In 1948, Zionist terror forces expelled 750,000 Palestinians from their homes, carrying out unspeakable massacres in what would be called the nakba. The nakba - or catastrophe - has never ended. Over the past 17 months we have witnessed the US and Israel wage a genocidal war on Gaza. Such crimes against the Palestinian people, now and over the past 10 decades, have been carried out in the name of Zionism: the foundational and guiding ideology of the State of Israel. 

The world has woken up to the brutal realities of Zionism, understanding it to be a project that kills children, bombs hospitals, tortures prisoners, occupies land, assassinates journalists - a project that seeks to destroy the Palestinian people and those who stand with them. Realizing its condemnation in the eyes of the global majority, Israel has designated $150 million of its 2025 budget to propaganda efforts, in an attempt to reshape international public opinion by concealing Zionism’ genocidal and colonial nature on the world stage. 

In the midst of this battle of ideas, we present the course “Understanding Zionism: A 6-Part Study for the Palestine Movement.” It is critical that we equip ourselves with a precise understanding of Zionism –  its history, tendencies, foundations, aspirations, and contradictions. Like all struggles for liberation, we must understand the adversary. The movement for Palestinian liberation has grown and blossomed and public opinion across the world has dramatically shifted in favor of the Palestinian cause. As the genocide is intensifying and threatening to create a second nakba in Gaza, we now more than ever need to deepen our understanding of the Zionist project and strengthen our engagement in the Palestinian cause. 

Over the course of 6 sessions, participants will deepen their comprehension of Zionism with the aim of expanding their engagement in the movement for Palestinian liberation. Together, the course provides answers to the following questions: What is the history, origins, and foundational principles of Zionism? How have Palestinian revolutionaries understood Zionism? How and why did the “special relationship” between Israel and the US emerge? How has Zionism advanced right-wing forces in partnership with the US? What is the path forward for the global movement for Palestine today? 

Understanding Zionism: A Six-Party Study for the Palestine Movement is a 3-week hybrid course, that runs from April 29 to May 16, meeting on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET of each week, with with some exceptions. 

Please submit this registration if you are interested in joining the course. The form will remain open throughout the course, but we do ask if you sign up after it has started that you catch up using the materials provided.