Khalidi, a prominent and vocal critic of Israeli policies, particularly following the October 7 Hamas attack, argues that Israel has been waging a century-long "colonialist war" against Palestinians, with strong backing from Western powers such as the U.S. and Britain. The historian’s views on the conflict are deeply controversial, especially his assertion that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute “ethnic cleansing” without clear political goals.
Khalidi's book was published in 2020 and has sparked intense debate. In it, he contends that Palestinian history is shaped by ongoing resistance to Zionist and Israeli policies. He criticizes the actions of both President Biden’s administration and former President Donald Trump, especially their policies toward Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, which Khalidi views as discriminatory against Palestinians.
In interviews, Khalidi has stated that conflicts between settlers and indigenous populations typically lead to three outcomes: the total defeat of the indigenous people (as in North America), the expulsion of colonizers (as in Algeria), or reconciliation and compromise (as in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Ireland). Khalidi has praised the first Palestinian Intifada as a “victory” against oppression but called the Second Intifada, which led to the construction of the Israeli separation barrier, the “greatest failure” of the Palestinian national movement.
Biden's purchase of Khalidi’s book, during his participation in the annual Black Friday shopping tradition, has attracted attention, particularly as Khalidi has been openly critical of U.S. policy and Biden’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Earlier this year, Khalidi stated that he would not support Biden’s reelection, signaling a clear divide between the historian and the current administration on issues of Middle Eastern diplomacy.
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