Across the whole range of Palestine solidarity groups and networks in the UK, none could write or appear even once in White supremacist newspapers or social media; it is unthinkable. Any association with any brand of extreme right, racist formations would disgust and repel all those who currently give us active and passive support. It would be madness. While some extreme right groups cannot break from their tradition of open hatred of Jews, most have been attracted to a pro-Israeli stance by Israel’s frequent massacres and repression of Palestinians.
4th August, 2015
Dear Friends
We welcome the decision by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation to ensure that Palestine solidarity movements and groups in your coalition are in no way associated with racist and White supremacist elements.
We see a rising international movement of solidarity with the Palestinian people that needs to be developed and strengthened. It remains, however, an open question whether the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians across the whole of historic Palestine will be as successful as many earlier settler-colonial endeavours in Africa, Australia and the Americas, or be defeated by the struggle of Palestinians with world-wide support.
The struggle for Palestinian freedom is a struggle against Jewish privilege in the state and society enforced through both legal and extra-legal powers by a state that enjoys the military, political, economic and diplomatic support and complicity of both our governments. The European states have a longer history of direct colonialism and massive violence against all the peoples of the region than Israel’s current major aid donor.
Those of us who are international auxiliaries to that struggle for freedom from state-enforced racism see ourselves as part of, and draw strength from, a much wider movement against racism and aggressive wars, and for social justice. Conversely, the delivery of effective solidarity by supporters of Palestinian freedom becomes more difficult with the rise in influence of xenophobic, racist and anti-immigrant movements.
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We oppose all manifestations of racism as often lethal for the targeted victims, and dangerous for society as a whole. This includes hatred of Jews as a population, rather than opposition to the settler-colonial project in Palestine. We see the former as an abomination and latter as a duty.
If healthy disgust at all racism is not sufficient, anyone claiming to support the Palestinian people needs to reflect on the symbiotic relationship between Zionism and anti-semitism and how the Palestinian people have been made to pay the price for European crimes against Jews.
Across the whole range of Palestine solidarity groups and networks in the UK, none could write or appear even once in White supremacist newspapers or social media; it is unthinkable. Any association with any brand of extreme right, racist formations would disgust and repel all those who currently give us active and passive support. It would be madness. While some extreme right groups cannot break from their tradition of open hatred of Jews, most have been attracted to a pro-Israeli stance by Israel’s frequent massacres and repression of Palestinians. They increasingly see Israel as a model for the kind of state they would like to establish here.
We applaud your efforts on behalf of the Palestinian people and look forward to our continued cooperation on their behalf.
With best wishes for the future.
Albie O'Neill
Secretary, on behalf of
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Building effective solidarity with the Palestinian people
c/o Peace & Justice Centre
2 Princes Street
Edinburgh EH2 4BJ
www.scottishpsc.org.uk
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