Lobbying For Zionism On Both Sides Of The Atlantic

The untold history of how pro-Israel lobbying groups influence US and British policy

In 1896, a Jewish state was a pipe dream. Today the overwhelming majority of Jews identify as Zionists. How did this happen?

Ilan Pappe unveils how over a century of aggressive lobbying changed the map of the Middle East. Pro-Israel lobbies convinced British and American policymakers to condone Israel’s flagrant breaches of international law, grant Israel unprecedented military aid and deny Palestinians rights. Anyone who questioned unconditional support for Israel, even in the mildest terms, became the target of relentless smear campaigns. Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic shows us how an unassailable consensus was built – and how it might be dismantled.

''A tour de force, comprehensive, authoritative and fair-minded, unveiling the lobby''s politically and ethically dubious methods that have ensured unparalleled amounts of Western military aid and a shield of diplomatic immunity for the Israeli state’s apartheid-like policies for seventy-five years, as well as Zionist control of the global narrative about Palestine.''  Peter Shambrook, author of Policy of Deceit

''A magisterial study of the secret weapon of Zionist success in the arena of world politics — the lobby. Deeply researched and forcefully argued, this is a major contribution to the literature on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.'' Avi Shlaim, author of Three Worlds

‘Ilan Pappe is Israel’s bravest, most principled, most incisive historian.’

''All the renowned qualities of Ilan Pappe’s scholarship and craft as a historian are in evidence here: his comprehensiveness, his utter dedication, his command of the range of sources and material, his integrity and his humanism. Above all, this latest work on lobbying demonstrates Ilan’s lifelong commitment to establishing the truths necessary to enlighten citizens across the world – so that they can change it to a more just one.'' Professor Karma Nabulsi

''Ilan Pappe is a magnificent historian and storyteller. He narrates a chilling yet illuminating saga of the systematic denial of Palestinian history and humanity. Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic is a haunting and powerfully instructive tale of deliberate investment in injustice and obfuscation. Essential reading.'' Professor Ussama Makdisi

''For decades, vociferous lobbying has kept Britain and America’s political classes committed to supporting Israel, according to this piercing study... Pappé’s fine-grained narrative weaves together many probing lines of inquiry... This offers a vital international perspective on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.'' Publishers Weekly

''This timely book from one of the finest historians of contemporary Israel deserves to become the subject of urgent contemporary debate.'' Peter Oborne, Middle East Eye

Ilan Pappe is Professor of History at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies and Director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter. He is the author of over a dozen books, including the bestselling The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. In 2017, he received the Middle East Monitor’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Palestine