Israel. What went wrong? Prof. Omer Bartov – Keynote at Kühlhaus Berlin 2026

In this keynote, historian Prof. Omer Bartov traces the historical roots of Zionism, reflects on the transformation of Israeli society, and examines the war in Gaza through the lens of settler colonialism, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. Drawing on decades of research into mass violence, he discusses the erosion of Israeli democracy, international responsibility, and Germany's political and moral role in enabling Israel's actions.