AnonymousNo. I don’t think this is right at all. It’s not right morally, politically, or logically. I think I know who you’re talking about. And I think we follow each other on Tumblr, haha.
The reason it’s wrong, is that left-wing politics is about consistency in showing solidarity with the oppressed and exploited of the world. To be Antifa, to be left-wing, is to oppose racism, capitalism, and crude nationalism in all its forms. You cannot pick and choose. The Palestinians are oppressed and occupied by Israel, so if someone identifies as left-wing and/or Antifa, they’re morally and politically obligated to support Palestine and show solidarity.
I understand there is a strand of Zionist ideology best known as “Left Zionism” or “Labor Zionism”. But I don’t think this set of ideas is truly left-wing at all. Although they profess to against racism, support the working class, be against corporate exploitation, etc - Zionism is incompatible with Leftism or Antifa activism. That’s because modern Zionism’s origins are in Israeli colonialism, occupation, and apartheid.
If you’re left-wing, how can you support a state that systematically whips up and enforces ultra-nationalist fear about the “demographic bomb” of Arab births and a majority Arab existence in its country? A state where the hegemonic ideology is one of anti-Arab hatred? A state which is slowly and painfully strangling the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip to death, day by day, creeping genocide? You can’t.
Celtic FC, St Pauli, Marseille, AEK Athens, Livorno, and all the other left-leaning football clubs have fans that take a stand for Palestine. They display pro-Palestine flags, tifo displays, and banners. And they have my utmost respect for it. If someone is genuinely left-wing, I think they have to stand on the side of the oppressed, i.e. the side of the Palestinians.
P.S. I don’t believe Judaism is a factor in this. Israel isn’t fundamentally about the Jewish faith - it’s about Zionism. I don’t believe Judaism and Zionism are the same thing. Judaism is a legitimate religious set of beliefs, I have no problem with that at all whatsoever. Zionism is colonial, imperialist settler ideology - wielded by Israel to smash and slaughter the Palestinians. So just to make it clear, I see those two things as separate. As in - you can be Jewish and oppose Israel’s apartheid. Although they’re a minority in Israel, there are Israelis that support the Palestinians.
