Ilan Pappé: Zionism is Entering Its ‘Last Phase’
As Israel resumes its bombing of Gaza, over 400 people—many of them women and children—have been killed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the attacks until the hostages are freed. Yet, despite the severity of the situation, mainstream media coverage remains muted, failing to adequately highlight the scale of the destruction and humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
One voice offering a stark historical perspective on these events is Ilan Pappé, an Israeli historian, political scientist, and former politician. Pappé, a professor at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, has long been critical of Zionism, and in a recent interview with Al Jazeera, he argued that the movement is reaching its final phase—a culmination of decades of expansionism and political ambition that he believes will ultimately lead to its collapse.
The ‘Final Chapter’ of Zionism
“I’m willing to say, with some caution, that this is the last phase of Zionism,” Pappé asserted. “Historically, ideological movements—whether colonial or imperial—tend to reach a ruthless and ambitious climax before collapsing under their own contradictions.”
According to Pappé, several factors are accelerating this decline:
International isolation – Israel is increasingly facing scrutiny and legal challenges, including charges of genocide at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Internal fractures – Israeli society is growing more divided, particularly as its leadership embraces an extreme form of neo-Zionism.
Pappé sees this “neo-Zionist” ideology as an aggressive attempt to finalise what previous Zionist leaders pursued more gradually: complete territorial control of historic Palestine and the removal of as many Palestinians as possible.
“This new leadership of Zionism is trying to complete the project that began in 1948. They are attempting in a short time what previous generations worked towards incrementally,” he explained.
The Role of U.S. Foreign Policy
Beyond internal dynamics, Pappé argues that Israel’s reliance on external allies—particularly the United States—is also a fragile pillar of its existence. He suggests that shifts in U.S. foreign policy could weaken Israel’s strategic position.
He predicts that Donald Trump’s presidency, with his return to office, will destabilise the U.S. economy, leading to a diminished American role in the Middle East.
“A scenario where the U.S. reduces its involvement in the region is a positive one,” Pappé noted. “The political order established after World War I is collapsing before our eyes. This includes Israel and Palestine. These long-term regional shifts could ultimately benefit the Palestinians and pave the way for a truly decolonised state.”
Indoctrination and Dehumanization
Pappé also warns that Israel’s political radicalisation is deeply ingrained in its education system and society. More than two decades ago, he predicted that Israeli curricula would become even more extreme, shaping future generations with hardened ideological beliefs.
“This is the product of a society indoctrinated from cradle to grave,” he said. “Many Israelis can look at the bodies of dead Palestinian children and say, ‘Good, very good.’ This level of dehumanisation is ingrained in Israeli DNA, and confronting it requires more than just providing information—it demands a fundamental reprogramming of society.”
A Turning Point in History?
While Pappé’s views remain controversial—especially among Israeli and Western policymakers—his analysis aligns with broader global trends. Israel is increasingly at odds with international legal institutions, its domestic politics are growing more extreme, and its over-reliance on the U.S. may prove to be a vulnerability rather than a strength.
Whether Zionism is truly in its “final phase” remains to be seen. However, if history is any guide, movements built on colonial expansion and exclusion rarely endure indefinitely. As the battlegrounds shifts, Pappé argues, the question is not if change will come, but how soon.
