Anti-Zionism is not anti-semitic
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alanjjohnstone wrote:
I think it is time for us to issue an official press statement on the Socialist Party view to anti-semitism and anti-zionism and the establishement of Israel and the proposed creation of the Palestinian State.
Our blog has endeavoured to present our view of the debate
https://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/2018/04/dream-or-nightmare.html
https://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/2018/03/are-we-anti-semitic.html
https://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/2018/03/race-war-or-class-war.html
Certainly a May issue Socialist Standard editorial
Actually, what we said in 1947 in the chapter on Zionism in our pamphlet The Racial Problem could fit the bill (emphasis added):
Quote:Chapter VI : Zionism We cannot deal with the problem of anti-semitism without also discussing Zionism. Again, we can only deal with it on broad, general lines, because of obvious limitations of space.Although the beginning of what we know today as the Zionist movement took place towards the end of the last century, it is only in recent years that the movement has gained any great strength. Today, there are over 550,000 Jews living in Palestine; yet in 1919 there were only some 60,000. In 1919, they constituted 9% of the population of Palestine; today they constitute 33%. The early movement was weak and poorly organised. Most Jews were quite indifferent to the movement; certainly they did not wish to go to Palestine. Of the two million Jews who emigrated from Russia, Austria, and Roumania between the years 1881 and 1908, over one and a-half millions went to the United States, 300,000 went to Western Europe, and only 26,000 went to Palestine. Even among those people who did emigrate to Palestine in the early days, there was little of the active, colonising spirit. Most of the younger element preferred to try their fortunes elsewhere.Since the end of the first World War, conditions have changed. Anti-semitism has become stronger than ever before, with obvious results. First of all, those Jews in countries where anti-semitism was most active tried to emigrate to countries where they would be less badly treated. Secondly, as the tide of anti-semitism rose higher and higher, so did many Jews become more and more interested in the idea of a “National Home”, where, as they thought, they could be together and be free once and for all from the hostility of people around them.Although all manner of places had been suggested for this “National Home”, including British East Africa, British Guiana, and San Domingo—and, more recently, Eritrea and Madagascar have also been mentioned—for various reasons, the final choice of the Zionists has been Palestine.The Zionists themselves do not constitute one united group. At least four separate organisations go to make up the movement. The largest group is the Histadruth, the Trade Union wing. The others are the Revisionists, an extreme group, whose methods and activities are strongly anti-democratic and violent in character; a religious section; and lastly, the Democratic Zionists. Although some of them are now prepared to accept the compromise of Palestine, i.e., the division of Palestine into two separate states, the overwhelming majority, irrespective of the group to which they belong, now want the whole of the country as a Jewish state.The essence of Zionism is escape; escape once and for all from hatred and persecution. Its supporters argue that the main cause of the troubles of the Jews is the fact that they have no country of their own. Only by settling in a country of their own will they be safe from anti-semitism. No longer then will they be a small minority of outcasts, dependent upon the tolerance of others, but members of their own Jewish state. As such they will be free from interference and discrimination.Such beliefs are mere wishful thinking. In the first place, many Jews are not the slightest bit interested in going to Palestine. This is recognised by many Zionists themselves in their more realistic moments. In any case, even if it was a fact that every Jew wanted to go, the country itself is incapable of supporting such an increased population. This, too, was recognised by David Ben-Gurion, a well-known Zionist leader, when he said:“We shall go to Palestine in order to become the majority there. If need be we shall take the country by force. If Palestine proves too small . . . her frontiers will have to be extended” (Manchester Guardian, 3.7.46).The declared and avowed aim of the Zionists is to make Palestine a Jewish state. They are, in short, “nationalists”, looking to solve their problems not by abolishing capitalism but by creating one more national state in a capitalist world of national states and empires. Zionist nationalism, as such, is not different from the other nationalisms and we, as Socialists, are opposed to them all, whether they be British, American, Russian, Polish, Indian, or any other. The most that could be said for nationalist movements where directed against alien rulers was the argument that, with alien rule ended, it would be easier for the workers to grasp the fact that their enemy is capitalism, whether the capitalists are aliens or not. It is, however, clear, that in practice the capitalist class in each country finds it about as easy to set the workers against the workers of other countries as it was to set them against a foreign ruling-class. What are called nationalist movements are essentially the movements of capitalist groups striving to drive out foreign exploiters so that they can mount the vacant saddle.The spokesmen of nationalist movements do not in the main declare their capitalist objectives. British