Ilan Pappe is an Israeli historian and social activist. He was born in 1954 in Haifa, Israel. Pappe is well known for his controversial perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and for his criticism of Zionism and Israeli policy. He is a prominent advocate of the one-state solution and a vocal critic of what he describes as the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestine. Pappe obtained his Bachelor's degree from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and his PhD from the University of Oxford. He has written numerous books and articles, including "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine," where he argues that the forced removal of Palestinians in 1948 was a premeditated plan by Zionist leaders, a view that has sparked considerable debate and opposition. Throughout his career, Pappe has held academic positions at various universities, including the University of Haifa and the University of Exeter in the UK. His work is recognized internationally, but it often draws criticism from mainstream Israeli historians and politicians. Despite facing academic and political backlash in Israel, Pappe continues to write, teach, and speak out on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and wider issues in the Middle East.