Moshé Machover
Encyclopedia
Moshé Machover is a mathematician, philosopher, and socialist activist, noted for his writings against Zionism
. Born to a Jewish family in Tel Aviv
, then part of the British Mandate of Palestine, Machover moved to Britain in 1968 where he became a naturalised citizen. He was a founder of Matzpen
, the Israeli Socialist Organisation, in 1962.
Machover has written extensively on the Middle East conflict. In 1961, while still members of the Israeli Communist Party
, Machover and Akiva Orr, under the pseudonym 'A Israeli', wrote the pioneering anti-Zionist analysis of the Arab-Israeli conflict Shalom, Shalom ve'ein Shalom . The intention of the book was to explain, from publicly available sources, why in 1956 "Ben-Gurion preferred to invade Egypt, alongside France and Britain, rather than to make peace with Egypt". In the course of writing the book, "it became clear to us that the roots of the Israeli-Arab conflict lay, not in the conflict between Israel and the Arab states, but rather in the conflict between Zionist colonialism and the Palestinians over the land of Palestine and its independence".
This insight was an implicit challenge to the line of the Israeli Communist Party, which considered Israel's alliance with the US to be a matter of political choice, not deriving from the colonial nature of the state. When Machover and Orr followed this by criticising the party's adherence to the Soviet line, and called for the publication of the party's history, they and were expelled. Machover and Orr, together with others expelled at the same time, then established Matzpen.
Machover was a lecturer in mathematics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
from 1960 to 1964, and again from 1966 to 1968; during 1964-66, he was a visiting lecturer at the University of Bristol
in England. In 1968, Machover moved permanently to London where he was Reader in Mathematical Logic at King's College London
from 1973 to 1995. Since 1995 he has been Professor of Philosophy at the University of London
.
In London, together with Orr and Shimon Tzabar
, Machover established the Israeli Revolutionary Action Committee Abroad. In 1971, Machover, Orr and Haim Hanegbi, published an influential article on "The Class Nature of Israeli Society". This article, which has been frequently republished, is included together with several more of Machover's early writings on the Middle East in the collection The Other Israel: the radical case against Zionism.
In 1975, Machover was one of the founders of Khamsin, the "journal of revolutionary socialists of the Middle East". Many of his articles from Khamsin are included in the collection Forbidden Agendas.
Machover's academic publications include Lectures on Non-Standard Analysis (with J. Hirschfeld, 1969), A Course in Mathematical Logic (with J.L. Bell, 1977), Laws of Chaos: A Probabilistic Approach to Political Economy (with E. Farjoun, 1983), Set Theory, Logic and their Limitations (1996), and The Measurement of Voting Power: Theory and Practice, Problems and Paradoxes (with D. Felsenthal, 1998).
Machover's son Daniel Machover
is a lawyer in London, specialising in human and civil rights cases.
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
. Born to a Jewish family in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, then part of the British Mandate of Palestine, Machover moved to Britain in 1968 where he became a naturalised citizen. He was a founder of Matzpen
Matzpen
Matzpen is the name of an anti-capitalist and anti-Zionist organisation, founded in Israel in 1962 which was active until the 1980s. Its official name was the Israeli Socialist Organisation, but it became better known as Matzpen after its monthly publication....
, the Israeli Socialist Organisation, in 1962.
Machover has written extensively on the Middle East conflict. In 1961, while still members of the Israeli Communist Party
Maki (historical political party)
Maki was a communist political party in Israel. It is not the same party as the modern day Maki, which split from it during the 1960s and later assumed its name.-History:...
, Machover and Akiva Orr, under the pseudonym 'A Israeli', wrote the pioneering anti-Zionist analysis of the Arab-Israeli conflict Shalom, Shalom ve'ein Shalom . The intention of the book was to explain, from publicly available sources, why in 1956 "Ben-Gurion preferred to invade Egypt, alongside France and Britain, rather than to make peace with Egypt". In the course of writing the book, "it became clear to us that the roots of the Israeli-Arab conflict lay, not in the conflict between Israel and the Arab states, but rather in the conflict between Zionist colonialism and the Palestinians over the land of Palestine and its independence".
This insight was an implicit challenge to the line of the Israeli Communist Party, which considered Israel's alliance with the US to be a matter of political choice, not deriving from the colonial nature of the state. When Machover and Orr followed this by criticising the party's adherence to the Soviet line, and called for the publication of the party's history, they and were expelled. Machover and Orr, together with others expelled at the same time, then established Matzpen.
Machover was a lecturer in mathematics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
from 1960 to 1964, and again from 1966 to 1968; during 1964-66, he was a visiting lecturer at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
in England. In 1968, Machover moved permanently to London where he was Reader in Mathematical Logic at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
from 1973 to 1995. Since 1995 he has been Professor of Philosophy at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
In London, together with Orr and Shimon Tzabar
Shimon Tzabar
Shimon Tzabar was a member of the editorial board of . He described himself as a "Hebrew-speaking Palestinian".The son of poultry vendors, he was educated at a religious school...
, Machover established the Israeli Revolutionary Action Committee Abroad. In 1971, Machover, Orr and Haim Hanegbi, published an influential article on "The Class Nature of Israeli Society". This article, which has been frequently republished, is included together with several more of Machover's early writings on the Middle East in the collection The Other Israel: the radical case against Zionism.
In 1975, Machover was one of the founders of Khamsin, the "journal of revolutionary socialists of the Middle East". Many of his articles from Khamsin are included in the collection Forbidden Agendas.
Machover's academic publications include Lectures on Non-Standard Analysis (with J. Hirschfeld, 1969), A Course in Mathematical Logic (with J.L. Bell, 1977), Laws of Chaos: A Probabilistic Approach to Political Economy (with E. Farjoun, 1983), Set Theory, Logic and their Limitations (1996), and The Measurement of Voting Power: Theory and Practice, Problems and Paradoxes (with D. Felsenthal, 1998).
Machover's son Daniel Machover
Daniel Machover
Daniel Machover is the head of civil litigation for Hickman & Rose Solicitors in London and was the co-founder of Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights in 1988...
is a lawyer in London, specialising in human and civil rights cases.
External links
- Peace, Peace and there is no Peace (with Akiva Orr) (Hebrew)
- The Other Israel: the radical case against Zionism
- Articles on the University of Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign website
- Israelis and Palestinians: Conflict and Resolution, Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust Annual Lecture, 30. November 2006