'Iraq had no Jewish problem': As an Arab Jew, Israel made me feel inferior | Avi Shlaim
Published date: 28 September 2026 14:29 BST
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Last update: 5 hours 23 min ago
'Iraq didn't have a Jewish problem.'
Avi Shlaim is one of the most celebrated historians on Israel-Palestine. The Oxford Emeritus Professor was born into an Arab Jewish family in Baghdad, Iraq.
At five years old, his family moved to Israel, where he felt he was treated as a second-class Israeli due to his Arab background.
In this Real Talk interview, Avi sits down with Mohamed Hashem to speak about his life story, growing up as an Arab Jew inside Israel, his journey from Zionist to 'fierce' anti-Zionism, and why he now believes the two-state solution was never even born.
Avi Shlaim is one of the most celebrated historians on Israel-Palestine. The Oxford Emeritus Professor was born into an Arab Jewish family in Baghdad, Iraq.
At five years old, his family moved to Israel, where he felt he was treated as a second-class Israeli due to his Arab background.
In this Real Talk interview, Avi sits down with Mohamed Hashem to speak about his life story, growing up as an Arab Jew inside Israel, his journey from Zionist to 'fierce' anti-Zionism, and why he now believes the two-state solution was never even born.
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