Jewish residents of Tel Aviv on 29 November 1947, following the United Nations vote in favor of partitioning Palestine into two separate states, one Jewish and one Arab.
Throughout
the world, Israel is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its birth.
These commemorations are based on a double omission that renders theses
celebrations unacceptable from any ethical perspective. First, they avoid
mentioning the terrible fact that the creation of the State of Israel was made
possible and intrinsically linked to the dispossession of the indigenous Arab
population and its transformation into a people of refugees. Speaking about the
creation of Israel while ignoring the fate of the Arabs of Palestine is like
speaking about the creation of the United States of America while ignoring the Native
Americans, a historical falsification and an ethical failure. Second, this anniversary
is not celebrated in a vacuum, but at a moment during which Israel is one of
the states systematically violating the basic rules of international law,
humanitarian law and human rights, as confirmed by the International Court of
Justice.
Neither
its genesis nor its present behavior provides a good reason to celebrate the
State of Israel or to make it the guest of honor of international book fairs,
in Paris or in Turin. Israel is a guest of dis-honor, and as such justifies the
calls for boycott that were made by Arab writers and others. To boycott Israel
or not is not a principled decision but a tactical question, depending on one
criterion only: how can one be the most efficient in denouncing Israel and
isolating it in the international arena. Personally, I have twice changed my
position concerning an eventual boycott of the Paris book fair. Originally I
decided not to attend, stating though that I do not consider those making the
opposite choice as being wrong. After having been used by fundamentalist
supporters of the boycott in their accusations against progressive
non-boycotters (like Amira Hass, Eyal Sivan, Yael Lerer and others) as
collaborators (sic), I decided to change my mind and attend the Paris book fair.
I do
not regret this decision at all. The various activities organized by the
opponents of Israeli colonialism, at the site of the book fair and outside of
it were a tremendous success, attended by thousands of people who could not
have been addressed if there would have been a mere boycott of the book fair.
These alternative activities were the only critical-note in the loud
pro-Israeli festival, and they received plenty of publicity.
Instead
of spending precious time in arguing the pros and cons of boycott—which, as I
said is a tactical question—the solidarity movement should, in each country,
evaluate the weak points of the Israeli political, economic and cultural
presence and connections, and unite their efforts to attack these weak points
and effectively isolate Israel in the international arena. Efficiency should
remain the key word in the strategy of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
For
the next 10 months, the Israeli propaganda machine will organize plenty of
celebrations for the 60th birthday of the Jewish State. To counterpoise this
propaganda, all over the world, one should hear our voices saying, loud and
clear: “there is nothing to celebrate, but a lot to do in order to repair what
has been destroyed by 60 years of Israeli actions.”
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