Jewish Identity and Palestinian Rights: Diaspora Jewish Opposition to Israel

Jewish Identity and Palestinian Rights discusses the growing movement of diaspora Jewish opposition to Israel. While many Jews are supporters of Israel, ever since Israel's establishment there have been diasporic Jews who have opposed the state, whether from an ideological anti-Zionist standpoint or simply reacting to its treatment of Palestinians. Recently though, this has been transformed into a collective attempt to withdraw legitimacy from Israel's claim to represent Jews and to forge a specifically Jewish collectivity that opposes Israel's policies. This unique book is a description of this vibrant social movement, it examines their activities and ideologies in depth in order to find out how significant this movement is and argues that these activists challenge traditional diasporic Jewish representations of itself, and offer a different version of what it means to be Jewish. As an account of a new, fascinating and increasingly significant social movement, this book will make an important contribution to the fields of Israel/Palestine studies, and responds to urgent questions in social movement studies.

"Landy's Jewish Identity and Palestinian Rights is a fascinating sociological and political account of the internal discussion of Jewish identity regarding the question of Israel/Palestine. Surely a must read for those on either side of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement as well as those engaged in navigating the future of Jews, Israel and Palestinians." - Marc H. Ellis, Director of the Center for Jewish Studies, Baylor University, Texas "The history and future of Jewish critique on Israel is one of the most elusive and neglected aspects in the  history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. At last, we have an authoritative and incisive analysis that has to be an essential item of any reading list on Palestine and Israel in the future." - Professor Ilan Pappe, Director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies "A critical, yet movement relevant book that convincingly counters Zionism's ghettoism and negation of Jewish universalism. By highlighting the moral obligation of supporting Palestinian rights to self determination and freedom from Israel's colonial oppression, David Landy's intriguing book strives to de-colonize Jewish thinking itself, transcending the deeply troubling Judeo-centric approaches to Palestine that often entrap it." - Omar Barghouti, human rights activist, author of Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS): The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights

Diaspora Jews are increasingly likely to criticize Israel and support Palestinian rights. In the USA, Europe, and elsewhere, Jewish organizations have sprung up to oppose Israels treatment of Palestinians, facing harsh criticism from fellow Jews for their actions. Why and how has this movement come about? What does it mean for Palestinians and for diaspora Jews? Jewish Identity and Palestinian Rights is a groundbreaking study of this vital and growing worldwide social movement, examining in depth how it challenges traditional diasporic Jewish representations of itself. It looks at why people join this movement and how they relate to the Palestinians and their struggle, asking searching questions about transnational solidarity movements. This book makes an important contribution to Israel/Palestine and Jewish studies and responds to urgent questions in social movement theory.

David Landy is an Irish-Jewish academic, active in the Palestine solidarity movement. Formerly chair of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, he is currently based in Lancaster University, where he teaches contemporary social and cultural theory, and race and migration.

Introduction

1. Understanding and researching the social movement

2. The conflict over diaspora Jewish identity

3. The Jewish field and its dissidents

4. Israel critical activists between the universal and the community

5. The terrain of activism

6. Rooted cosmopolitans: participants and Palestinians

Conclusion