Sean O'Torain.
It is very important when discussing and considering events in Israel to separate Zionism from the Israeli state and its policies and the backing of these policies by US imperialism. We draw attention to this by printing the letter below from Holocaust survivors which is sponsored by the International Jewish anti Zionist Network.
In doing so we would like to ask members of the left group Socialist Alternative (SA) and its International associates in the Committee For a Workers International (CWI) who read our Blog to compare the position here of the International Anti Zionist Network and of the survivors of the Holocaust who signed this letter, to that of the pro Zionist Sanders whom they support. And it should be compared to the refusal of the SA and the CWI to confront Sanders on his pro Zionist position.
The position of the SA in relation to Sanders and the Zionist policies of the Israeli government is a disgrace, it is at best pure opportunism, a position adopted in order not to complicate its relations with Sanders and his supporters. There must be an open struggle within the SA and the CWI on these and its other opportunist policies or this organization will no longer be able to be considered a revolutionary socialist organization. Below is a report on the position taken by these survivors of the holocaust. It is much better than any taken by the SA.
"Hundreds of Holocaust survivors and descendants of
survivors have signed a letter, published as an advertisement in Saturday's New
York Times, condemning "the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza" and
calling for a complete boycott of Israel. According to the letter, the
condemnation was prompted by an advertisement written by Elie Wiesel and
published in major news outlets worldwide, accusing Hamas of "child
sacrifice" and comparing the group to the Nazis. The letter, signed
by 327 Jewish Holocaust survivors and descendants of survivors and sponsored by
the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, accuses Wiesel of "abuse of
history" in order to justify Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip: "…we
are disgusted and outraged by Elie Wiesel’s abuse of our history in these pages
to justify the unjustifiable: Israel’s wholesale effort to destroy Gaza and the
murder of more than 2,000 Palestinians, including many hundreds of children.
Nothing can justify bombing UN shelters, homes, hospitals and universities.
Nothing can justify depriving people of electricity and water."
The letter also blames the United States of aiding Israel in its Gaza operation, and the West in general of protecting Israel from condemnation.
"Genocide begins with the silence of the world," the letter reads.
The letter ends with a call to bring the blockade of Gaza to
an immediate end, and for a full boycott of Israel. "Never again” must
mean NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE!," the letter concludes.
Full text of letter:
"Jewish survivors and descendants of survivors and
victims of Nazi genocide unequivocally condemn the massacre of Palestinians in
Gaza."
"As Jewish survivors and descendants of survivors and victims of the Nazi genocide we unequivocally condemn the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and the ongoing occupation and colonization of historic Palestine. We further condemn the United States for providing Israel with the funding to carry out the attack, and Western states more generally for using their diplomatic muscle to protect Israel from condemnation. Genocide begins with the silence of the world."
"We are alarmed by the extreme, racist dehumanization of Palestinians in Israeli society, which has reached a fever-pitch. In Israel, politicians and pundits in The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post have called openly for genocide of Palestinians and right-wing Israelis are adopting Neo-Nazi insignia."
"Furthermore, we are
disgusted and outraged by Elie Wiesel’s abuse of our history in these pages to justify
the unjustifiable: Israel’s wholesale effort to destroy Gaza and the murder of
more than 2,000 Palestinians, including many hundreds of children. Nothing can
justify bombing UN shelters, homes, hospitals and universities. Nothing can
justify depriving people of electricity and water."
"We must raise our
collective voices and use our collective power to bring about an end to all
forms of racism, including the ongoing genocide of Palestinian people. We call
for an immediate end to the siege against and blockade of Gaza. We call for the
full economic, cultural and academic boycott of Israel. “Never again” must mean
NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE!"
For full list of the letter's signatories, click here to read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.612072?v=AEFD5464BDA3D0E3979C9DEC9DF9A9B5
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