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Zionism revisited Dear Comrades. Dave Landau's lemter (Socialit Cutied 2) accuses my arccle (Anti-ziunism and anti semitisin — Societ (atond 2) of using arguments that can casily slip into concessions to anti senntisi.: In the arnicie, Tasserted thar, ar cvery turn, zionism capitulates to anti-semitist, urd that the fight against antr-scuptism is inseparably Linked to the fight aguns!
Dave asks: "wherher John Turkic is saying that the logical conclusion of zionist principles is to abandon the fight aguinst anti-semitism or whether he is saying the zionists actually de always abandon this struggle. 1f he means the Latter, be is simply wrong and the is a particularly pernicions error. To be sure, secrions of the zionist leadership may lave played a despicable rule in relation to the fight against apti-scmitism.. ground zinnists have been actively involved in sch struggles, often laving down
Dave writes at zionist principles, ziobists? "zionist leadership", bur not of "zunim. Zionism is an ideology and must be understood as such. To go on about the beliets of individual zionists 1s to miss the point.
On this crucial point. it seems to me that Dave is confusod. He states: "there is, ultimately, a defcarisr logic in the zionist position... Clearly we should stand up and fighr for our rights throughour the world, bur then he adds the rider that the establishment of a sccure sanctuary does scom a wise precaution".
Tus plays right into che hands of zionism: Most zionist idenlogues behieve that anri-semitism is endemic among non-jews. Accordingly, zionist believes that when faced with anti-semitism, jews should not waste tume lighting this (incurable) raciscu, but should simply emigrate to the
London SW2 SUN. jewish homeland", In other words, the prubles will be enlved" by segregation, exactly as the racists recommend, Whilst indiradual zurusts may fight anti-semitiam, zionism the ideology clearly does not.
Zionism's response to anti-semitist is one of capitulation. Moreover, thr rationalisation of the colonisation of Palestine at the expense of its Arabi inhabitants Has created an ideology and sucicty whittis racier to the core. Anti-ruciar jews most nor support — at any level — "the jewish: homeland' (the securr suicluary Dave Lalks abrat). It is an solution to anti-scmiusu The fate of Dear comrades, Congratulations on Socialine Outlook, Although I don'T agree with everytlung in it. the general tone is both readable
I was particularly interested by points raised in atticles written hy John Lister and Phil Hearse, Anne Somers and Peter Smith concentrang ou the industrial issues facing thr British working cass and the trade unions, in particular:
I entirely agree with comrades Lixter and Hearse in the picee Preparing the lightback when tiey argue that the lett must build in a lar more serious fashion inside the trade union organisations — not least becanse of their influenee within the Labour
It has been frustrating to see the drill cowards the right of unions like NUPE without there being a sustained and coordinated upposicion fron whole sections of the left.
The so-called 'hand left' inside the Lahour Party appears to have ignored such developments, bur if such elements are serious about jews must be seen as inseparable from the fight. alongside all persecuted groups and progressive proples, against racion wal fascism.
There is another cicar: illustrarion of Dave's confusion. Whilst agreeing that there is no racial honogencity amongst the world's 16 million jews, Dave takes Issue with me for cutting to mention that the colonial people do not have ab imperialist homeland. The absence of any homeland 15. after all, precisely why they are there! The imperials powers lur whom they ate electively a colonial proxy are countres with whuch most Toraelis have no historical Building a class struggle movement in the unions rebuilding the left they must now prioritise the building of a let current within the structures pf the unions. wherever possible, be united whilst at the same time allowing for fraternal criticisn and debate within: Tendencies with opposing wewpous wold still be afforded opportunities to raise theni publicly without demanding thar other gmups follow suit.
Secondly, the urganised left in the unions must be based at Lins stage on union activists rather than handfuls of individual union members whose priority is peddling their version of left wing policies ar the exclusion of building constructive left opposition.
Thirdly, where the left is organised it must be prepared tu challenge the right, the opportunists, and de carecrists at every level of each union's structure, at branch, divisinnal, district, regional and narional levels. This will require patient work but will prove to be the best defence against attempts to witchhunt indivindal activists on the lefr connection whatsoever'
Dace again, Davc 15 playing into zionism's Hands. The above totally ignores the power of the zionist lobby willon these countrice to bang about the Israch state. And anyway, jews do not constitutc a race = a point on which both Dave and Tagree - why should we have a 'homeland'?
Tam jewish bor Lam mot religious As a marxist 1 consider judaist reacrimaryTo my mind, marcism and judaist are quite incompatible. However, Tda not beliese. Because T have rejected jodism, thar I have rejected jewish history un jewish culture John Turkie lut "bringing the anion into
Finally a flexible approsch must be adopted towards adhererus to corocommunist and stalust tendencies. The LEG A hutterly divided. und the only thing chat appears to keep the various factions together is a common fear nt what they perceive to be Trockvism. Nevertheless some elements which don't agree with Trotskyism cad plus an active and even leading role inside a united lett
It is the bulk of trade union activists at rank and file level who do not adhere to any "line" as such and who can have illusions in left-rounding union leaders ar the present who will be looking for answers when the Tory atacks on dietn and their members intensify over the next period. They will turn away from those who urged them to "tighren their belts and await a Labour victory but will tbey. turn to the organised left, for
Bermondsey, London SOCIALIST OUTIOOK no 3: Saplember/October 19฿/
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