Historical document: Manifesto on the question of Eretz-Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict - 1967
Manifesto on the question of Eretz-Israel and the Israeli-Arab
Explanatory introduction
The statement that presented here was approved by the Central Committee of the Israeli Socialist Organization in early May 1967, and was destined to appear in the June of the newspaper "Matzpen". When the material was ready for printing, war broke out (6 days, N. of T.), most of the comrades of the organization were recruited to the army, and there was no power to make the newspaper.
We present here the contents of the statement along with explanatory (which also were ready for printing in early June 1967) about the circumstances under which the statement was published in Europe. We do not present this here as museum exhibit. We are convinced that even though circumstances have changed, the position expressed in the statement is still correct even today.
In times of tension between the main fields on both sides of the conflict, are we, members of the Israeli Socialist Organization, a special attraction in understanding relationships to be forged between the forces of the left opposition in Israel and worldwide Arabic.
There is still a global organization that unites all the world revolutionary socialist parties. Or is it more correct to say such an organization does not exist officially.
But meanwhile, and until the creation of an organization like that (and hopefully not too long for it), there are close informal contacts between socialist countries. In particular, we maintain friendly contacts with people of different revolutionary currents, especially in Europe. One of the most beneficial results of these contacts is that our brothers in the struggle to act (in the most adverse conditions) in Arab countries, they know us and our business, and we know of them. We learned from our experience that one obstacle to the dissemination of our ideas in the broad sectors Israelis is the impression (reinforced by official propaganda from both sides) that the Arabs seek to destroy Israel and "push the Jews into the sea" .
Similarly, one of the obstacles faced by the progressive forces in the Arab world is under the impression that in Israel there are forces interested in an agreement based on the negation of Zionism and commitment to socialism. On the basis of entanglement of a non-Zionist Israel in a regional socialist unity.
There is somehow a great fortune in the fact that Israeli Arabs know that there are forces that see the Arab-Israeli problem, not a nationalist stance but from a socialist point of view, who exhibited against Israel perspective of coexistence the Middle East. Parallel to this, the fact of knowledge about the existence of the Israeli Socialist Organization, their positions and activism, allows Arab socialists fight more successfully against the nationalist and right in the Arab world, and offer to their people the prospect of a socialist solution to the problem of relations with Israel.
Each year, May 15 (Independence Day for Israel, and day of the Nakba, the disaster for the Palestinians. N. of T.) are performed in different parts of the Arab world demonstrations by Arabs themselves. The reason: the problem of Eretz-Israel.
Generally these statements appropriates nationalist tenor of the worst kind, and even listen tenors are clearly anti-Semitic.
However, this year we learned that the demonstration would take place in Paris, prepared the socialist-internationalist Arab groups to respond in an open battle. To defeat the anti-Semitic tenor and display a non-nationalist stance, they invited Nathan Weinstock, a young Belgian Jewish socialist, to speak at the meeting. We feel a moral obligation then to companion Weinstock send a copy of the manifest which we publish below, which presented a socialist solution to the Israeli-Arab problem. The manifesto reaffirmed our opposition to Zionism on the one hand and Arab nationalist vision that denies the right to self-determination of the Jewish people on the other.
Meanwhile, [the Israeli daily] "Yediot Haajaronot" and "Maariv" published an information that the demonstration did take place, this time was particularly massive, attracting groups on the left, and that Comrade Weinstock she spoke and read our manifesto. Despite the negative comments from angry journalists in the evening papers, whose origin is simply that the manifesto of Matzpen attacks Zionism, are we convinced that this document played an important service to the Jewish-Arab understanding.
CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF ISRAELI SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION
MAY 1967
MANIFESTO ON THE QUESTION OF Eretz-Israel [1] AND THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT
This month will mark 19 years of creation of the State of Israel. During these 19 years, the Arab-Israeli conflict is not about a solution. The problem of Eretz Israel is still an open wound on the body of the Near East, uninterrupted source of bloodshed, suffering and evil; heavy burden on regional economic resources, a pretext for military intervention and imperialist aggression, terrible threat world peace.
