The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi Summary

The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi examines the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as a settler-colonial struggle spanning 1917–2017. It highlights six pivotal declarations of war against Palestinians, emphasizing systemic displacement, Western imperial backing of Zionist aims, and Palestinian resilience. Khalidi blends archival research with personal family narratives to present a rarely documented indigenous perspective.

This book suits readers interested in decolonization, Middle Eastern history, or anti-imperialist movements. Academics, policymakers, and activists will value its rigorous analysis of geopolitical power dynamics, while general audiences gain insight into Palestinian agency amid prolonged conflict. Khalidi’s accessible prose bridges scholarly and mainstream audiences.

Yes, for its groundbreaking Palestinian-centered narrative and critical acclaim. The book challenges mainstream Western historiography by centering indigenous voices, offering fresh interpretations of Balfour, Nakba, and Oslo events. Its blend of personal memoir and academic rigor makes it a vital resource for understanding modern Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Khalidi argues that the conflict stems from settler-colonialism enabled by British and U.S. support for Zionist territorial claims. He critiques Arab leadership failures, underscores Palestinian grassroots resistance, and rejects the notion of the conflict as intractable, instead framing it as a deliberate project of displacement.

Khalidi weaves his family’s experiences—including their leadership in early Palestinian nationalism and exile—into the broader historical narrative. This personal lens humanizes systemic oppression, illustrating how elite and ordinary Palestinians navigated colonialism, war, and diplomacy.

Khalidi identifies Britain and the U.S. as key enablers of Zionist colonization, from the 1917 Balfour Declaration to post-1948 American military and diplomatic support for Israel. He argues Western powers prioritized strategic interests over Palestinian self-determination, perpetuating regional instability.

The book highlights organized political movements (e.g., PLO) and grassroots acts of defiance (e.g., First Intifada) as evidence of sustained Palestinian agency. Khalidi challenges stereotypes of passive victimhood, showcasing cultural preservation and diplomatic efforts amid systemic erasure.

While critical of the Oslo Accords and U.S.-led peace processes, Khalidi advocates for a rights-based approach prioritizing Palestinian sovereignty, refugee rights, and equality. He calls for international accountability and grassroots solidarity to counterbalance asymmetrical power dynamics.

Some critics argue the book minimizes Israeli security concerns or overemphasizes Western culpability. Pro-Israel advocates reject its settler-colonial framing, while others note limited exploration of intra-Palestinian divisions. Khalidi acknowledges these complexities but maintains a focus on structural oppression.

Unlike accounts centering Israeli or Western perspectives, Khalidi’s work prioritizes Palestinian voices and archival evidence often excluded from mainstream discourse. It complements works like Ilan Pappé’s The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by detailing colonialism’s enduring legacy.

Khalidi draws on British Mandate archives, U.N. documents, Palestinian press, and personal family papers, including correspondence with figures like Haj Amin al-Husseini. This multidisciplinary approach combines academic rigor with lived experience to challenge historical erasure.

The book contextualizes ongoing issues like Gaza blockades, settlement expansion, and U.S. policy shifts. Its analysis of cyclical violence and international law violations remains critical for interpreting current events, making it a timely resource for activists and scholars.