capitalism talked of pacifying the Middle East, or of helping the Jews and Arabs. Actually, British Imperialism was in Palestine for reasons of Imperial strategy and to protect oil interests in that region; which also of course explains the increasing intervention of the USA in the Middle East. With all this, a new factor is becoming of importance, which we shall refer to again later, the factor of rising Arab nationalism.It is against this background that the demand is made for the settlement of Jewish people in Palestine, with the usual irrelevant arguments so beloved of all nationalisms. The Principal Rabbi of the Federation of Synagogues, Kopul Rosen, writing to The Times (13/7/46), claims, for example, that those who work for the return of the Jewish people to Zion, “whether they be Zionists or non-Zionists, are fulfilling not a secular ambition, but the Divine will as revealed in the visions of Israel’s prophets”. Moslem Arabs can, of course, invoke a like “Divine” mission.Similarly the Zionists talk of the “historical connection” of the Jews with Palestine. The Jews, they say, are returning home to the land of their forefathers, which they left many centuries ago. As we have already seen, this is no claim at all. The Jews were certainly not the original inhabitants of Palestine, and, further than that, they have had no contact with the country worth speaking about for almost two thousand years. The Welsh could just as logically argue for taking back England again, or the Red Indians for taking back North America. Such sentimental arguments are always to be found associated with nationalism.The Zionists also attempt to bolster up their case by referring to the progress and prosperity they have brought to Palestine. They instance the large increase in the Arab population itself; the higher standard of living of the Palestine Arabs compared with that of Arabs in other countries; and the fact that no Arab has been turned off his land without compensation. But here again, these arguments count very little. They in no way face up to the fact that there is a considerable section of Arab landless labourers in Palestine, many of whom are compelled to work for Jewish farmers and capitalists, and that generally their wages are less than those paid to Jews. Nor should it be forgotten, when comparing the wages of Arabs in Palestine with those earned by Arabs in other countries that the cost of living tends to be considerably higher in Palestine.But, in any case, all these arguments are really incidental to the question. The crux of the matter is that the Zionists are now determined at all costs to make a Jewish National State in Palestine. As such they come into direct conflict with the Arab ruling class in Palestine itself, and, more particularly, they become the objects of hatred of the Arab world generally. The main point of the Zionist case is that by establishing a National Home of their own they would be free from anti-semitism. In this, they have been proved completely mistaken. In their efforts to flee from the anti-semitism in Europe, they have only succeeded in generating another, Arab anti-semitism. Even on the short view of helping the homeless refugees, the wisdom of this policy is more than doubtful.Finally, it must be stressed that Zionism, even if it were to succeed in Palestine, which is doubtful to say the least, is itself no solution to the Jewish problem. To set up a Jewish state in Palestine in no way solves the problem of anti-semitism in Britain, the United States, Russia, Canada, South Africa, or any other country. Whatever happens about the National State in Palestine, the Jews will still be the object of hatred and discrimination in those countries. Anti-semitism will not be eradicated by the founding of Jewish National States, whether they be in Palestine or anywhere else. The root cause of modern anti-semitism, as we have already pointed out, is to be found in the capitalist system of society, and only when capitalism itself is abolished will anti-semitism disappear. If any Jewish worker reading this pamphlet feels himself filled with the need to reproach us for what he thinks is an “unrealistic attitude”, let him reflect for a moment upon the so-called “realistic attitude” of the Zionists in Palestine and the results which have ensued. It is the Zionist policy which is “unrealistic”, as many Jews will find to their bitter cost. Our case to the Jewish workers is that under no circumstances should they allow themselves to be deluded by ideas of nationalism and “race” into supporting such movements as Zionism which will not solve their problems.The only solution to anti-semitism is Socialism, and to the extent that Jewish workers co-operate with other members of their class to bring about Socialism will the complete eradication of anti-semitism be more quickly achieved.This other article, from 1918, also shows that Socialists opposed Zionism from the start:http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/socialist-standard/1910s/1918/no-166-june-1918/futility-zionism
Our blog has added a new post on the topic following the format of previous ones…copy and paste of past articles from the Standardhttp://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/2018/04/another-message.html
Most anti-zionists from the left are nationalists like the Zionists. The problem with their point of view is that they never see the Jews as part of the working class, and they never mention that Israel is a society divided between workers and capitalists and that the Palestinian are also exploited by their own ruling class. Their main concern is to create another capitalist nation-state to continue the existence of capitalism in Palestine
