Background
Type: Article

Liberal Humanism and Zionism: A Reading of Via Dolorosa and Wall by David Hare

Journal: Research in Contemporary World Literature/ Pazhuhesh-e Zabanha-ye Khareji (25887092)Year: March 2025Volume: 30Issue: Pages: 25 - 48
DOI:10.22059/jor.2024.382255.2570Language: Persian

Abstract

The discourse of Zionism has had a significant impact on Western culture since World War II, which has been particularly evident in contemporary literature, especially in America and Britain. This influence is further amplified by the Zionist dominance of the cultural industry and the historical context of the Holocaust and the establishment of Israel in 1948. These factors have led to a massive production of artistic and literary works by both Jewish and non-Jewish artists and writers, exploring these themes and their implications. Of special interest in this regard is the way the so-called liberal writers have tackled what has come to be referred to as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Western media. The present article aims to look into the representation of the aforesaid issue in Via Dolorosa (1998) and Wall (2009) by David Hare, a liberal writer with (previously) leftist tendencies. Drawing on the views of a number of theorists and historians such as Edward Said and Ilan Pappé, the writers highlight how Hare’s account contradicts his liberal claims of avoidance of prejudice, pursuit of justice and advocacy of human rights. This study argues that Hare’s seemingly documentary narratives, supplementing each other, turn into propaganda-like pieces whitewashing a long history of occupation and atrocities by the Israeli regime. © The Author(s).