Review of Nur Masalha's The Bible and Zionism by Ron Dart

Nur Masalha, The Bible and Zionism: Invented Traditions, Archeology and Post-Colonialism in Israel-Palestine (London: Zed Books, 2007), 

There are plenty of books that proudly fly the Jewish and Christian Zionist flags. There are a variety of paths to Zionism, and there are different types of Zionism, but there is no difficulty, for those minimally alert and attuned, to be aware of the Zionist cause. 

Those who long for a more thoughtful and balanced approach to the Middle East and Jewish-Palestinian issues do need to hear and heed the voices that speak from different places on the spectrum. The Bible and Zionism is a thoughtful and well pondered tale of how the Bible, the Jewish and Christian traditions and much modern archeology and textual research have been co-opted by a Zionist agenda. 

Part I (‘The Bible, Zionism and the Invention of Tradition’) ponders how both the Jewish and Christian traditions have been both distorted and invented to serve the Zionist perspective. ‘The Bible is Our Mandate: Zionism, The Hebrew Bible and the Palestinian Catastrophe, 1881-1967’ and ‘Biblical Prophecy and Christian Imperialism: Christian Zionism, Armageddon Theology and the Battle for Jerusalem’ thread together two compact chapters that make the case in a clear and succinct manner. Masalha stitches point after point together to demonstrate his position in a cogent and demanding manner. Needless to say, most Jewish and Christian Zionists will be offended by the track taken, but if such converts fail to follow the articulated position, they are going to miss many insights on the landscape. Masalha’s core point is made in different ways. The way the Bible has come to be interpreted by both Jewish and Christians Zionists is an invented and questionable tradition. There are other ways to read the Bible than that which the Zionists unquestionably support and insist is the one and only way to interpret the ancient text. 

Part II (‘From the Secular to the Sacred’) moves the discussion from the ancient and near past into the present realities of Jewish-Palestinian life.

‘From Secularism to Messianism: The Theology and Geopolitics of Neo-Zionism, 1967-2006’, ‘Jewish Fundamentalism, the Bible and the Sacred Geography of Jerusalem: Implications for Inter-Faith Relations’ to ‘Reinventing Maimonides: From Universalist Philosopher to Neo-Zionist Messianic, 1967-2006’ makes the case yet again that Zionism is a distinctive ideology that is seriously reinterpreting both Judaism and Christianity, and the implications, in thought and deed, are most worrisome and problematic for Jews, Christians and Palestinians. Many are the naïve Jew and Christian that accepts such an invented interpretation, then acts on it. 

Part III (‘Invented Traditions and New Challenges’) points the way forward into a new way of thinking for Jews, Christians and Palestinians. The hope, of course, is that a more moderate and peaceful way will be acted upon if this interpretive model is embraced. ‘Palestinian Religious Nationalism, Decolonization and the Biblical Paradigm: Hamas, Zionism and Resisting the Occupation’ and ‘Is the Hebrew Bible Historical? The Invention of Tradition and the Challenge of Archeology for Biblical Scholarship and Nationalist Historiography’ will definitely unsettle and unseat the reigning perspective of Zionism. ‘The Bible, Post-colonialism and the Moral Critique: Michael Prior, Palestinian Liberation Theology and the Biblical Academy’ and ‘Cultural Resistance and the Secular Humanist Challenge: Edward W. Said, Zionism and Rethinking the Question of Palestine’ bring together two leading thinking from a Biblical (Prior) and literary (Said) background to ponder ways forward from the present malaise, injustices and cul-de-sac. The Bible and Zionism ends with a fit and fine, and the ‘Epilogue’ sums up much that has been densely argued in the book. 

Nur Masalha has argued his case well, and has called forth from Zionists an equally thoughtful response. The Bible and Zionism cannot be read in a hasty manner, but it is a must read for those interested in the ongoing and troubled Jewish-Christian-Palestinian triangle. Masalha has taken an obvious position in this book, and he is right to do so. Neutrality merely panders to the powerful, and perpetuates the tragic plight of those ensnared in the immorality of the situation. The Bible and Tradition is keeper and must read for those interested in a solid and sane critique of Jewish and Christian Zionism and potential ways out of the relentless dark night for Jews, Christians and Palestinians. 

Ron Dart   

Comments

[Editor]

Dear GP,

We appreciate your comments but need to remove them because of the pharmaceutical links attached to them. Can you please repost them without the links.

Editor

[Wayne Northey]

Oops!

Paul showed in fact "the most excellent way" (1 Cor. 12:31)...

Wayne Northey

[Wayne Northey]

Thanks Ron.

Ideologies so often end in violence and destruction of enemies. Jesus taught, "Love your enemies." Paul showed a "better way".

Zionism in some respects has become mirror image of Nazism. I have found "American Raj" by Eric S. Margolis, and "Good Muslim, Bad Muslim" by Mahmoud Mamdani very helpful in gaining a broader perspective on the Mid-east conflict.

Wayne Northey