This event, organised by students at the Geneva Graduate Institute, brings together prominent scholars and advocates and creates a space to critically examine the history, power structures, and future of Zionism, focusing on its profound and often devastating impact on the Palestinian people.
The discussion will comprise Israeli, Palestinian, and other scholars with diverse backgrounds bringing a multifaceted approach to the discussion.
Check out this website for more information and click here to register for the event.
12:15 - Panel I, The Power Paradigm of Zionism
- Hagar Kotef, Professor of Political Theory at SOAS, University of London
- Dr. Raouf Salti, Urological surgeon in Geneva, and founder of the Children's Right to Healthcare
- Joseph Daher, Visiting Professor at the University of Lausanne
This panel will provide insights into the manifestations of Zionism in historic Palestine, highlighting the interplay of soft and hard power within Israeli institutions and their impacts on medical, academic, and social realms. It will explore themes of identity, displacement, and control, linking violence and the human experience.
Moderator: Reine Radwan, MINT Master’s student at the Geneva Graduate Institute
15:00 - Panel II: The History of Zionism (Late 1800s -1948)
- Riccardo Bocco, Former Research Director at the Geneva Graduate Institute and Director of the French Center for Research on the Contemporary Middle East
- Cyrus Schayegh, Professor of International History and Politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute
The focus of this panel will be on the history of Zionism from its inception in the late 1800s, its spread and adoption as an ideology, and its culmination in 1948 with the creation of the state of Israel. It will begin with a short documentary screening titled: “And There was Israel” (2018). Following this, the panelists will enter into an enlightening discussion where they add vital perspectives to the historical materials revealed in the documentary.
Moderator: Julie Billaud, Associate Professor in the department of Anthropology and Sociology at the Geneva Graduate Institute
17:45 - Panel III: The Future of Zionism and the role of International law
- Ilan Pappé, Professor at the College of Social Sciences and International Studies and Director of the Centre for Palestine Studies at Exeter University (UK)
- Nur Masalha, Member of the Centre of Palestine Studies, SOAS, University of London and former Director of the Centre for Religion and History at St. Mary’s University
- Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967
This final part of the conversation will bring together the insights of the previous two talks linking the history of the Zionist movement to today’s reality. This third panel aims to focus on enriching the audience’s understanding of Zionism, potential pathways towards justice, and the future of the Zionist project. Professor Ilan Pappé and Professor Nur Masalha, both incredibly successful historians, will be complemented by UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese's profound understanding of international law.
Moderator: Alexa Burk, PhD researcher in International History and Politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute