ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the contours of colonialism, the debate surrounding the nature of the Israeli state, the logic of Zionism, the place of Theodore Herzl in Zionist historiography, breaching the Zionist consensus, language's role in hegemony, dehumanisation, and state securitization. It traces Zionist perceptions of the Palestinians and the land on which they live, showing that although there have been diversions and nuanced interpretations of Zionism on the part of Zionist spokespersons and their supporters, a constant core has remained, which continues to typify attitudes toward the Palestinians, whether they are citizens of Israel or reside in the occupied territories: a focus on effecting population management and territorial control so as to ensure perpetual Jewish dominance in historical Palestine. The language of securitisation has been used in a blanket fashion to justify the suspension of basic human rights for the Palestinians.
