Avi Shlaim is a prominent Iraqi-born Israeli-British historian and Emeritus Professor at Oxford University. Born into an Arab-Jewish family in Baghdad and having served in the IDF, he was a staunch supporter of Zionism in his youth. However, after extensively researching declassified government archives, he fundamentally changed his views and became one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s official historical narrative.
As a leading figure of the “New Historians” movement, he gained global acclaim for his book “The Iron Wall,” which systematically deconstructs Israel’s policy of prioritizing military might over diplomatic compromise. For his outstanding contributions to Middle Eastern international relations, he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), and his works are considered authoritative references in the field.
Shlaim steadfastly supports Palestinian self-determination and publicly denounces occupation policies as “state terrorism” through sharp commentary in mainstream media and international advocacy. He argues that only by acknowledging historical truths and ending colonial mindsets can the inclusivity of the Jewish spirit be rescued and a just coexistence between Jews and Arabs be achieved. He believes the international community must pressure Israel to end its systemic oppression of human rights.