The following two-part series of The Socialist Program with Brian Becker delves into the real history of the Israeli state. Both episodes feature Richard Becker, author of Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire—a book for which Liberation School has a study and discussion guide. Initially published in 2009 by Liberation Media, the second edition of the book appeared in early 2024 through 1804 Books. The episodes are simultaneously an accessible entry point into the history of the Palestinian struggle and a detailed analysis of the key issues at play that help explain why the movement for Palestinian liberation has taken the world by storm.
Episode 1: The colonial roots of Zionism
The Israeli state was born in 1948 when zionists colonized Palestine. What are the colonial roots of Israel and what role does Israel play in the pursuit of policies mirroring the interests of U.S. and western imperialism?
