In the last year we have seen some so called Jewish “anti-Zionists” working hard to appease their Zionist brothers.
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi attempted to run a clandestine operation within our movement. Sarah Kershnar of the IJAN attempted to jeopardise a Palestinian solidarity conference. We saw the relentless Tony Greenstein harassing Richard Falk, John Mearsheimer, Lauren Booth, Dr Samir Abed Rabo, Sameh Habeeb and me, among many others. Now they have all been rewarded.
The ultra-Zionist, pro-war, neocon Harry’s Place decided today to thank its Jewish “anti-Zionist” allies. In an astonishing peace titled “A (small) Thank You to anti-Israel Jews”, Zionist mouthpiece Anthony Cooper thanks his collaborators within our midst.
“In many, perhaps most, cases the motivation to publicly denounce Israel is the desire to fight anti-Semitism.” Cooper writes about his anti Zionist brothers, confirming the thesis I developed in The Wandering Who? In most cases, Jewish “anti-Zionists” are mainly concerned with Jewish tribal interests. They aren’t exactly Palestinian solidarity activists or even ordinary humanist. They just want Jews to look slightly better. I guess that, for them, the Shoa in Palestine is a secondary matter.
 |
| The "anti-Zionist" Zionists |
As we always suspected the true motivation behind the “Jews only” pro-Palestinian cells, Cooper informs us that “the founding declaration of Independent Jewish Voices, for example, places the fight against antisemitism at the heart of the organization. Likewise, Jews for Justice for Palestinians (JfJfP) state that they “extend support to Palestinians trapped in the spiral of violence and repression” because they ”believe that such actions are important in countering anti-Semitism”. Thus, the two leading Jewish “pro-Palestinian” organizations are clearly concerned primarily with anti Semitism.
Cooper is far from stupid. He is correct when suggesting that “far from destroying the impression of Jewish support for Israeli actions, their [the Jewish “anti-Zionists”) opposition reinforces it”. Cooper is correct here: the opposition of half a dozen righteous Jews is not going to vindicate the Jewish people of crimes committed by the Jewish state in the name of the Jewish people.
But the good news is not finished yet. Hold your breath because Cooper has some clear plans for his bunch of “anti-Zionist” sayanim: He says: “Very few anti-Israel Jews are self-hating. We [the Zionist] should recognize this and make sure to keep them within the big tent against anti-Semitism rather than making them pariahs. They may be opponents of Israel but they can be our allies in the struggle against anti-Semitism.”
The message for every Palestinian solidarity person is pretty clear-Beware!
If ultra-Zionist Cooper is correct, from now on we had better take with a pinch of salt the entire Jewish “anti-Zionist” political discourse. As you probably know, I have been saying this for years, but now, for the first time, you can hear it from the horse’s mouth.
1 comment:
I don't know the situation in Britian but in the US groups like JVP and Not in My Name are genuinely humanists and extremely clever about not falling in to the traps this article describes. Other groups, as JStreet are probably motivated in large part by the need to save Israel from itself if possible. Many on the Left in israel itself while tirelessly fighting and risking jail, hardship etc for better treatment of Palestinians, the end to the Occupation, ultimately are also Zionists, who want a land for the Jews only, with priveledges for these people over others in their land. But we too can use them when they call for the goals we call for.
Post a Comment