During a Black Friday shopping trip to a Massachusetts bookstore, outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden was seen holding The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917–2017, authored by Rashid Khalidi, a professor emeritus at Columbia University. The book presents a contentious perspective, describing the establishment of Israel as an act of "settler colonialism" met with Palestinian "resistance." This framing contrasts starkly with the traditional U.S. stance of unwavering support for Israel, both diplomatically and militarily.
The Biden administration has consistently backed Israel, approving significant military assistance and justifying its military operations in the Middle East, even amid international criticism. Biden himself has described his Zionist leanings in the past, famously stating, "You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist." His presidency has seen repeated affirmations of support for Israel, including his visit to the country during its conflict with Hamas. However, tensions have reportedly grown between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Biden privately expressing frustration over civilian casualties in Gaza, allegedly using strong language to describe Netanyahu's approach.
Khalidi’s book provides a critical analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, arguing that the modern history of Palestine is best understood as a "colonial war" waged to dispossess the indigenous population and establish a homeland for another group against their will. Khalidi, a Palestinian-American scholar, has long been a vocal critic of U.S. and Israeli policies in the region. Reacting to reports of Biden holding the book, Khalidi said, "My reaction is that this is four years too late," implying regret that Biden did not engage with such perspectives earlier in his presidency, particularly during key policy decisions.
While it remains unclear whether Biden purchased the book for personal reading or received it as a gift while in the bookstore, his public association with it has sparked speculation. Critics and observers are questioning whether this signals a shift in his personal views or merely reflects curiosity about alternative narratives of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The timing of this incident adds to the intrigue, given Biden's upcoming departure from office and his administration's complex legacy on Middle East policy. The gesture has drawn significant attention, both from those who view it as a sign of potential introspection and others who see it as symbolic, with little impact on entrenched U.S. foreign policy. This moment further highlights the enduring sensitivity surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in U.S. political discourse and the polarized reactions that discussions of it inevitably provoke.
