The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) joins with people from across the country who are marching and rallying in solidarity with the the Palestinian people in their heroic struggle for self-determination, liberation and the right of return. Over the past three weeks, millions have taken to the streets in cities and towns across the United States and around the world, inspired by the new wave of mass resistance in Occupied Palestine.
The new wave of Palestinian resistance has seen militant mass protests not only in cities and towns across the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, but also in many Palestinian or “mixed” cities and towns inside the 1948 borders of the Israeli state. This unity in action is of the greatest importance for the Palestinian cause.
International solidarity is a key factor in the struggle for a Free Palestine. It is especially important what we do here in the U.S. Without the massive military aid and political protection that Washington provides, Israel would not be able to carry out its brutal repression. U.S. support continues despite many documented reports showing beyond a doubt that Israel has constructed a complete apartheid system. U.S. officials, the corporate media and Israel’s supporters try to this cover up this reality by slandering anyone who criticizes Israel as “anti-semitic.”
U.S. support for Israel is not based on “friendship” or concern for Jewish people. Some of the worst actual anti-semites, like Richard Nixon, were among the biggest supporters and funders of Israel. Israel is part of the U S. global empire and acts as a guardian of U.S. interests in a key strategic region of the world. When he was senator in 1986, Joe Biden said: “3 billion dollars a year to Israel is the best investment America makes. If Israel didn’t exist, America would have to invent an Israel to protect America’s interest in the region.”
Over the past century, the Palestinian people have suffered many setbacks from Al-Nakba in 1948 and the expulsion of 750,000 people, to the 1967 Six Day War and Israel’s conquest of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights, to the disastrous Oslo Accord of 1993, to the “Abraham Accords” of 2018, and more. Many times the Palestinians have been counted out, but they have never surrendered, as was proven once more this month.
David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel was once asked what would happen to the Palestinian refugees who Israel evicted and refused to allow to return. He cynically replied: “The old will die and the young will forget.” But in fact today many of the “old” are still alive, and the young – their grandchildren and great-grandchildren – are today fighting for liberation in the cities and towns of Palestine. Now is the time to stand with them!
