Avi Steinberg, an Israeli-born author now living in the United States, has publicly renounced his Israeli citizenship, describing it as “a tool of genocide.” Writing in an op-ed for Truthout, Steinberg delivered a pointed critique of Israel’s foundational laws, accusing them of legitimizing colonialism and systemic violence.
“Israeli citizenship has always been a tool of genocide,” Steinberg stated, alleging it was used to normalize settler colonialism through violent means and “a litany of lies” designed to obscure those actions.
Raised in an Orthodox Jewish household in Jerusalem, Steinberg moved to the U.S. with his family in 1993. His father’s appointment at Harvard University brought the family to Boston after a brief stay in Cleveland. Despite his upbringing, Steinberg said he began to reckon with the realities of the land he once called home, uncovering a darker history behind it.
“The house I grew up in was owned by a Palestinian family violently expelled to Jordan, barred from returning,” he revealed, describing how such expulsions were openly marketed to settlers as part of a “picturesque ‘native Arab charm.’” This “1-to-1 replacement” of Palestinians by settlers, he noted, was a deliberate and systematic practice.
Steinberg argued that Israel’s founding documents, including the 1948 Declaration of Independence, the 1950 Law of Return, and the 1952 Citizenship Law, perpetuate discriminatory, colonial ideals. These frameworks, he claimed, are linked to the Nakba of 1948, when Israeli forces displaced approximately 80% of the Palestinian population. He denounced these laws as “forged documents” designed to obscure the state’s fundamental injustices.
Steinberg’s repudiation comes amid a growing rift between Israel and Jewish communities in the diaspora, particularly in the U.S. Recent polling reveals that two-thirds of Jewish Americans sympathize with Palestinians, with many joining organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and IfNotNow (INN), where Steinberg has been an active participant.
In 2023, Steinberg recounted being arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Chicago alongside members of JVP and INN. He emphasized the importance of Jewish-led actions in opposing Zionist narratives and advocating for Palestinian liberation. “Jews have a specific role to play within Palestinian liberation,” he wrote, highlighting the dual purpose of challenging state violence and dismantling dominant narratives.
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