Mohannad Ayyash Analyzes Zionism as a Colonial System at the Fourth KHANA Expert Meeting
At the fourth international expert meeting of KHANA, Mohannad Ayyash, a PhD in sociology and a member of the Palestinian Policy Network (Al-Shabake) and the Institute for Palestine Studies (IPS), engaged in a discussion with Fatemeh Sa’adati, analyzing Zionism as a colonial system. This conversation, focusing on the role of independent think tanks in redefining the discourse of resistance and analyzing recent developments in West Asia, emphasized the urgent need for a radical rethinking of the current global order. Ayyash described Zionism not as a “local conflict”, but rather as an expression of global imperialist structures—one that requires a transregional coalition grounded in ethical justice to resolve.
Committed Knowledge Production in the Face of Discursive Domination
Ayyash highlighted the vital role of independent research institutions like Al-Shabake and the Institute for Palestine Studies, calling them essential spaces for producing knowledge often censored or distorted in mainstream Western academia and media. According to him:
“In a situation where ideological apparatuses of power engage in systemic censorship, these institutions become fortresses of truth-seeking.”
He rejected the notion of neutrality in research on Palestine, asserting that scholars in this field must take a moral stance:
“Choosing between silence in the face of oppression or speaking in the name of justice is itself a position. What matters is not the claim of neutrality, but a commitment to methodological rigor and intellectual honesty in the service of truth.”
The Ongoing Colonial Project: From 1948 to the Present
In his historical analysis, Ayyash argued that Zionism was designed from the outset as a settler colonial project—one aimed not at exploitation, but at eliminating and replacing the native society. He pointed to an intensification of this trend in recent years:
“What we have witnessed since 2023 is not a change in the nature of the Zionist project, but rather its most exposed and violent phase.”
He noted the conceptual shifts within colonial studies, observing:
“While the settler colonial framework is more accepted in Western academia today, Palestinians have long understood and resisted this reality in practice—even if they didn’t use the current academic terminology.”
A Radical Critique of International Institutions
Ayyash took a radical stance toward international institutions such as the United Nations and international law:
“These institutions are not the solution—they are part of the problem. At their core, they are products and reproducers of the same colonial logic that has victimized Palestine.”
In his view, relying on such mechanisms to achieve justice is a dangerous illusion.
Toward a Global Anti-Colonial Alliance
Ayyash proposed the formation of a new global alliance of justice-seeking powers:
“Countries such as Iran, South Africa, Brazil, China, and other actors from the Global South must unite around a shared ethical commitment to justice.”
He emphasized that this coalition must go beyond traditional diplomacy:
“Israel is not just a local state; it is a key instrument of the American empire for controlling resources and maintaining the global order. Therefore, confronting it must be part of a broader project of transforming the world system.”
Liberation as a Civilizational Project
Ayyash stressed that decolonization should not be limited to the formation of a new state:
“We need a complete redefinition of the concepts of sovereignty, justice, and international order. Movements like BRICS, while important, cannot become true alternatives so long as they remain trapped in the logic of global capitalism.”
Hope in Resistance and Meaningful Living
When asked about the possibility of hope, Ayyash cited Edward Said:
“The best revenge is to live well.”
However, he interpreted “living well” not as consumerism, but as a conscious, committed, and collective life. He spoke of the influence of thinkers such as Edward Said, Cedric Robinson, Joseph Massad, and Hamid Dabashi on his work, stressing that today’s intellectuals bear an unprecedented responsibility:
“They must reject subjugation within the apparatuses of power and stand with the people.”
You can watch the full version of this conversation on KHANA’s Aparat and YouTube Channel
