Palestine-Israel: Combating Nationalism Key to Workers’ Unity Part II

(Part I — CHALLENGE, 3/3 — detailed Israel’s attacks on Gaza, its apartheid conditions enforced on Palestine, the racism towards Arabs and Muslims and relations between Israeli and U.S. rulers.)

In Palestine there were mass uprisings against Israeli rule in 1987 and 2000, but today there is very little resistance. Since 1990, the governing Fatah party has negotiated with Israel, with the U.S. as mediator, and has become the administrator of much of the West Bank, without ever achieving independence. Most Palestinians view Fatah as corrupt and incompetent. It has now even taken over many internal policing duties from the Israelis.

To protest Fatah, in 2006, the majority (even Christians and secularists) voted for Hamas, which offers only regressive Islamic fundamentalism. Most Palestinians are completely disengaged from either party, but a vacuum exists in the middle. Even the small groups that do continue activism focus on single issues, like the Israeli-built Wall or the fascist judicial system. All are nationalist-oriented, calling for an independent Palestinian state, without examining the nature of the current society or what they need to build.

Palestine and Fatah are dominated by a small number of relatively wealthy families. The masses are poor workers and farmers. These relations will not change in an independent Palestine, leaving poverty and inequality intact. History has repeatedly demonstrated that the fight for the working class’ control of society cannot be postponed, since local ruling classes, and the rich imperialists who control them, continue to run society in the same old way in the “liberated” state.

A nationalist outlook also cuts off the possibility of alliances with workers in Israel, some of whom are also oppressed, especially recent and darker-skinned immigrants and the super-exploited temporary workers Israel imports for its lowest-paid jobs.

In Israel, there is also some limited opposition to government policy. About 5% of young people resist mandatory military service, and are imprisoned. A small group of veterans has spoken out about the atrocities they’ve seen in Gaza and other places in the occupied territories. Some Israelis object to the depths of degradation of, and cruelty to, the Palestinians. However, their demands are usually for “peace” and an end to the military occupation, without considering the role Israel plays for Western imperialism or the class relations in their own society.

Many in Israel and Palestine hoped that Obama would actually represent a new U.S. policy and bring change to the area. They didn’t realize that Obama represents only the interests of the U.S. ruling class, which do not change no matter who is President. In fact, a position paper prepared for Obama before he took office only reiterated the old U.S. call for “two states,” dominated by Israel economically and militarily. Before his inauguration, Obama was silent as Gazans were being slaughtered.

Before our trip to this area we prepared a document which reviews its imperialist history, indicating the weakness of nationalism and calling for an egalitarian communist society. We were fortunate to meet some young Israelis who agree with this position and will begin working with us. Throughout our travels in Israel and the West Bank, we distributed 50 CHALLENGES and as many position papers to activists we met along the way. As we continue to follow up with these friends, we will attempt to stimulate a multi-ethnic communist movement so badly needed in Israel/Palestine. J

Correction: Part I (CHALLENGE, 3/3/10), has a typo. It says that Israel began “building up Hamas in the 1950s as a counterweight to the secular nationalist Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).”

The years are incorrect; the PLO was not formed
until 1964, and Hamas didn’t form until 1987.