The biggest crisis for the capitalist rulers of Israel is their inability to halt the Palestinians' fight for self-determination and a homeland. Resistance continues as opposition among the Palestinian people mounts to the Israeli clampdowns, bombings, and incursions. Heavily armed Israeli military forces have carried out assaults on Palestinian towns in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including with tanks, bulldozers, and heavy armaments. Despite all these moves they have failed to generate a prowar spirit among substantial layers of the Israeli population. And they have failed to find a "replacement" for the Palestinian Authority because the Palestinian people themselves remain unbroken.

The state of Israel is a death trap for the Jewish people who live there. It only offers those who reside there insecurity, permanent conflict, and frequent wars. This has been true since the time the Zionist regime was founded more than 50 years ago, but it has never been clearer than today.

Working people and some middle class layers face the prospects of ever greater economic hardships, declining standards of living, and the requirement that they send their male children into the army and reserves--up until they are 45 years old--to do battle with Palestinian youth. No wonder that some of those who in the past would have immigrated to Israel, or have dual citizenship, are changing their minds and deciding to instead move to the United States. In fact the Census Bureau estimates there are 24,000 Israelis living in the United States illegally.

This declining immigration combined with rising birth rates for the Palestinian population living inside Israel, means that by the year 2050, according to a UN study, Palestinians will outnumber Jews within the state of Israel. The petition of the army reservists points to the need to demand Tel Aviv withdraw from all occupied territories and respect the right of Palestinian self-determination. This will help to open up a fight by Palestinians, Jews, and all working people in the region against their common exploiters and class enemies--the Israeli capitalist rulers and the imperialist allies. Only by taking the road of forging a revolutionary leadership that can lead the fight for a democratic secular Palestine to replace the Israeli state will the wars and violence be brought to an end and a way opened up for working people to begin to chart a road forward.
 
 
Related article:
Petition by Israeli reservists reflects wider war weariness  
 
 
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