The Hypocrisy of Labour Zionism which only supports 2 States outside Israel! In Israel they support Occupation!
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| Jeremy Corbyn, previously a long-standing supporter of the Palestinians and a patron of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, humiliates himself by lending his support to the Labour Friends of Israel and speaking alongside Mark Regev, the Israeli Ambassador (back right) Netanyahu’s former PR man who justified the murder of Palestinian civilians in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge, including 4 children killed on the beach |
Despite
all the heated
rhetoric of Benjamin Netanyahu condemning UN Resolution 2334 on Settlements
which passed 14-0 with 1 abstention on 23rd December and his
theatrics – reprimanding the Ambassadors of the Security Council members which
voted for it – the resolution is quite mild.
all the heated
rhetoric of Benjamin Netanyahu condemning UN Resolution 2334 on Settlements
which passed 14-0 with 1 abstention on 23rd December and his
theatrics – reprimanding the Ambassadors of the Security Council members which
voted for it – the resolution is quite mild.
UN
Resolution 2334 reaffirms the international law principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force. It
could do no other. It also reaffirmed
its own previous resolutions including Resolution 242, which was passed after
the 1967 war, and called for the withdrawal of Israel’s armed forces from the
territories it had ‘occupied in the
recent conflict’ and Resolution
338 which was passed on 22nd October 1973 and called for an
immediate ceasefire in the Yom Kippur war.
Resolution 2334 reaffirms the international law principle of the inadmissibility of the
acquisition of territory by force. It
could do no other. It also reaffirmed
its own previous resolutions including Resolution 242, which was passed after
the 1967 war, and called for the withdrawal of Israel’s armed forces from the
territories it had ‘occupied in the
recent conflict’ and Resolution
338 which was passed on 22nd October 1973 and called for an
immediate ceasefire in the Yom Kippur war.
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| The theatrics of Netanyahu, inviting in Ambassadors for a reprimand and throwing his toys out of the pram belie a purpose – making it clear that 2 states is just a diplomatic fig leaf – not to be taken seriously |
Resolution 2334 reaffirms the
obligation of Israel to abide by the 4th Geneva Convention in relation
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Something which one would have assumed was
uncontentious, except that Israel doesn’t accept the Geneva Convention applies
to the Palestinian Territories since it holds to the fiction that it is ‘returning’ after an absence of around
2,500 years!
obligation of Israel to abide by the 4th Geneva Convention in relation
to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Something which one would have assumed was
uncontentious, except that Israel doesn’t accept the Geneva Convention applies
to the Palestinian Territories since it holds to the fiction that it is ‘returning’ after an absence of around
2,500 years!
The refusal to abide by the 4th Geneva Convention, which was passed in August 1949, is particularly shameful since the Convention was passed as a result of the treatment of the Jewish population in the countries the Nazis or their satellites occupied. It is in itself proof that Israel, despite calling itself a Jewish state, has learnt nothing from the crimes of the Nazi state.
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| Labour Friends of Israel’s hypocritical ‘peace’ campaign which justifies war and occupation |
The Resolution also reaffirmed
the opinion of the International Court of Justice at The Hague, which found Israel’s
Separation Wall, which steals large chunks of Palestinian land in the West Bank,
to be illegal.
the opinion of the International Court of Justice at The Hague, which found Israel’s
Separation Wall, which steals large chunks of Palestinian land in the West Bank,
to be illegal.
The Resolution also condemns
measures which alter the demographic composition of the Palestinian Territories. Again this is standard international
law. When the Nazis invaded Poland in
1939 they began settling the Warthegau (Reichsgau Wartheland) which they annexed
to the Greater German Reich, with German settlers. The Nazis expelled the indigenous Polish population,
including large numbers of Jews.
measures which alter the demographic composition of the Palestinian Territories. Again this is standard international
law. When the Nazis invaded Poland in
1939 they began settling the Warthegau (Reichsgau Wartheland) which they annexed
to the Greater German Reich, with German settlers. The Nazis expelled the indigenous Polish population,
including large numbers of Jews.
