Avi Shlaim is a renowned British-Israeli historian, Emeritus Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford, and a fellow of the British Academy. He is considered one of Israel’s “New Historians,” a group of scholars who have challenged the traditional narratives of the Arab-Israeli conflict and Israel’s role in it.

As an Arab Jew, he presents accounts on the exodus of Jews from Iraq (’50-51) in his book: Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab Jew, as well as the complicity of Mossad in what were essentially false-flag attacks – something which Israel has a track record of. (see Lavon Affair, and USS Liberty incident)

He also notes that Israel has missed several opportunities to make peace with the Palestinians, particularly during the Oslo peace process in the 1990s. He argues that Israel’s continued expansion of settlements in the occupied territories undermined the prospects for a two-state solution.

Shlaim has highlighted the asymmetry of power between Israel and the Palestinians, arguing that Israel’s military, economic, and political superiority has enabled it to dictate the terms of the conflict and prevent a just resolution. He further notes the unconditional support that the U.S. has provided Israel, which has emboldened it to pursue policies detrimental to the peace process and Palestinian rights.

In his book “The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World” (2001), Shlaim examines Israel’s strategy of building an “iron wall” of military strength to force the Arabs to accept its existence. He argues that this strategy has perpetuated the conflict and hindered the prospects for peace.