Maureen Lipman, who was among the demonstrators, said she was “a disenfranchised socialist” and identified with a placard reading “Corbyn made me a Tory”.She attacked the Labour leader for attending a Passover Seder organised by left-wing Jewish group Jewdas, saying it was “the absolute cherry on the top of Jeremy Corbyn’s behaviour. He is standing with elements who are against everything that we stand for; hardworking, decent Jewish people of whom I am incredibly proud,” Ms Lipman said.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-antisemitism-demonstration-headquarters-labour-maureen-lipman-a8295096.htmlSo reading between the lines of her statement…if you aren't on her list of "approved" Jews…you aren't hard-working or decent…something lesser than what a "real" Jew is…Disgraceful that this prejudice is not condemned
Declaration of the Socialist Party: As Socialists, we re-affirm that all peoples should seek their emancipation, not as members of nations or religions or ethnic groups, but as human beings, as members of the human race. They should unite to abolish the division of the world into so-called nation-states and to establish a World Cooperative Commonwealth of which we will all be free and equal members – citizens of the world, not subjects of nation-states. That would apply to all the so-called religious and nationalist conflicts. PS I don't think mankind is a race, because race do not exist
Israel's Labor Party has suspended relations with UK Labour In a letter to Mr Corbyn, leader Avi Gabbay claims he has allowed "anti-Semitic statements and actions".And he also accuses the UK Labour leader of "very public hatred of the policies of the government of the state of Israel". Gabbay says the policies of Israel's opposition party and the ruling coalition government were "aligned" when it came to the "security of our citizens and the actions of our soldiers" and Mr Corbyn had shown "hatred" of the government's policies in these areas. As Gabbay clearly does is conflate the two issues…jewishness and Israel's government and its zionism but the record of the Israeli Labor Party is not necessarily a proud one in the past such as their support for the deportation of African migrants.http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-43716587
alanjjohnstone wrote:Israel's Labor Party has suspended relations with UK Labour In a letter to Mr Corbyn, leader Avi Gabbay claims he has allowed "anti-Semitic statements and actions".And he also accuses the UK Labour leader of "very public hatred of the policies of the government of the state of Israel". Gabbay says the policies of Israel's opposition party and the ruling coalition government were "aligned" when it came to the "security of our citizens and the actions of our soldiers" and Mr Corbyn had shown "hatred" of the government's policies in these areas. As Gabbay clearly does is conflate the two issues…jewishness and Israel's government and its zionism but the record of the Israeli Labor Party is not necessarily a proud one in the past such as their support for the deportation of African migrants.http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-43716587biblically the real semites are the Arabians
Quote:Gabbay, who is likely to be the centre-left alliance’s candidate for prime minister at the next election, has signalled a shift to the right in recent months, backing Israeli soldiers’ actions over the shooting of protesters in Gaza and suggesting Israeli settlers should not be forced out of their homes in the event of a peace deal.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/10/israeli-labor-leader-cuts-ties-jeremy-corbyn-antisemitismThe hypocrisy…the cutting of connections should have been the other way around
This article could have been posted on various threads on the forumhttps://dissidentvoice.org/2018/04/killing-mosquitoes-the-latest-gaza-massacres-pro-israel-media-bias-and-the-weapon-of-antisemitism/
Quote:The truth is that the deadliest racism today is indicated by the casual way in which the West and its allies rain violence down on countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen. Although human rights are typically used as a pretext, the real goal is control of natural resources and the global economy; the tears of compassion evaporate the instant that an Official Enemy obstructing Western control has been overthrown.alanjjohnstone wrote:This article could have been posted on various threads on the forumhttps://dissidentvoice.org/2018/04/killing-mosquitoes-the-latest-gaza-massacres-pro-israel-media-bias-and-the-weapon-of-antisemitism/Quote:The truth is that the deadliest racism today is indicated by the casual way in which the West and its allies rain violence down on countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen. Although human rights are typically used as a pretext, the real goal is control of natural resources and the global economy; the tears of compassion evaporate the instant that an Official Enemy obstructing Western control has been overthrown.And the biggest anti-semitism too
The word Semitic in relation to "race" (or "ethnicity" as you have to say now) is just as unscientific as Aryan in the same context. Both in fact orginated at the same time, when the the facts about "race" were not yet known and prejudices about it widespread, even mainstream.The only scientific use of the two terms is in relation to language and, here, the irony is that the European Jews who went to Palestine as colonists under the Zionist project spoke a dialect of German, a non-Semitic languague (Aryan, in fact). And the Jews that came to Palestine after the state of Israel was set up spoke Arabic (which is a Semitic languague). They were in fact Arabs whose religion was Judaism just as most of the Christians of the area are Arabs whose religion is Christianity.
