What attitude should we take towards the violence of Hamas and other, similar groups? For those of us who defend Palestinian rights, we instantly face demands that we must join attacks on their hostage taking or their killing of civilians, in most cases from people who do not criticise Israeli bombings of civilians, hospitals, places of worship and so on.
These defenders of Israeli collective reprisals to Hamas attacks on southern Israel – including the Labour front bench – take a position of uncritical and unconditional support. Nothing Israel does merits criticism.
When it comes to Hamas, we, as revolutionary Marxists, share neither their ideology, strategy nor tactics. We seek a democratic, secular, single Palestine; we do not believe this can be achieved through killing innocent civilians; nor do we believe that the Palestinian population imprisoned in Gaza and the West Bank (where their guards include the American and Israeli-backed security apparatus of the Palestinian Authority) can defeat an Israeli state armed to the teeth with the most sophisticated weaponry, up to nuclear weapons.
Continue reading @ Counterfire.
Thanks for your recommendation Packy.
ReplyDeleteAs I read through the article, alarmingly, I found myself regressing to a younger iteration of the self. Thankfully, my stupor was short-lived, brought to my senses by fictional characters in my bedtime read.
'"So you had your day during the Cultural Revolution," Chen said, gesturing for Gang to share the table with him.
"Revolution's like a bitch. She seduces you, and she dumps you like a mop smeared with the shit and dirt from her ass." Gang took up his seat
opposite Chen, picking up a piece of dried tofu with his fingers, sucking at his empty liquor bottle. "And a bitch is like revolution too, muddling your head and heart."'
(The Mao Case by Qiu Xiaolong)
Any resolution of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, if one is ever to be achieved, will necessitate a commitment to peaceful coexistence by all the warring parties. Just as the Republicans, Loyalists, and British State have eventually done in Northern Ireland so will Palestinians and Israelis.