Azmi Bishara Links Zionism's Origins to European Colonialism
In a November 2025 lecture in Paris, Azmi Bishara, Director General of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, argued that the Zionist movement's origins in the 19th century were deeply intertwined with European colonial ambitions and Western support. Bishara, speaking at a conference hosted by his center, contextualized the establishment of Israel within this historical framework, noting European interest in Palestine dating back to Napoleon and subsequent settlement projects promoted by Western associations. He highlighted British official Laurence Oliphant's 1879 proposal for Jewish settlement in areas like Ajloun and Karak as an example.
Bishara's lecture aimed to highlight the West's "moral error" towards Arabs in Palestine and critique the colonial context of the Arab East. He suggested France, as a birthplace of the Zionist movement in Europe, was a fitting venue for this critique. The article notes that Bishara's work, particularly his critique of Western values and promises of freedom, has drawn criticism from Israel against him and institutions he oversees in Doha. He asserted that Western intellectuals in the 19th century conducted surveys in Palestine to find evidence supporting their religious beliefs and assess the feasibility of reviving a biblical Jewish kingdom.
Bishara posited that the "Jewish question" was a product of European modernity, which simultaneously deemed Arabs and Muslims as backward and in need of Western guidance. In a recent interview discussing the Arabic Encyclopedia "Arabyka," he drew a parallel to the 1883 debate between Jamal al-Din al-Afghani and Ernest Renan, where al-Afghani defended Arab intellect against Renan's claims of its inability to engage in philosophy and science. Bishara emphasized that significant Arab and Islamic intellectual projects often emerged during periods of political decline, suggesting that scientific advancement offers a path to revival.
He clarified that his Paris lecture was not a lament for the past but a critical examination of Western responsibilities and evolving Jewish perspectives on Zionism and antisemitism, distinct from the Palestinian experience. Bishara criticized the European Union and individual European nations for granting Israel preferential treatment, treating it like a European state despite its policies against Palestinians. He believes this Western patronage influenced the response to the October 7, 2023, events, enabling Israel's actions in Gaza and West Bank settlement expansion, ultimately benefiting Israeli extremism.
However, Bishara observed that a new generation, influenced by postmodern thought, is challenging the notion of a "European Israel" and advocating for indivisible human values, distinguishing between perpetrators and victims. He suggested this shift is reflected in the current political stances of some Western leaders, citing a recent British stance towards Israel as an example. The article concludes by acknowledging Qatar's support for Bishara's institutions in Doha, while emphasizing his intellectual independence and his contribution to developing a new form of Arab intellectual and scientific authority, positioning Doha as a center for neglected humanistic knowledge.