Israel doesn’t accept this either
since it holds that Brooklyn Bible bashers take precedence over Palestinians
who have been living there for hundreds of years. In particular the resolution expresses ‘grave concern that continuing Israeli
settlement activities are dangerously imperilling the viability of the
two-State solution based on the 1967 lines’.
since it holds that Brooklyn Bible bashers take precedence over Palestinians
who have been living there for hundreds of years. In particular the resolution expresses ‘grave concern that continuing Israeli
settlement activities are dangerously imperilling the viability of the
two-State solution based on the 1967 lines’.
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| In order to defeat BDS, Labour Friends of Israel pretends to support a 2 State solution |
You might think that Labour Friends of Israel,
which has just launched a ‘For Israel,
for Palestine, for peace’ campaign, and the Jewish Labour Movement, would
be delighted with UN resolution. After
all both organisations support a 2 State Solution in Israel/Palestine and never
lose an opportunity to speak about ‘peace’.
However this is hypocritical cant. In practice neither organisation
is prepared to do anything in practice to oppose Israel’s military occupation of the Palestinian territories and the settlement of the territories.
which has just launched a ‘For Israel,
for Palestine, for peace’ campaign, and the Jewish Labour Movement, would
be delighted with UN resolution. After
all both organisations support a 2 State Solution in Israel/Palestine and never
lose an opportunity to speak about ‘peace’.
However this is hypocritical cant. In practice neither organisation
is prepared to do anything in practice to oppose Israel’s military occupation of the Palestinian territories and the settlement of the territories.
The LFI and JLM only support 2
States as a means of opposing BDS and the Boycott of Israel. In practice these organisations support Israel’s
occupation of Palestinian land. Their ‘support’ for a 2 States Solution is a
cynical tactic designed to negate practical support for the Palestinians. When not alleging ‘anti-Semitism’ they oppose
all practical measures of support for the Palestinians.
States as a means of opposing BDS and the Boycott of Israel. In practice these organisations support Israel’s
occupation of Palestinian land. Their ‘support’ for a 2 States Solution is a
cynical tactic designed to negate practical support for the Palestinians. When not alleging ‘anti-Semitism’ they oppose
all practical measures of support for the Palestinians.
Support in Britain for 2 States avoids
thorny questions such as whether the Jewish State of Israel can also be a Democratic
State of all its citizens, given that 20% of the inhabitants of Israel are Palestinians.
thorny questions such as whether the Jewish State of Israel can also be a Democratic
State of all its citizens, given that 20% of the inhabitants of Israel are Palestinians.
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| An endearing photograph, probably of an Israeli Jewish child in a Palestinian keffiyeh since there is no mixing between Jewish settler children and Palestinian children. In Israel nearly all children go to segregated schools |
What LFI and JLM don’t support is
any active campaign to remove Israel’s occupation, still less any campaign
against the military occupation of the West Bank or the repression, the military
courts, the arrest, detention and
torture of children, arbitrary imprisonment or theft and confiscation of
land. You won’t find either
organisation, or hypocrites like Tom Watson and Ruth Smeeth MP who
sponsor them, opposing the violent arrest of a 7 year old boy, as captured on video
or the arrest of a 6 year old child, as reported
by the Times of Israel, who was held for 8 hours and not allowed to see his
parents.
any active campaign to remove Israel’s occupation, still less any campaign
against the military occupation of the West Bank or the repression, the military
courts, the arrest, detention and
torture of children, arbitrary imprisonment or theft and confiscation of
land. You won’t find either
organisation, or hypocrites like Tom Watson and Ruth Smeeth MP who
sponsor them, opposing the violent arrest of a 7 year old boy, as captured on video
or the arrest of a 6 year old child, as reported
by the Times of Israel, who was held for 8 hours and not allowed to see his
parents.
LFI and the misnamed Jewish
Labour Movement only support 2 States because it is an alternative to a
democratic, secular, unitary state in the whole of Palestine/Israel. Labour Zionist support for 2 States only
exists outside Israel. Inside Israel the
Israeli Labour Party opposes a Palestinian
state and supports ‘segregation’ i.e. a Palestinian Bantustan. Its main fear is that the 4 million Palestinians
under occupation will make a Jewish state impossible.
