Israel, Gaza and the realities of capitalism

[Anonymous]

" World socialists are revolted by the violence of the Gaza conflict. We condemn both sides and denounce the senseless killing of our fellow workers. History shows that in times of war, working-class interests are never served by workers throwing in their lot with nationalist or other political leaders of capitalism, whether they are well-funded like the Israeli state, or weaker like Hamas. The slaughter in Gaza underlines yet again the urgent need to work for a world without nations and nationalism, bosses and workers. Instead of a “two-state” solution, world socialists offer the “no-state” solution as the only one that can ever give the Middle East lasting peace."

 

"As Socialists we declare our opposition to both sides in this war and call on the working class of the world to unite to bring capitalism to a rapid end so that no more lives are sacrificed to further the economic interests of rival sections of the world capitalist class."

 

[Darren redstar]

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Darren redstar wrote:

Well said.

Thanks Darren, but I am quoting the Socialist Standard  

[ALB]

Who better to say it !

[jondwhite]

Our answer to "Do you Palestine to be an independent country?" just as "Does the Israeli state have a right to exist?" is a firm NO.

[alanjjohnstone]

You may be interested in these blogs to link to any other forums you are involved in. http://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-gaza-war.htmlhttp://socialist-courier.blogspot.com/2014/07/gaza-stripped-bare.htmlhttp://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/2014/07/gaza-suffers-again.htmlhttp://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/2014/07/to-end-war-our-peace-proposal.html

[SocialistPunk]

The realities of war in capitalism.The British government have a go at the French for supplying Russia with weaponry during the Ukraine crisis, (while British weapons firms are doing the same) with British PM Cameron calling it "unthinkable".No mention from Cameron about the lucrative weapons deals with Israel.

Quote:

The Government has been accused of failing to regulate arms sales to Israel following evidence that weapons containing British-made components are being used in the bombardment of Gaza.Documents shown to The Independent reveal that arms export licences worth £42m have been granted to 130 British defence manufacturers since 2010 to sell military equipment to Israel. These range from weapons control and targeting systems to ammunition, drones and armoured vehicles.Among the manufacturers given permission to make sales were two UK companies supplying components for the Hermes drone, described by the Israeli air force as the “backbone” of its targeting and reconnaissance missions. One of the two companies also supplies components for Israel’s main battle tank.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/revealed-britains-role-in-arming-israel-9643902.htmlThere is some suggestion that the figure of £42m is a far from the truth.

Quote:

The countries for which the largest numbers of licences have been issued include China with 1,163 with individual licences worth £1.4 billion, Saudi Arabia with 417 licences and a value of £1.8 billion, and Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories with 381 licences and a value of £7.8 billion.This one licence to Israel, granted in February 2012, accounted for well over 50% of the value of all existing licences to the countries in question

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/07/17/uk-sells-arms-to-worlds-w_n_3608760.htmlPerhaps the British government feel a pang of remorse about fueling a warzone because they are increasing their humanitarian aid package for Gaza.

Quote:

Britain is making a further £3 million available to allow a rapid response by aid workers in Gaza to what International Development Secretary Justine Greening described as "nothing short of a humanitarian catastrophe".The cash – which brings UK humanitarian support during the current conflict to £13 million – was released as Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg issued a plea for the Israeli Government to halt its military operations and talk to Hamas.

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/news/uk/article/uks-extra-pound-3m-for-aid-in-gaza/138799/On one hand the British government, while selling arms to Russia, have a go at the French for doing the same during an escalatinng military situation in Crimea and on the other they arm the Israelis during ongoing conflict in Palestine, making a nice little earner for British weapons manufacturers, Then  they throw a few quid to the victims of the conflict.You couldn't make this stuff up..

[Anonymous]

"When Israelis in the occupied territories now claim that they have to defend themselves, they are defending themselves in the sense that any military occupier has to defend itself against the population they are crushing. You can’t defend yourself when you’re militarily occupying someone else’s land. That’s not defence. Call it what you like, it’s not defence.” Noam Chomsky   

[alanjjohnstone]

This article is perhaps one of the better ones i have read about Gaza and Hamas.http://www.lrb.co.uk/v36/n16/nathan-thrall/hamass-chances

[Anonymous]

Israel today deliberately targeted a school only two days after murdering a number of children while the children slept. edit   Socialism cannot come too soon

[SocialistPunk]

Does anyone have any decent links to where I can get up to speed with the recent history of the Palestinian conflict, that will help me get to grips with what is going on and why?Might sound like something a socialist should know, but there is so much biased info out there it's hard to wade through it.

[J Surman]

An article from Patrick Cockburn, interesting for the information about how the Israeli spokespersons are trained to respond to suit a US and European audience:Beginning so:Israeli spokesmen have their work cut out explaining how they have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians, compared with just three civilians killed in Israel by Hamas rocket and mortar fire. But on television and radio and in newspapers, Israeli government spokesmen such as Mark Regev appear slicker and less aggressive than their predecessors, who were often visibly indifferent to how many Palestinians were killed.There is a reason for this enhancement of the PR skills of Israeli spokesmen. Going by what they say, the playbook they are using is a professional, well-researched and confidential study on how to influence the media and public opinion in America and Europe.and whole article here:http://www.popularresistance.org/israel-trained-by-republican-pollster-on-how-to-lie-to-us-public/

[J Surman]

Hi SP,Do you know http://www.globalresearch.ca/Headed up by Michael Chossodovsky and taking no corporate cash, I've found it informative and pretty reliable on many world topics. There's a good search facility too.

[SocialistPunk]

Hi JS,Thanks for the link, looks to be an interesting site for all kinds of subjects.Found an interesting recent one, link below, that has a rather "no holds barred" title. I always feel uncomfortable when Zionism is mentioned, despite it being a Jewish Nationalist movement it always conjures up racial conspiracy theories. But the article does use interesting quotes supporting it's take on things, though that doesn't necessarily mean it is correct.http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-israeli-dream-the-criminal-roadmap-towards-greater-israel/5391839

[steve colborn]

Just seen Osbourne on the news, talking about Baroness Varsi's resignation. He states that this was an unnecessary move, as the UK were working with others to bring peace to Gaza.Does he mean that by supplying arms to Israel, they can successfully obliterate Hamas and all forces opposed to Israel from the Gaza strip? Thereby bringing peace by default!!!

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