In 1948, Zionist terror forces expelled 750,000 Palestinians from their homes, carrying out unspeakable massacres in what would be called the nakba. The nakba – or catastrophe – has never ended. Over the past 17 months we have witnessed the US and Israel wage a genocidal war on Gaza. Such crimes against the Palestinian people, now and over the past 10 decades, have been carried out in the name of Zionism: the foundational and guiding ideology of the State of Israel. 

The world has woken up to the brutal realities of Zionism, understanding it to be a project that kills children, bombs hospitals, tortures prisoners, occupies land, assassinates journalists – a project that seeks to destroy the Palestinian people and those who stand with them. Realizing its condemnation in the eyes of the global majority, Israel has designated $150 million of its 2025 budget to propaganda efforts, in an attempt to reshape international public opinion by concealing Zionism’ genocidal and colonial nature on the world stage. 

In the midst of this battle of ideas, we present the course “Understanding Zionism: A 6-Part Study for the Palestine Movement.” It is critical that we equip ourselves with a precise understanding of Zionism –  its history, tendencies, foundations, aspirations, and contradictions. Like all struggles for liberation, we must understand the adversary. The movement for Palestinian liberation has grown and blossomed and public opinion across the world has dramatically shifted in favor of the Palestinian cause. As the genocide is intensifying and threatening to create a second nakba in Gaza, we now more than ever need to deepen our understanding of the Zionist project and strengthen our engagement in the Palestinian cause. 

Over the course of 6 sessions, participants will deepen their comprehension of Zionism with the aim of expanding their engagement in the movement for Palestinian liberation. Together, the course provides answers to the following questions: What is the history, origins, and foundational principles of Zionism? How have Palestinian revolutionaries understood Zionism? How and why did the “special relationship” between Israel and the US emerge? How has Zionism advanced right-wing forces in partnership with the US? What is the path forward for the global movement for Palestine today? 

  • Everyone from all contexts, backgrounds, and identities is welcome to register.  Whether you’re involved in the Palestine movement or seeking to deepen your knowledge and get involved, this course is for you. If you are involved in an organization, consider sharing the course with other members and taking it together. The instructors include organizers with the Palestinian Youth Movement, the People’s Forum, and other popular educators who have been deeply embedded in the Palestinian struggle.

    This course is free and open to organizers and people who stand with the Palestinian struggle across the U.S. and world. We are dedicated to making political education accessible to everyone, with all course materials available for free and to the public.  As our people in Gaza continue to face the US-Israeli genocide, we encourage participants to contribute to the International Fundraiser: The People Stand With Gaza in order to strengthen the steadfastness of our people. 

  • This course runs from April 29th to May 16th. Below is the session schedule: 

    Tuesday April 29, 6:30 -8:30 PM ET

    Saturday May 3, 1 – 3 PM ET

    Tuesday May 6, 6:30 -8:30 PM ET

    Friday May 9, 6:30 -8:30 PM ET

    Tuesday May 13, 6:30 -8:30 PM ET

    Friday May 16, 6:30 -8:30 PM ET

    The course schedule will be uploaded to the student portal. Participants with work/life schedules or based in time zones that preclude them from participating live will have access to the recordings and can follow the course at their own pace.

  •  This is a hybrid program that allows participation from anywhere worldwide. For those in the New York area, in-person classes are held at The People’s Forum, 320 W 37th Street, New York, NY 10018 (between 8th and 9th Avenues). To get to TPF, you can take the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, M, N, Q, R trains. TPF is an accessible building, with elevators and wheelchair-accessible gender-neutral bathrooms, and masks are available at the front desk.  

    For participants who will be attending virtually, a Zoom link will be sent prior to each session.

  • Register for the course here! This is a free course, and we depend on your support in sustaining this program. Please donate to help continue our political education programming.  

    The registration will remain open throughout the course but we encourage you to register as soon as possible to get all of the information before the start of the course. If you join after the course has started, please use the materials provided to catch up. 

    If you have any questions, please contact us at education@peoplesforum.org.