Labour Movement only support 2 States because it is an alternative to a
democratic, secular, unitary state in the whole of Palestine/Israel. Labour Zionist support for 2 States only
exists outside Israel. Inside Israel the
Israeli Labour Party opposes a Palestinian
state and supports ‘segregation’ i.e. a Palestinian Bantustan. Its main fear is that the 4 million Palestinians
under occupation will make a Jewish state impossible.
This is why there is an embarrassing
silence by Labour Friends of Israel and the Jewish Labour Movement. They are caught between a rock and a hard
place. Neither organisation can oppose a
UN resolution which calls for the very thing they apparently support, i.e. 2
States and which is supported by virtually the entire world bar that well known
anti-racist, Donald Trump. But neither can they support it.
silence by Labour Friends of Israel and the Jewish Labour Movement. They are caught between a rock and a hard
place. Neither organisation can oppose a
UN resolution which calls for the very thing they apparently support, i.e. 2
States and which is supported by virtually the entire world bar that well known
anti-racist, Donald Trump. But neither can they support it.
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| Obama and Netanyahu at a time when the US was resupplying Israel’s military attack on Gaza |
The JLM describes the Israeli Labour
Party as its ‘sister party’. The
Washington Post of 24th December reported thus: “I strongly oppose this harsh
resolution, which is a strategic defeat for Israel,” opposition leader Isaac
Herzog said. Speaking on Israeli
television Saturday, he laid the blame for the defeat on Netanyahu’s foreign
policy.’
Party as its ‘sister party’. The
Washington Post of 24th December reported thus: “I strongly oppose this harsh
resolution, which is a strategic defeat for Israel,” opposition leader Isaac
Herzog said. Speaking on Israeli
television Saturday, he laid the blame for the defeat on Netanyahu’s foreign
policy.’
The Jewish Forward (26.12.16) described
how Herzog whilst ‘trying to sound a
patriotic note while attacking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, condemned the
resolution but blamed Netanyahu for pursuing policies that left Israel
isolated.’ This is strange language
coming from someone who, according to the JLM and LFI supports a 2 state solution.
“This is a difficult night for Israel,” said opposition leader Isaac
Herzog (Zionist Union) in wake of the recent UN Security Council resolution
condemning all Israeli settlements, which he opined the United States should
have vetoed. Herzog said the resolution “seriously harms our capital Jerusalem,
the settlement blocs and Israel’s status and diplomatic achievements
accumulated over the years.” –
Herzog and the Israeli Labour
Party are portrayed in Britain as supporters of a 2 states solution yet here he
is saying the resolution should have been vetoed and that it harms ‘our’
capital Jerusalem. Herzog also talks
about harm to the very settlement blocks which are an obstacle to any
meaningful 2 states solution. Israel’s
political left also condemns the UN’s anti-settlement resolution
Party are portrayed in Britain as supporters of a 2 states solution yet here he
is saying the resolution should have been vetoed and that it harms ‘our’
capital Jerusalem. Herzog also talks
about harm to the very settlement blocks which are an obstacle to any
meaningful 2 states solution. Israel’s
political left also condemns the UN’s anti-settlement resolution
Another Israeli ‘supporter’ of 2
States is the leader of the ‘Centrist’ Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid who ‘railed against the UN resolution, telling
reporters it was “dangerous, unfair and Israel doesn’t accept it.” ‘
States is the leader of the ‘Centrist’ Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid who ‘railed against the UN resolution, telling
reporters it was “dangerous, unfair and Israel doesn’t accept it.” ‘
“The resolution yesterday was an act of hypocrisy,” Lapid said
Saturday. “When a murderous terrorist
group like Hamas praises the decision of the Security Council, it’s clear whom
it serves.” He even criticized left-wing politicians who celebrated the UN
decision, saying “patriots don’t behave
thus,” [Times of Israel, 24.12.16.]