It is particularly serious the situation of the Arabs of Eretz-Israel, direct victims of the wars of 1948 and the conspiracy of the "friendly enemies": Ben Gurion and Abdullah. Most of the Arabs of the Land of Israel were dispossessed of their homes and lands during the 1948 war and later to her, and became refugees living until today in suffering and adversity in refugee camps outside the State of Israel. Israel's leaders flatly refuse to recognize their basic right to return to their homeland. The Arabs who remained in the territory of Israel suffer deeply as victims of economic oppression, civil and national levels.
Israel was during these 19 years an isolated island in the region. A state with only formal independence, dependent from the economically and politically by imperialist powers, especially the United States. He served continuously as a tool in the hands of these powers against the Arab nation, against the progressive forces in the Arab world. The expression (though not only) the role of official Israeli policy was in 1956 when the government of Israel joined the Anglo-French imperialism in an aggressive conspiracy against Egypt, and even supplied him with a pretext to those powers for military intervention.
The state of war and hostility between Israel and neighboring Arab countries remains 19 years ago, and driving Zionist Israel has no real prospect of changing this situation. The Israeli policy is at a dead end.
The economic crisis currently prevailing in Israel, and that causes severe unemployment to workers and great misery to the masses, highlights the fact that the State of Israel will exist over time in its current form, as a State Zionist disconnected from the region where you are.
Indeed, the current situation is contrary to the interests of the Arab masses. Israel, in its current form, represents an obstacle in the struggle of the masses against imperialism and the Arab Socialist Union. The continuation of this situation is contrary to the interests of the Israeli masses.
Israeli Socialist Organization, which counts among its ranks with members of Arab and Jewish states, says the problem deEretz-Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict can and must be resolved in a socialist and internationalist, taking into account the unique characteristics its kind of this complicated problem.
This is not a common national conflict between two peoples, therefore, is not enough to call the "coexistence based on mutual recognition of the just national rights of both peoples."
The State of Israel is the result of colonization deEretz-Israel by the Zionist movement, on account of the Arab people, under the aegis of imperialism. In its current form, Zionist State of Israel is also an instrument for the continuation of "the Zionist enterprise."
The Arab world can not accept the fact that in this vicinity there is a Zionist state, whose stated purpose is not to serve his own people, but to be cutting edge, a political tool and target for immigration of all Jews the world. The Zionist character of Israel is contrary to the true interests of the Israeli masses, because it means the country's perpetual dependence on foreign factors.
Therefore we are convinced that the solution of the problem requires the deionization of Israel. The State of Israel must go through a profound revolutionary change that transforms from a Zionist state (ie, a state of all Jews in the world), a socialist state representing the interests of the people who inhabit it. In particular, abolish the "Law of Return", which grants all Jews the world the absolute and automatic right to immigrate to Israel and become citizens. All immigration application will be decided separately and in particular without any racial or religious discrimination.
The problem of Palestinian refugees is the most painful part of the Israeli-Arab conflict.
We therefore hold that it is essential to any refugee possible so wishes, to return to Israel and receive full social and economic restoration. Refugees who choose, of their own will, not to return, you must reward them fully for the loss of property and suffering caused to them.
It is necessary to abolish all laws and regulations aimed at discrimination and oppression of the Arab population in Israel and the confiscation of their lands. In all seizures and damage (in land, property and personal injury) that occurred because of these laws and regulations, it is obligatory to give full compensation.
The deionization of Israel also determines the cancellation of the Zionist foreign policy, serving imperialist interests. Israel must take an active part in the struggle of the Arabs against imperialism and for building the socialist Arab unity.
Zionist settlement in Eretz-Israel differs in a basic aspect of colonization in other countries: while in other countries the settlers created their economy based on exploitation of the workforce of local people in Eretz-Israel settlement was done by means of displacement and dispossession of the local population.
This created a special complication of the problem of Eretz-Israel, as a result of Zionist settlement, was established in Eretz-Israel Jewish nation [2], with national characteristics (common language, separate economy, etc..). Even more: this nation has a capitalist class structure, there are exploiters and exploited it, bourgeoisie and proletariat.
The argument that this nation was created artificially, and on account of the local Arab population does not change the fact that the Hebrew nation now exists. Ignoring this fact would be a disastrous mistake.
