Yossi Schwartz, the ISL, the RCIT Section in Israel/Occupied Palestine, 12.10.2021
While still some of the declining imperialist states like the USA, Britain and the right-wing regimes in Europe support Israel diplomatically, military and economically the isolation of the Zionist Apartheid state is growing daily. On Monday, 11.10.21, the United Nations Human Rights Council which is composed of 47-members passed a pro-Durban resolution 32-10, after the United Kingdom demanded a roll call vote, preventing the text’s expected consensus passage.
The Durban Resolution, (DDPA) was “adopted by consensus at the 2001 World Conference against Racism (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa. It is a document that proposes concrete measures to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.” (1) It condemns Israel as a perpetrator of racism and an apartheid state. The Geneva resolution on Monday reaffirms support for the Durban Declaration of 2001.
The ten states that opposed the resolution are Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. The US and Israel are no longer members of the UNHRC and did not vote. The pressures Israel used to persuade more UNHRC members to vote against the resolution have failed.
In a typical hypocritical statement that confuses anti-Zionism with Anti-Semitism British envoy Simon Manley stated: “The Racism should be tackled in all its forms and, regrettably, for far too long, the UN has downplayed the scourge of anti-Semitism.” (2)
It is not surprising to hear the statement of British imperialism. After all it was British imperialism that supported the Zionist colonialist project in Palestine after WWI.
At the same time a growing number of trade unions, students, city councils like in Ireland, and poor peasants around the world fully support the UNHRC resolution. Now we hear of famous authors that support the cultural boycott of the Zionist state. Sally Rooney, a bestselling author won’t allow her recently published novel, “Beautiful World, Where Are You?” to be published in Hebrew because she supports a cultural boycott of Israel.
“In July, soon after the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Rooney was one of thousands of artists to sign a letter accusing Israel of apartheid and calling for its international isolation. The letter called for “an end to the support provided by global powers to Israel and its military; especially the United States,” and for governments to “cut trade, economic and cultural relations.” (3)
“Rooney is not the first prominent author to refuse to publish a book in Hebrew. In 2012, Alice Walker, who also supports the movement to boycott Israel, would not allow “The Color Purple” to be translated into Hebrew.” (4)
The Zionists cannot see it of course but Israel stands in the same place that its twin sister, South Africa’s apartheid was in the early 1980s. The boycott of Israel by itself will not end the Zionist apartheid but it is an effective axillary tactic. It is especially effective when it used by trade unions to boycott Zionist military goods.
Down with the Zionist apartheid!
Boycott Israel!
For Palestine red and free from the river to the sea!
End notes:
(1) https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/Durban_text_en.pdf
(2) https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/un-human-rights-council-approves-durban-resolution
(3) https://www.jpost.com/international/sally-rooney-wont-let-her-new-novel-be-published-in-hebrew-681708
(4) Ibid