Vol. 79/No. 9      March 16, 2015

The initiative of a group of young Muslims to organize a human chain to defend a synagogue in Oslo, Norway — a vivid demonstration of opposition to Jew-hatred after a spate of attacks on Jews in France and Denmark — is an example for working people around the world. More than 1,000 people, including Muslims, Christians and others heeded their call.

The organizers of the action correctly understand that Jew-hatred is not directed just against Jews, but is an obstacle to advancing any fight in defense of the rights of working people, including the fight against anti-Muslim discrimination and for Palestinian rights.

The vanguard initiative also points toward construction of a new revolutionary working-class leadership that can bring an end to the senseless cycle of Hamas terrorism and murderous retaliation from Tel Aviv in the Middle East.

Out of initiatives like this a leadership can be built that supports the right of Jews to move to Israel in a crisis-wracked capitalist world where anti-Semitism will continue to raise its ugly head. A revolutionary leadership would acknowledge the simple reality of the existence of Israel today, while fighting for recognition of Palestine, against its division into Gaza and the West Bank broken up by a web of Israeli settlements, for a single, contiguous homeland.

Such a stance would also reignite and widen support for the fight against the second-class status of Arab citizens of Israel, the right to travel, including to Israel, and for land and water rights.

A leadership fighting on this axis would challenge the ability of the propertied rulers in Tel Aviv to divide and rule over Jewish and Arab workers. Grounded in a class-struggle perspective, it would strengthen working-class resistance uniting Jews, Arabs and others inside Israel, on a course toward overthrowing capitalist oppression and exploitation.

A Palestinian leadership that stands up to Jew-hatred, recognizes the right of return for Jews to Israel, fights for a contiguous Palestinian state and reaches out the hand of struggle to Jewish workers in Israel would inspire working people across the globe.
 
 
Related articles:
Muslim youth in Oslo lead protest against Jew-hatred
SWP statement on anti-Semitism gets around
 
 
 
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