ALB wrote:The word Semitic in relation to "race" (or "ethnicity" as you have to say now) is just as unscientific as Aryan in the same context. Both in fact orginated at the same time, when the the facts about "race" were not yet known and prejudices about it widespread, even mainstream.The only scientific use of the two terms is in relation to language and, here, the irony is that the European Jews who went to Palestine as colonists under the Zionist project spoke a dialect of German, a non-Semitic languague (Aryan, in fact). And the Jews that came to Palestine after the state of Israel was set up spoke Arabic (which is a Semitic languague). They were in fact Arabs whose religion was Judaism just as most of the Christians of the area are Arabs whose religion is Christianity.The whole thing is not scientific because the sons of Noah did not exist , and Israel ( or Jacob ) did not exist either, that is why I said that Biblically the real Semite are the Arabians. The concept of ethnicity only appears in the Bible, it does not appear in others sources, it is only shown as a language in scientific sourcesThey have also discovered that there was language older than the Aramean, but the real Semitic language is spoken by the Arabian. The claim about anti-semitism made by the Hebrew is wrong too because they are not a race either, as well being a jew is not a race, it is a person that professes Judaism
“Expressions of classic traditional antisemitism are back and, for example, the term ‘Jew’ has become a swear word,” it says.The report highlights a strengthening of the extreme right in some European counties, “accompanied by slogans and symbols reminiscent of the 1930s” and “the intensity of the anti-Jewish sentiments expressed in a variety of ways […] especially on street demonstrations”. It says this may explain a discrepancy between the levels of fear among European Jews and the actual number of incidents. The 105-page report examines the prevalence of antisemitism in Europe, the post-Soviet region, the US, Canada, Australia, South America and South Africa. It records 327 major incidents of violence, vandalism and desecration in 2017, compared with a peak of 1,118 in 2009 and a low of 78 in 1989, the year the study began. It found 30% of attacks were directed at individuals, 20% at cemeteries and memorial sites, and 17% at synagogues. Once more we get anti-zionism or anti-Israel described as anti-semitism “The rise of leftist antisemitism that supports radical Muslim anti-Israeli attitudes expressed in antisemitic terms such as in the BDS [boycott, divestment and sanctions] and Antifa [militant anti-fascist] movements, and certainly in the UK Labour party led by Jeremy Corbyn.” Many Jews in the UK were “losing their traditional political home” as a result of feeling betrayed by Labour, it adds. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/11/traditional-antisemitism-is-back-global-study-finds The Kantor Center is not explained in the article. Their website is here http://kantorcenter.tau.ac.il/ Anti-semitism and the British Left can be read here in PDFhttp://kantorcenter.tau.ac.il/sites/default/files/Dave%20Rich%20180128.pdf
Quote:It is hard to overstate how important anti-Zionist Jews and Israelis have been in encouraging the British Left to relate to Israel through an anti-Zionist lens, while reassuring them that there is no antisemitism in their movement.And indeed, many Zionists wish to hide the fact that there is such a thing as Zionist nationalism and when Jews and Israelis accuse the state of being Zionist, they too require to be de-legitimised…providing ammunition to the anti-semites
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