Therefore, Israel’s existence is as unnatural as France’s presence in Algeria and Vietnam during the colonial era. Israel exists in a hostile environment and can never become peaceful or tolerant of it.

It is therefore absurd to believe that Israeli Jews will ever feel safe, or that circumstances will compel them to become the driving force that pulls their enemies toward progress and civilization, as some suggest. Israel is not that naive. After forty years of peace with Arab states, Israel has failed to create less hostile societies. Hatred of Arabs remains deeply entrenched, and hostility toward Israel remains palpable. This has reinforced Israel’s reluctance to contribute to the advancement and progress of its enemies. Israel has never offered, and never will offer, its expertise or technology to the Arabs.