Introduction
In 1984, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas—then a doctoral candidate at Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow—published Al‑Wajh al‑Ākhar: Al‑‘Alāqāt al‑Sirrīyya bayna an‑Nāzīyya wa al‑Ṣiḥyūnīyya, later translated as The Other Side: The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism The Tower+15Wikipedia+15Jerusalem Post+15. Based on his 1982 thesis, the work argues that Zionist leaders engaged in secret cooperation with Nazi Germany—not merely pragmatic but fundamentally collusive. This provocative theory ignited major controversy and remains a source of debate decades later.
Core Claims
Abbas makes several extraordinary contentions in his book:
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Zionist–Nazi Cooperation
He posits that Zionist leaders were “fundamental partners” with Nazis, facilitating or even encouraging persecution of Jewish communities to spur mass emigration to Palestine Jerusalem Post+2Wikipedia+2Jerusalem Post+2JNS.org+3Israel National News+3Jerusalem Post+3. -
Inflation of Holocaust Death Toll
Abbott calls the figure of six million Jewish victims a “fantastic lie,” claiming the real number may have been fewer than one million. He accuses Zionism of deliberately exaggerating death tolls to gain postwar sympathy and political leverage Wikipedia+9Wikipedia+9Wikipedia+9. -
Distortion of Eichmann’s Capture and Trial
He alleges Israeli intelligence (Mossad) abducted Adolf Eichmann not to bring a Nazi criminal to justice, but to suppress his alleged revelations about Zionist complicity in the Holocaust Wikipedia+15Wikipedia+15Wikipedia+15Wikipedia on IPFS. -
Denying Gas Chambers and Other Core Evidence
The narrative incorporates quotes from known deniers like Robert Faurisson, questioning the existence and use of gas chambers JNS.org+3Wikipedia+3Jerusalem Post+3.
Historical Context: The Haavara Agreement
Abbas grounds much of his argument in the Haavara Agreement of 1933, a documented pact between Nazi Germany and Zionist organizations (notably the Jewish Agency) to enable Jewish emigration to Palestine with partial transfers of assets World Israel News+7Wikipedia+7Wikipedia+7. This agreement allowed approximately 60,000 German Jews to relocate between 1933 and 1939 Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1.
While the agreement was real and factual, historians overwhelmingly view it as a desperate and pragmatic measure—not evidence of ideological or moral partnership with the Nazi regime.
Reception and Scholarly Critique
Abbas’s book has been sharply criticized by mainstream historians and Holocaust scholars:
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Holocaust Denial Accusations
Many experts regard the book as Holocaust denial. He allegedly recasts a genocide as a political tool orchestrated by Zionists JNS.org+5World Israel News+5Israel National News+5Reddit+13Wikipedia+13Jerusalem Post+13The Tower. -
Factual Inaccuracies
Claims such as “Raul Hilberg estimated fewer than one million Jewish deaths” have been refuted. Hilberg never made such assertions Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1. -
Methodological Gaps
Critics note that the book lacks a proper academic apparatus—there's no bibliography or citations commensurate with established historical methodologies . -
Reliance on Extremist Sources
Abbas quotes known Holocaust deniers like Faurisson, which undercuts academic credibility Wikipedia+1ynetnews+1Jerusalem Post.
In the early 2000s, during his time as Palestinian prime minister, Abbas publicly argued that he would not have made such claims today and affirmed the Holocaust as “a terrible, unforgivable crime against the Jewish nation … a crime against humanity” Wikipedia+4Wikipedia on IPFS+4ynetnews+4.
However, he has never fully retracted the thesis; parts of it are still prominently featured by Palestinian official media Jerusalem Post+10Wikipedia+10Wikipedia+10.
Continued Controversies in Public Sphere
Despite Abbas’s later political adjustments, the book remains a flashpoint:
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In 2013, he defended parts of his thesis on Lebanese TV, asserting that a "Zionist–Nazi" connection did exist JNS.org+9Wikipedia on IPFS+9The Tower+9.
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The book remains accessible on the Palestinian presidency’s website and is still promoted by Palestinian institutions .
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Public figures influential in Fatah and PA discourse have invoked its conspiratorial theory in ongoing commentary .
Contextualizing Haavara: Pragmatism vs. Conspiracy
Most historians interpret the Haavara Agreement and related Zionist–Nazi interactions as strategic, not ideological:
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Zionist leaders faced impossible choices under Nazi persecution. The agreement was a rare opportunity to save lives amid worsening conditions ynetnews+7Wikipedia+7Wikipedia+7.
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The moral and ethical weight of these decisions is still debated, but equating them with meaningful cooperation with genocidal Nazis is seen as a serious historical distortion.
Post-Thesis Evolution: Abbas’s Public Embrace or Reinterpretation?
After rising to political prominence, Abbas has oscillated:
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Public political statements stress recognition of the Holocaust as a grave crime against Jews and humanity The Guardian+1Reddit+1.
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But in Arab media and Palestinian discourse, he has repeated conspiracy allegations, including claims of Zionist obstruction of Jewish rescue efforts and even sabotage of Red Cross aid Jerusalem Post.
This dual track—condemnation in Western outlets, revival in Arabic media—suggests a strategic repositioning around deeply rooted narratives.
Conclusions and Historical Responsibility
Abbas’s book remains historically discredited in mainstream scholarship:
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Its core thesis—an ideological alliance between Zionists and Nazis—is overwhelmingly rejected.
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Its disputation of six million Jewish deaths lacks credible evidence and aligns with antisemitic revisionism.
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Its use in contemporary Palestinian discourse continues to stoke tensions and undermines trust in peace narratives.
Yet it also offers a case study in how political conflict can shape historical scholarship—reflecting propaganda, memory politics, and national identity.
From a historical standpoint, the book is best understood as a politically motivated, ideologically driven artifact, not an academic breakthrough. That it remains in print and discourse speaks to its utility in conflict framing.
Why This Matters Today
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Memory Politics: The book exemplifies how historical events like the Holocaust become battlegrounds for contemporary narratives.
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Peace Implications: Abbas’s inability to fully disavow its claims poses challenges to Palestinian–Israeli reconciliation.
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Academic Integrity: It serves as a cautionary tale about rigorous historical methods vs. ideological scholarship.
Moving Forward: Responsible Scholarship and Dialogue
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Scholars must continue to counter Holocaust distortion with evidence-based histories, emphasizing academic integrity.
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Political leaders should distance themselves from conspiracy narratives that sabotage mutual recognition and trust.
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Public education—in schools, media, and institutions—must contextualize controversial works and stress critical engagement, rather than presenting them as credible alternative histories.
Final Thoughts
The Other Side is a thorny artifact of its time: reflecting Cold War Soviet influences, Palestinian national struggles, and broader ideological battles. But its core allegations lack factual grounding and remain unjustified in the face of overwhelming historical evidence. To move toward a more informed and peaceful discourse, both Palestinians and Israelis—including their leaders—must contend with this legacy, reject distortion, and recommit to truth and accountability in both memory and politics.
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