The solution to the problem of Eretz-Israel should not only correct the damage done to the Arabs of Eretz Israel by the Zionist, but to ensure the national future of the Jewish masses. These masses were brought to Eretz-Israel Zionism, but they are not responsible for the acts of Zionism. An attempt to punish the workers and Israeli masses for the sins of Zionism could not solve the problem of Eretz-Israel, but only bring further tragedies.
The same Arab nationalist leaders, those who call for jihad for the liberation of Palestine, obviate the fact that while Israel was militarily defeated and cease to exist as a state, even then there is the Hebrew nation. If the problem of the existence of that nation is not a correct solution, again there would be a dangerous national conflict and widespread, causing bloodshed and endless suffering, and serve as a new excuse for imperialist intervention. It is no coincidence that the leaders who called for a "solution" of this type are unable to resolve the problem nor Kurdish.
Additionally, it is necessary to understand that the Israeli masses will not be freed from the influence of Zionism and not fight against it if the progressive forces of the Arab world do not have a common outlook on life, not of national oppression.
Therefore, Israeli Socialist Organization argues that the real solution to the problem of Eretz-Israel demands recognition of self-determination of the Hebrew nation.
National self-determination does not necessarily mean segregation. On the contrary, we hold that in small country with limited natural resources, can not exist as a separate entity. Has only two choices: to remain dependent on foreign powers, or integrated into a regional union.
It follows that the only solution compatible with the interests of the Arab masses and Israelis alike is the integration of Israel as an entity within an economic and political union in the Middle East, on the basis of socialism.
In this context the Hebrew nation may have a national and cultural life of their own, without threatening the Arab world, Arabs and without endangering its existence. The forces of the Israeli masses will join the Arab masses in a common struggle for progress and wealth.
We hold therefore that the problem of Eretz-Israel, like other fundamental problems in the Middle East, can be solved only within the framework of the Socialist Union of the Middle East.
The theoretical analysis and practical experience teach us that Arab unity can be created and exist stably only if you have socialist characteristics.
We conclude therefore proposed solution with the following sentence: deionization of Israel, and incorporating it into the United Socialist States of Middle East.
We are convinced that also the problem of the future of the Arabs of Eretz-Israel must be resolved in the framework that is outlined above.
Some believe that justice requires the creation of a special Palestinian Arab political entity. In our opinion, this question must be determined by the Arabs of Eretz-Israel, without foreign interference.
However, in our opinion, the position that the political future of the Arabs of Eretz-Israel is a separate entity, independent of the issue of Arab socialist unity, is a serious error. Today, the Arabs of Eretz-Israel are in the forefront of fighting for unity. If placed before them a separate objective and independent, it can cause serious harm to the purpose of Arab unification. Furthermore, the creation of a small isolated Arab state is not compatible with the interests of the Arab nation or the interests of the Palestinian Arab people within it.
Therefore we argue that if the Arabs of Eretz-Israel every right to decide with the creation of a political entity own political and territorial arrangements needed must be made within the framework of the creation of a Middle Eastern Socialist Unity. A settlement of this type should help especially those countries that today control parts of Eretz-Israel: Israel, Jordan and Egypt.
We call on the Arab Socialist revolutionary forces and other countries to analyze this our program and open a broad discussion in order to consolidate a common position on the Middle East issue.
(Published in Hebrew in the No. 36 of "Matzpen" (Compass), June-July 1967 and in Arabic in the pamphlet "Three Manifestoes," edited by "Matzpen", July 1967)
Central Committee of the Israeli Socialist Organization.
May 1967
Notes
[1] N. T.: Although the name "Eretz-Israel", the "Land of Israel" Zionist-chauvinist connotations have even mystical-biblical, and the use of that name may be an ideological weakness on the part of revolutionaries who wrote the This manifesto, felt it necessary to leave it in the translation in its original form. In the 60 twentieth century was fully accepted as the name "normal" country. Other translations use the name "Palestine" and in my opinion does not reflect the original intent of the authors.
[2] N. T.: Some translations into other languages I've read here use the term "Jewish nation" instead of "Hebrew nation". Believe that translation wrong. In the original Hebrew clearly says "Hebrew nation" and it is the intention of the authors of the manifesto refer exclusively to the Jewish masses living in Israel and their language is Hebrew, not the mystical concept of "Jewish nation" used worldwide by Zionism.
