A Primer on Palestine Solidarity Work

By Dr. Jess Ghannam
Feb 23, 2005 -3 years ago today -

Becoming a genuine ally is a complex process. It involves a commitment to struggle—internally and externally. And in the case of solidarity work with Palestine, the struggle is even more intense and complicated because of the current political landscape. Unfortunately, solidarity work with Palestine has become fashionable for the left and for progressive groups. Many factors make this work complicated, including internalized racism and colonization, denial, self-deception and a conscious and unconscious attachment and fondness for zionsim. Palestine solidarity work is both the most important and most difficult work in which progressives can engage.

The question of Palestine solidarity work has come to be corrupted, co-opted and manipulated. It has been co-opted by many sectors of the left: pseudo-progressives, soft and not so soft Zionists, etc, all of whom are unable or unwilling to confront their internalized racism and biases which prevent them from "going all the way" with justice in Palestine. Examples of such sentiments include statements such as:

"Why don’t you engage in non-violent forms of resistance?"

"Only when you give up the Right of Return will you get anywhere."

"A two-state solution is really the only way to go."

"Why do you always bring up Palestine at anti-war rallies? Palestine has nothing to do with Iraq."

to read the Primer and to forward it to your friends in the so called "peace and justice" movement ,please click on link
http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_15869.shtml