Saturday. “When a murderous terrorist
group like Hamas praises the decision of the Security Council, it’s clear whom
it serves.” He even criticized left-wing politicians who celebrated the UN
decision, saying “patriots don’t behave
thus,” [Times of Israel, 24.12.16.]
As Gideon Levy noted in an Op Ed
in Ha’aretz, ‘opposition leader Isaac Herzog can babble that ‘we need to fight the decision with all means,’”
but what is this babble really about, what does it mean about the mainstream
Zionist ‘left’, and why is Herzog defending the settlements? – UN Resolution Is a
Breath of Hope in Sea of Darkness and Despair –
in Ha’aretz, ‘opposition leader Isaac Herzog can babble that ‘we need to fight the decision with all means,’”
but what is this babble really about, what does it mean about the mainstream
Zionist ‘left’, and why is Herzog defending the settlements? – UN Resolution Is a
Breath of Hope in Sea of Darkness and Despair –
Thus we note the dilemmas of the hypocrites of the Jewish Labour Movement and Labour Friends of Israel.
Tony Greenstein
Text of Egyptian-drafted resolution 2334 on
settlements, approved by the UN Security Council, on December 23, 2016.
settlements, approved by the UN Security Council, on December 23, 2016.
The Security Council,
Reaffirming its relevant
resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 446 (1979), 452
(1979), 465 (1980), 476 (1980), 478 (1980), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), and 1850
(2008),
resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 446 (1979), 452
(1979), 465 (1980), 476 (1980), 478 (1980), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), and 1850
(2008),
Guided by the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming, inter alia,
the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force,
principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming, inter alia,
the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force,
Reaffirming the obligation of
Israel, the occupying Power, to abide scrupulously by its legal obligations and
responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection
of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and recalling the
advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,
Israel, the occupying Power, to abide scrupulously by its legal obligations and
responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection
of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and recalling the
advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,
Condemning all measures aimed at
altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian
Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, including, inter alia,
the construction and expansion of settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers,
confiscation of land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian
civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law and relevant
resolutions,
altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian
Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, including, inter alia,
the construction and expansion of settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers,
confiscation of land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian
civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law and relevant
resolutions,
Expressing grave concern that
continuing Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperilling the
viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines,
continuing Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperilling the
viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines,
Recalling the obligation under
the Quartet Roadmap, endorsed by its resolution 1515 (2003), for a freeze by Israel
of all settlement activity, including “natural growth”, and the dismantlement
of all settlement outposts erected since March 2001,
the Quartet Roadmap, endorsed by its resolution 1515 (2003), for a freeze by Israel
of all settlement activity, including “natural growth”, and the dismantlement
of all settlement outposts erected since March 2001,
Recalling also the obligation
under the Quartet roadmap for the Palestinian Authority Security Forces to
maintain effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror
and dismantling terrorist capabilities, including the confiscation of illegal
weapons,
under the Quartet roadmap for the Palestinian Authority Security Forces to
maintain effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror
and dismantling terrorist capabilities, including the confiscation of illegal
weapons,
Condemning all acts of violence
against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation,
incitement and destruction,
against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation,
incitement and destruction,
Reiterating its vision of a
region where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in
peace within secure and recognized borders,
region where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in
peace within secure and recognized borders,
Stressing that the status quo is
not sustainable and that significant steps, consistent with the transition
contemplated by prior agreements, are urgently needed in order to (i) stabilize
the situation and to reverse negative trends on the ground, which are steadily
eroding the two-State solution and entrenching a one-State reality, and (ii) to
create the conditions for successful final status negotiations and for
advancing the two-State solution through those negotiations and on the ground.
not sustainable and that significant steps, consistent with the transition
contemplated by prior agreements, are urgently needed in order to (i) stabilize
the situation and to reverse negative trends on the ground, which are steadily
eroding the two-State solution and entrenching a one-State reality, and (ii) to
create the conditions for successful final status negotiations and for
advancing the two-State solution through those negotiations and on the ground.
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