Connections Episode 75: Memoirs of an Arab Jew with Avi Shlaim

On Wednesday, 6 September, Jadaliyya co-editor Mouin Rabbani spoke with Avi Shlaim about his recent memoir, Three Worlds. This episode of Connections examines the impact of the Arab-Israeli conflict upon Arab Jews, their position in Israel, and related issues discussed in Three Worlds.
Connections offers timely and informative interviews on current events and broader policy questions, as well as themes relevant to knowledge production. It combines journalism, analysis, and scholarship.
Guest:
Avi Shlaim, a British-Israeli historian, is an Emeritus Fellow of St. Antony’s College and Professor Emeritus of International Relations at the University of Oxford. A leading member of Israel’s “New Historians”, his books include Collusion Across the Jordan: King Abdullah, The Zionist Movement, and the Partition of Palestine (1988); The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World (2001); Israel and Palestine: Reappraisals, Revisions, and Refutations (2010), and most recently Three Worlds: Memoir of an Arab-Jew (2023). A frequent press contributor and media commentator on Middle East affairs, Shlaim was in 2006 elected Fellow of the British Academy.
Host:
Mouin Rabbani has published and commented widely on Palestinian affairs, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the contemporary Middle East. He was previously Senior Analyst Middle East and Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and head of political affairs with the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. He is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya Ezine.

[@Marius_vanderLubbe]

I have read all of Mr Shlaim's earlier works on Palestine. He is very much appreciated. Thank you for bringing him here.

[@Marius_vanderLubbe]

What a fantastic interview.

[@elcoveney6459]

Mouin - I am very impressed and moved by this interview. Thank you so much. I cried tears of pain, happiness and joy at Prof Schlaim’s explanation of the Co-existence of Iraqi Jewish and other minorities that existed in Iraq and how they were really integral to Iraqi society. But also for the impact that the creation of the state of Israel has on the Palestinians and the rest of the Middle East. Much like Professor Schlaim, I believe that anti-Semitism and Zionism are European exportations. Many issues of the Middle East have arisen by links to European “intervention” and the West’s obsession with gaining power and resource from the region - linked with European colonialism from Britain and France. Together, they exploit this with total disregard to human life - and that of many Middle Eastern citizens - and what’s more, citizens are left feeling dehumanised and unable to control their narrative. I hope that many more people are able to see and understand a unique and beautiful experience of what life was like as an Arab AND a Jew through watching this interview. As a British- Lebanese Maronite Catholic - I understand well the beauty of multiplicity of identities. The world must see the beauty and richness of the Middle East - and maybe, instead of stealing resources and demonising its people - particularly with the rise of Islamophobia - learn from Middle Eastern peoples and their abilities to co-exist peacefully prior to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 - - and someday - the end to the plight of the Palestinians.

[@Ded_Silu]

Professor Shlaim is a very sweet man, a scholar and a gentleman. His life story is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story as well. Are you writing a memoir?

[@angelikareinhardt9860]

Why is all this so less known?

[@iz5327]

Great Humanist very honest historian. Shame how many viewers, people don't like truth they only like lies. Very sad fait the future of our world. Thank you very much for your great work. God bless you both 🙏

[@jmgowdh]

Francis Fukuyama. Not Fujiyama.

[@Chicag343]

I remember the Iraqi jewsh whom went to Israel most of them left to uk and USA