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Title: Anarchist tactic for Palestine
Author: Albert Meltzer
Date: 1939, 25th of March
Language: en
Topics: Palestine, Anti-imperialism, imperialism
Source: Retrieved on 3rd of March, 2022 from https://libcom.org/library/anarchist-tactic-palestine.
Notes: Reproduced from British Imperialism And The Palestine Crisis 1938-1948. Originally printed in the journal Freedom Press on 25th March, 1939.

Albert Meltzer

Anarchist tactic for Palestine

The Arab revolution is centred on Palestine. The re-awakening of the

Arab nation and the consequent nationalist revolution has brought the

masses of Palestine in conflict with British Imperialism. Every movement

against British Imperialism must be welcomed as the rulers of this

country rule (or, synonymously, misrule) the larger part of the world's

colonial peoples. The opposition of revolutionaries to British

Imperialism and its allies must be taken for granted.

The clashing of two nationalisms (Jewish and Arab in this case) has

inevitably given rise to controversy abroad. In the Houses of Parliament

sympathy is naturally pro-Zionist; as one MP is reputed to have said,

when asked why he supported the Jews in Palestine against the Arabs: "In

my constituency I have thousands of Jewish Voters – I haven't a single

Arab". The Labour Party, free from the responsibility in the Government

of a bloody suppression of all vestiges of Arab life, urges the

Government to insist upon the policy of a Jewish National State. The

majority opinion here seems to be pro-Zionist, perhaps because the

Zionists are so definitely pro-Imperialist while the Arabs are vaguely

accused of being pro-Fascist. It would be a surprise, therefore, to read

about the Government's rejection of the Jewish side in the Palestine

talks (up to the moment of writing) if the Government had not to reckon

with millions of other Arab and Moslem subjects in the Empire.

Chamberlain's policy of 'Appeasement' has up to now not been primarily

in the interests of the Democratic Imperialisms, and in the Palestine

issue, again, he is far less concerned with the maintenance of

Imperialism than his 'Left' opponents!

What is the case for Zionism? Zionism represents the age-old desire of

the Rabbis to return to the `Holy Land`. The significance of the word

`Zion` (the Biblical and traditional name) will be noted. The Rabbis,

whose jobs depend on the keeping-up of the race-barriers and the

consequent survival of the religion, in the fear of assimilation, have

fostered these artificial laws in order to maintain, by tribal `totems

and taboos` a separate race. Naturally, they have failed, and Zionism is

the way they are endeavouring to succeed. There is to-day no pure race,

despite the claims of Hitler and the Rabbis. It will be noted that the

revival of Judaism has only been a reaction to pogroms and persecution.

In times and countries where there has been complete racial and

religious toleration, assimilation has begun; intolerance always

defeating its own ends.

Herzl began the move for `Back to Zion`. Was his primary concern for the

refugees, then fleeing from the pogroms of the Tsar? On the contrary,

Herzl refused far more suitable land in Africa, insisting on the `Holy`

Land. Finally, the Balfour War Government promised Palestine to the

Jews, as well as to the Arabs, when Turkey was defeated. Since the

Mandate, the introduction of capitalist Western ideas has undoubtedly

benefited the Arab workers, as has the introduction of the proletarian

organisations of Europe. But this no excuse, whatever the Zionists may

say. Capitalism introduced in this fashion benefited everywhere the

working class; the same thing happening in Russia was hailed as a

triumph of `communism`. It was nothing of the sort. Despite the coming

of capitalist benefits, the struggle against capitalist malevolences

must be fought.

Originally there was no agitation against Jewish immigration; moreover

there was never previously any anti-Semitism in the Arab countries. Not

until immigration became colonisation, and the aim of a Jewish state,

did the trouble commence. The Zionist leaders, keeping up a pretence

that they were struggling against Fascism, have been the motivators of

Fascism in Palestine and have the responsibility for the heavy toll of

wasted lives. Fascism? From the `Jewish Hitler`, Vladimir Jabotinsky,

with his `Storm Troop` Revisionists to the Rothschild and Imperialist

Zionists in London (who take good care to keep out of the `Holy`

country), from the `Nuremberg` laws of the synagogue to the basic

ideology of Zionism (nationalism based on race and not on country) the

whole of the Jewish nationalist movement has been as fascist as any

other nationalist movement which has left its early liberal phase. The

labour leaders like Ben Gurion accuse the Arabs of being in the pay of

Hitler and Mussolini and under that pretence act the Hitlers and

Mussolinis. Meanwhile they dupe the masses of Jewish workers in the

pogromist countries that there is only one future – Palestine – and

furnish the excuses for the anti-Semitic governments.

Undoubtedly the Arab revolution must have the support of the workers

abroad. Let us not be duped as `Revolutionary Socialists` have been

duped, however. There is no hope for the future in a Palestine under the

Grand Mufti and Company. There is no reason to suppose that a bourgeois

nationalist government will do more for the working class than did the

Imperialist government. The lesson of Ireland alone affords proof. The

struggle must be against Imperialism first, against Zionism secondly,

and lastly against the bourgeois nationalist government when created.

There is no evidence that the present nationalist movement is capable of

such a task. The task is to forget the past and to build up a

revolutionary labour movement in Palestine, without consideration of

nationality. The only hope there for workers’ unity is a movement that

will not include within its ranks the religious leaders of Judaism or

Mohammedism, and exclusive of Jewish or Arab or British exploiters. From

which side it will come remains to be seen, there is little hope of a

revolution in Palestine becoming a social revolution. It may be

necessary at the moment to struggle alongside the petty bourgeoisie

against Imperialism, but it must be borne in mind that they can neither

play a revolutionary role, and that neither the Nehrus in India nor the

Muftis in Palestine can be considered as friends, but only as pawns, of

the revolutionary-working class.

The programme of the new Palestinian labour movement must be for the

overthrow of the Mandate; for autonomy; for a struggle against the

autonomous government when created, for workers’ control and freedom.

The anarchist tactic for the situation in Palestine is the only road

that will lead away from the present debacle; the co-operation of the

Arab revolutionaries throughout the Near East, in co-operation with

anti-Zionist Jewish minority and all workers, of whatever race, will

alone push forward the opportunity for a complete revolution.

25th of March 1939)

ALBERT MELTZER