Mon Dec 02 23:13:04 UTC 2024: ## Retiring President Biden Sparks Controversy with Black Friday Book Purchase
**NANTUCKET, MA** – Outgoing President Joe Biden’s Black Friday shopping trip took an unexpected turn when he was photographed leaving a bookstore with a copy of “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine,” a book characterizing the establishment of Israel as “settler colonialism.” The author, Columbia University professor emeritus Rashid Khalidi, expressed disappointment, stating the purchase was “four years too late.”
The book, published in 2020, argues that the history of Palestine is best understood as a colonial war against the indigenous population. Khalidi criticizes past US administrations, particularly the Trump administration, for their perceived pro-Israel bias and condemns Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government as “the most extreme in history.” He also alleges skewed media coverage favoring Israel.
The purchase is particularly noteworthy given Biden’s self-proclaimed Zionist identity and his support for Israel. While he has voiced support for Israel, Biden has also faced criticism for his handling of the recent conflict in Gaza, including pausing the shipment of munitions earlier this year and facing protests labeling him “Genocide Joe.” He has also increasingly criticized Netanyahu’s government for civilian casualties.
The White House has yet to comment on Biden’s acquisition of the book, which advocates for a path towards equality and justice in Palestine, highlighting the need to end “the oppression of one people by another.” Khalidi’s work details discriminatory Israeli policies and analyzes past Palestinian uprisings, praising the First Intifada while criticizing the Second Intifada’s tactics.
The incident occurred just days after Biden announced a US-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, highlighting the ongoing complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the continuing challenges facing the US in navigating the region. The book’s purchase adds another layer to the already intricate and often controversial landscape of US foreign policy in the Middle East.
First Piper 