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1 MARCH 2026. PRE-ORDER NOW

What is Zionism, where did it come from, and why does it continue to shape Israeli policy, politics and propaganda? With Zionism Decoded in 101 Quotes, Yakov Rabkin dispels common misconceptions about Zionism beginning with its origins in 17th century Protestant England. When the political ideology finally attracted Jews over two centuries later, it caused a profound rift that persists to this day. On the one hand, a militant minority has used Zionism to fuel colonization and create the “New Hebrew Man,” the brawny cynical Israeli. On the other hand, detractors assert that it is a profound betrayal of Jewish values and beliefs. Meanwhile, evangelical Christian Zionists form the backbone of Israel’s global support, seeing in Zionism a fulfillment of scripture. Then there is the Palestinian perspective; a people barely acknowledged and brutally swept to the side.

With a Foreword by Ronnie Kasrils

Zionism Decoded in 101 Quotes is the first in a series of TRACTION BOOKS from BARAKA BOOKS. Stay tuned for more news. See the second here.

Yakov Rabkin has been Professor of History at the Université de Montréal since 1973. He has also held visiting positions at universities in Australia, France, Israel, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, and the United States. His areas of expertise are contemporary Jewish history, international relations, and science and technology policies. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books, including Science between the Superpowers, A Threat from Within: A Century of Jewish Opposition to Zionism (available in fifteen languages), What is Modern Israel? (available in six languages), Demodernization: A Future in the Past, and Judaïsme, islam et modernité. The current book is also available in French and Russian.

Rabkin is frequently invited to comment on current events in electronic and print media. He has done consulting work for OECD, NATO, UNESCO and the World Bank, among others. He is a founding member of Independent Jewish Voicies (Canada).

Ronnie Kasrils, a South African Jew, devoted his life to fighting apartheid in South Africa where he was a guerilla fighter, comrade of Nelson Mandela and later Minister for Intelligence Services in the ANC Government of Thabo Mbeki.

PRAISE & REVIEWS

LAUNCH 24 March 2026: Zionism Decoded in 101 Quotes. Watch the full event here.

“Israel has nuclear weapons and has consistently attacked its neighbours. Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons and has not attacked a neighbour for 300 years.” —Yakov Rabkin in conversation with Harley Schlanger, EIR News

“The Israeli bombing of the synagogue in Iran destroyed a community who were living a full Jewish life as Iranian citizens…The view of the Jews as alien was common in Europe, but not experienced in the Middle East.” —Yakov Rabkin in conversation with Palscal Lottaz, Neutrality Studies

“Israel: A Danger to Jews and Non-Jews Alike?” —Yakov Rabkin on Substack

“Yakov Rabkin is our greatest guide to a fundamental and sad truth: Zionism is not Judaism and in many ways is the opposite of the Jewish tradition and faith.  This short and piercing book shows that Zionists consciously aimed to break from the Jewish tradition and to create a new identity.  Sadly, that identity has become malignant in its racism, hatred, and murderous violence towards the Palestinian people. This book helps us to understand this tragic reality, and through that understanding, to have a chance of redemption towards peace and justice.” —Jeffrey Sachs, University Professor at Columbia University

“The most concise and incisive challenge Zionist propaganda and Israeli Hasbara will ever face. With the help of 101 quotes, Rabkin exposes the huge project of historical and moral fabrication that cost the lives of so many people, Arabs and Jews alike. A must read and invaluable companion for both novices and well-read audiences on the topic of Zionism and Palestine.” —Ilan Pappé, historian, University of Exeter, author of Ten Myths about Israel

“Rabkin has taken a highly complex and often polarizing subject and presented it in a form that invites reflection rather than reaction. What struck me most was the way the book foregrounds multiplicity of perspective. By bringing together voices from different traditions, political positions, and historical moments, it allows readers to see how Zionism has been understood, contested, and reinterpreted over time. I also admire the intellectual restraint of the approach. Rather than arguing through assertion, Rabkin allows the quotations themselves to carry the weight of interpretation. This creates space for readers to engage critically and form their own understanding, which feels especially important in such a sensitive and historically charged field.”—Philippa Gregory, author

“Zionism’s relation to Judaism—that is, to Jewish histories and traditions—remains one of the most challenging questions posed to Judaism itself.” —Yaacov Yadgar, Professor of Israel Studies, University of Oxford, author of To Be a Jewish State

“They say that dynamite comes in small packages. This compact booklet, more an illuminating essay with remarkable quotes, strikes Zionist fabrications between the eyes like a slingshot. And the ogre crumbles.” —Ronnie Kasarils, Former South African guerilla, then Minister in the government