In a conversation with a friend about the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, she said something that shocked me: "It's too bad Hitler didn't do a better job."
My disgust at such antisemitic, fascist sentiment has been sitting with me quite heavily. As a firm believer in ending the occupation of Palestine and as an outspoken critic of the Israeli government, I was mortified to hear a person I viewed as an ally harboring such fascist anti-Semitism. Furthermore, as a queer, anarcho-communist, German-American, I was disgusted to hear anybody wish for the success of Hitler whose campaign of genocide targeted disabled people, communists, queers, gypsies, and others including Jews. As someone who fits into several of these categories and would have been quickly killed in Hitler's regime and as a person with an iota of egalitarianism, I am incredibly disturbed by the reactionary, fascist sentiments lurking behind some people who parade as leftists and liberationists.
Because of this conversation, I think its important to reflect on the anti-Nazi resistance comprised of both Zionist and anti-Zionist Jewish factions that militantly fought the SS. The Palestinian resistance movement, like the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, has been comprised of people of various perspectives--some agreeable, some less so. Commonly united against an oppressive state, the Palestinian Resistance like anti-Nazi Jewish militants, fights united against an oppressor.
Instead of wishing one genocide for another, instead of celebrating fascism and resorting to the most vile forms of political reaction, lets couch our critiques of Israel in terms of Justice and Peace in a liberated Palestine. Lets advocate for the abolition of the Israeli Government and fight for the liberty and rights of Palestinians, Jews, and all others who work to resist fascism whether German, Israeli, or American. Whatever we do, let's not fall into the trap of glorifying fascism, racism, nationalism, and most grotesque, unjustified forms of state-violence.
For information about Orthodox Jews united against Zionism and Israeli violence go here!
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