DayofPal– Outgoing US President Joe Biden left a Nantucket bookstore, to the surprise of many, holding a book that delves into the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, on Black Friday.
Titled The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017, the book by Columbia University professor emeritus Rashid Khalidi explores the establishment of Israel through the lens of colonialism, juxtaposed with the steadfast resistance of the Palestinian people.
The sight of Biden holding the book quickly captured widespread attention, prompting a response from Khalidi, who is of Palestinian and Lebanese descent. “This is four years too late,” he remarked to The New York Post, taking issue with Biden’s timing.
Khalidi expressed frustration, pointing out that the book’s exploration of historical injustices and the complicity of US administrations in the Gaza genocide deserved more immediate recognition.
The book presents contemporary Palestinian history through the lens of a colonial struggle, revealing the relentless efforts of various powers determined to uproot Palestinians from their ancestral lands.
Khalidi also takes aim at former President Donald Trump’s administration, branding it a “mouthpiece” for Israel, while criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for leading what he terms “the most extreme” government in Israel’s history.
As a staunch critic of US media’s partiality toward the Palestinian cause, Khalidi chose not to delve further into his comments. Nevertheless, his remark about President Biden holding the book reflects a long-standing frustration with US policies concerning Palestine.
Biden, who often refers to himself as a Zionist, made no public comment about the book. It remains unclear if he bought it or received it during his visit to Nantucket Bookworks.
Biden has consistently expressed support for the occupation state of Israel, telling Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier this month, “You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.”
The timing of Biden’s appearance with Khalidi’s book comes as debates over US foreign policy in the Middle East continue to intensify. Khalidi’s statement highlights the growing divide between US rhetoric and the lived realities of the Palestinian people.
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