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Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine | 
 enlarge | Author: Joel Kovel
Publisher: Pluto Press
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
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Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 86274
Media: Paperback
Pages: 311
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5 x 0.5
ISBN: 0745325696
Dewey Decimal Number: 320.54095694
EAN: 9780745325699
ASIN: 0745325696
Publication Date: February 15, 2007
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Product Description
Joel Kovel argues that the inner contradictions of Zionism have led Israel to a "state-sponsored racism" fully as incorrigible as that of apartheid South Africa and deserving of the same resolution. He argues that only a path toward single-state secular democracy can provide the justice essential to healing the wounds of the Middle East. Kovel is well-known as a writer on the Middle East conflict. In this book he draws on his detailed knowledge to show that Zionism and democracy are essentially incompatible. He offers a thoughtful account of the emergence and disintegration of Zionism that integrates psychological, political, cultural, economic, and ideological levels. Ultimately, Kovel argues, a two-state solution is hopeless as it concedes too much to the regressive forces of nationalism, wherein lie the roots of continued conflict.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 The Importance of Kovel's book on Zionism April 30, 2007
Victor Wallis
147 out of 165 found this review helpful
Kovel deepens the debate over Zionism. He writes powerfully, from a position fully cognizant and respectful of the highest ethical standards in Jewish tradition. He shows, more effectively than any other writer I know, the utter groundlessness of the the accusation that those who reject Zionism are thereby "antisemitic." He demonstrates that the Zionist project has been from its outset a colonial one, and thus an aberration from traditions of respect for human rights (including those of Judaism itself). It is important to note that when Kovel speaks of "overcoming" Zionism, he is not thinking of its being vanquished militarily; he is speaking of transcending it. His prose speaks to what is noblest in all of us. Transcending an agenda like that of Zionism means bringing about reconciliation: in this case overcoming not only the political conflict between two peoples claiming the same land, but also the differences within the Jewish community which, especially in the United States, have made the full and open airing of these underlying issues almost taboo.
An important work - highly recommended May 26, 2007
K. Boulos (Seattle, WA)
132 out of 150 found this review helpful
Kovel's book is the best survey of Zionism, its roots, its outcomes and why it is one of the most destructive ideologies today for Jews, Palestinians and the rest of the world. The primary conclusion that he draws is that the primary road to peace is the dismantling of Zionist ideology as a whole and putting in its place a construct based on Universal human rights and respect for the human dignity of all individuals.
What is unique about his analysis is that he looks at Zionism from all angles - including its psychological, sociological, religious, economic and geopolitical aspects. He then looks at the state of Israel and how the marriage of Zionism with all instutions of the state and society has created a haven for Jewish religious fanaticism, militancy, violence and racism. These aspects of the state and society are, because of the nature of Zionism, ever-increasing and becoming more and more dangerous, with no mechasims for self-correction.
For Zionists, hardcore believers or passive acceptors, reading this book will present them with a perspective that they have not likely heard before and a very important reality adjustment for their world view. For non-Zionists it will enable them to understand what exactly is so problematic with this Zionist ideology which has resulted in such strife for almost a century. Finally it presents a prescription for action to overcome Zionism both in Israel, the US and everywhere else.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
One of the best books on Zionism June 15, 2007
anti-zionist Jew (California)
113 out of 132 found this review helpful
This book stands with, if not surpassing Uri Davis' Apartheid Israel, Akiva Orr's Israel, and John Rose's book The Myths of Zionism. With a unique combination of history, psychoalalytic insight, and truly excellent writing, it weaves so many important threads together, from the bad consicience that haunts the modern Zionist to the political machinations that have given rise to the state of Israel and the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.
As someone that has travelled to Occupied Palestine on a number of occaisons and volunteered with the ISM, this book should be read by activists and all who are concerned about the people of Israel/Palestine. Forget the usual political analysis, the dogmatic attachment to the 2 state solution, the never ending "peace (piece?) process," that never brings peace, this book identifies the illness which is Zionism, and the need for Justice for Palestinians, which will bring peace someday.
Overcoming Zionism October 9, 2007
I
27 out of 35 found this review helpful
Joel Kovel's "Overcoming Zionism" is a well argued and timely book. The author argues that to achieve peace in Israel/Palestine the racist dogma of Zionism, as well as the founding myths of the state of Israel, must be cast aside. His is a vision for a one state solution which he calls Palesrael. The measure of the effectiveness of his argument can be judged by the hysterical wailing of the CAMERA/Front Page foot soldiers (see one star reviews).
 Anti-Israel rhetoric July 19, 2007
Meyer A. Rothberg (Saugerties, NY)
23 out of 139 found this review helpful
One would think that Kovel, trained in psychiatry and psychoanalysis, would have been embarrassed to begin his book with so much unresolved anger towards his Jewish family. The vitriol with which he attacks Zionism and, for Kovel, it's odious product - Israel - is understandable in the context of his unfortunate family history. His obliviousness to this would explain his leaving of psychiatry/psychoanalysis as a career.
This book is, indeed, a classic. It lies with such books as "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" and other blindly biased attacks on Zionism. Professor Kovel spoke at a bookstore recently and even a friend of mine who is sympathetic to the idea of a "one state solution" to the Israel-Palestinian conflict said he sounded "anti-Semitic." As he is Jewish by birth, I suppose this does make him a "self-hating Jew." Yet it appears he is quite in love with himself and his views. So he is a self-loving Jewish hater of Zionism and Israel.
Hebrews, as a national entity, have a right to a homeland. Eretz Yisroel has been our homeland from early times, before Hebrews were driven out by the Romans. Jews have resided there, sometimes in small numbers, for all these centuries and Zion has resided in the minds, hearts and souls of Hebrews for all these same centuries. The language of Hebrew has been used as well; gravestones in Europe are written in Hebrew.
There is no argument that can deny these facts and there is no argument that can deny Hebrews their homeland.
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