One thing is absolutely clear about the current situation in Palestine: the Israeli state is committing acts of horrific violence against the Palestinian working class, and this needs to be stopped immediately.
But that's not all there is to say about the situation...
But that's not all there is to say about the situation...
On both sides of the conflict, the idea that opposing Israel has to mean supporting Hamas is worryingly common. We totally reject this argument (along with all the other false choices our rulers offer us). Just like any other set of rulers, Hamas are happy and willing to sacrifice ordinary Palestinians if it'll help to increase their power. This isn't just some vague theoretical point – it's a fact that's become painfully true in the experience of many Palestinians, such as those killed in the battles between Hamas and Fatah, who are no better and equally lacking in genuine answers.
Against the divisions and fake choices set up by nationalism, we fully support the workers of Gaza – not because of their nationality, ethnicity, or religion, but simply because they're real living, feeling, thinking, suffering, struggling human beings. And this support has to mean total hostility to all those who would oppress them – first and foremost the Israeli state and the Western governments and corporations that supply it with weapons, but also any other set of cynical politicians or theocrats who seek to use working-class Palestinians as pawns in their power struggles.
Alternative solutions to those offered by the statists do exist, they are not just utopian dreaming. The self-management and autonomous organisation of many Palestinian villages and the ongoing resistance to the colonisation of Palestine by working class Palestinians in solidarity with outside groups like Anarchists Against The Wall show that there is another way. Solutions like these that come from the working class and reject statism, religious fundamentalism and the violence perpetuated by the Israeli state and Hamas are the only way forward.
Against the divisions and fake choices set up by nationalism, we fully support the workers of Gaza – not because of their nationality, ethnicity, or religion, but simply because they're real living, feeling, thinking, suffering, struggling human beings. And this support has to mean total hostility to all those who would oppress them – first and foremost the Israeli state and the Western governments and corporations that supply it with weapons, but also any other set of cynical politicians or theocrats who seek to use working-class Palestinians as pawns in their power struggles.
Alternative solutions to those offered by the statists do exist, they are not just utopian dreaming. The self-management and autonomous organisation of many Palestinian villages and the ongoing resistance to the colonisation of Palestine by working class Palestinians in solidarity with outside groups like Anarchists Against The Wall show that there is another way. Solutions like these that come from the working class and reject statism, religious fundamentalism and the violence perpetuated by the Israeli state and Hamas are the only way forward.
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who are you to criticise?
08.01.2009 14:02
and now is certainly NOT the time for english anarchists to be telling people who it is correct to support in the resistance.
anon
Get real anon!
08.01.2009 14:32
Furthermore, no one is telling anyone what to do. The opinion merely states that there are alternatives: Real alternatives and the struggle for liberation, both from the Israeli state AND Hamas has to start soon, otherwise there will be no Palestinian working class left!
Sheffield Anarchist
thanks
08.01.2009 19:08
Pseudonym!
Oh boy
08.01.2009 23:32
However, we mustn't forget who is responsible for this situation. Who assassinated Arafat, deposed Nasser, installed the Shah, backed Saddam, backed the Taliban?? It was THE US AND ISRAEL.. And even as Marxists or Anarchists, we have to support democracy in the first and last instance, even if we're critical of its results ---- and Hamas are a democratically elected government! I am critical of Hamas --- but support the process that brought them to power and defend the society that their victory represents. It is the only one that could evolve into a class struggle in Palestine, unlike the Zionist colonialist project, which would just turn Gaza into a barely represented sweatshop, within an an Israeli canton.
anonymous
But that's not what we're saying...
09.01.2009 00:51
When did we say that? We completely and unequivocally condemn Israel's atrocities. Where do we say lefties shouldn't criticise Israel?
"However, we mustn't forget who is responsible for this situation. Who assassinated Arafat, deposed Nasser, installed the Shah, backed Saddam, backed the Taliban?? It was THE US AND ISRAEL.."
Completely true (although it is worth remembering that Israel's the US's client, not the other way around). We weren't trying to deny that US imperialism's created this situation, just to be clear about what forces can offer a way out of it (mass working-class action across the middle east) and which ones can't (self-serving militarists and politicians, whether they claim legitimacy in the name of nationalism, Islam, or anything else).
"And even as Marxists or Anarchists, we have to support democracy in the first and last instance, even if we're critical of its results ---- and Hamas are a democratically elected government!"
So's New Labour, but that doesn't stop them being our enemies.
"I am critical of Hamas --- but support the process that brought them to power and defend the society that their victory represents. It is the only one that could evolve into a class struggle in Palestine, unlike the Zionist colonialist project, which would just turn Gaza into a barely represented sweatshop, within an an Israeli canton."
That's not a particularly clear statement (Hamas's victory could represent any amount of different things to different people), but if open class struggle broke out in Palestinian society, Hamas would definitely be on the ruling class's side. If we agree that we both want to see Zionist colonialism defeated, and that Hamas is an enemy of the Palestinian working class, that we don't seem to disagree all that much, really.
One of Shef AF
Hmmmm
09.01.2009 06:06
Would that be the same ruling class as the one that Fatah supports? Personally I doubt it very much .......
I think it is quite easy to support the Palestinian people without supporting Hamas or Fatah - but perhaps the confusion is caused by rebuttals of the lies which are told about Hamas as part of the demonisation process spearheaded by zionists and willingly engaged in by western states and the main stream media. You can rebut lies without signing up to the party.
ISMer
Hamas may be a mass faction, but are no friends of the working class
09.01.2009 09:01
As for a government being elected putting it past criticism, thats pretty mad. I take it all these Indymedia posters should stop criticising Israel because its actions are the work of an elected government too?
AFer
Thanks for some sense, Sheffield AF...
09.01.2009 10:19
"as Marxists or Anarchists, we have to support democracy in the first and last instance, even if we're critical of its results ---- and Hamas are a democratically elected government!"
Hello? Revolutionaries want to overthrow all governments, yes? While we do care about mass support for outcomes, and real participatory democracy, the results of elections aren't supposed to bother us... do you support Labour, because they're elected?!
Another ISMer
In the furnace of war the most brutal tend to win.
11.01.2009 04:24
In my opinion it is futile to suggest the only way out is for a 'palestinian revolution'. In a protracted war such as this the side that employs the most brutal methods tends to win. War brings hate, bitterness and intransience. Further, with such a heavily armed israel would be impossible to beat.
I think that the best option *under these surcumstances* is for one side to win quickly. without the constant conflict a level of peace could break out. Gaza has been without water for some time now (not to mention fuel and goods). Whichever side wins will lead to that side realising that there are millions of people in the opposing territories and short of removing them (genocide) the only other short/medium term solution is:
- a return to 1967 borders.
- People in Hamas have said that given a palestinian refurendum on this they would abide by that refurendum.
- In exchange israel could get an official recognition by the arab league. This would stop almost all outside support for "palestinian terrorist" organisations.
- If a pull out from Iraq happened at the same time then Iran could be brought into the fold.
Adding more anger into the mix will only prolong the stuff that is going on down there, the geneva conventions may be imperfect but they are a step up from where things stand at the moment. There might be anarchists over there doing good work but if you want a world revolution to start and are expecting it to start there then you are underestimating the effect that a prolonged war has on the participants be they states or non-states. Asking the people in gaza to topple hamas when they are short of water, food and fuel is abit much if you ask me and i think that maybe you should try toppeling the UK, US governments etc... first.
cuthbert