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Stop the Israeli State Terror! —
Defeat the desperate election offensive of Netanyahu, Lieberman and Barak
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Nov 19, 2012
By CWI reporters |
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 The Israeli government has declared that its shocking and
brutal assault on the Gaza strip, "Operation Pillar of Defence," will be a
“widespread campaign” and threatens “protracted conflict.” Among its opening
strikes was the assassination of the military leader of Islamist party Hamas,
Ahmed Jabari, and more than ten other Palestinians, as a terrifying rain of
missiles was fired from the air.
The onslaught was clearly aimed at escalating the conflict, with the Israeli
regime turning its back on a ceasefire agreement that had just been negotiated
to stop military attacks from both sides. Assassinations of Palestinians by the
Israeli armed forces in recent months have played a central part in escalating
the conflicts in the south of Israel and Gaza.
Already, some governments, including, for example, Britain, through its
foreign secretary, William Hague, are blaming Hamas as bearing “principal
responsibility” because of rocket fire from Gaza. Clearly, they are preparing to
repeat the western powers’ silence during the Israeli regime’s previous assault
on Gaza, "Operation Cast Lead," in 2008-09.
“I am responsible for us choosing the right time to exact the heaviest price
and so be it,” was the chilling message of Israeli prime minister Benjamin
Netanyahu. Palestinians fear a repeat of Cast Lead’s bombardment and invasion of
Gaza, when nearly 1,400 people were slaughtered, including 314 children, and are
in a state of terror and panic. There are ominous signs that a ground invasion
is being considered, with Israeli soldiers’ leave cancelled and some reservists
called up.
As well as the terrible toll of Palestinian deaths and injuries, following
the killing of Jabari three Israeli civilians were killed in the Israeli town of
Kiryat Malakhi when their building was hit by a Palestinian missile. Netanyahu
and Co knew that their assault would bring this kind of response; however, their
aim was not to encourage peace and security for Israelis or Palestinians but to
serve their own interests.
Seeking votes
In a statement issued on 14 November, the Socialist Struggle Movement (the
CWI section in Israel/Palestine) explained that a key factor in the timing of
this assault is the Israeli government’s attempt to boost its support prior to
the general election scheduled for January. It wishes to appear to be fortifying
security in Israel. In recent weeks, opinion polls have shown that Likud
Beytenu, the newly merged party formed by Netanyahu and Lieberman, was losing
support.
So, the Socialist Struggle Movement argued, “the capitalist government of
Netanyahu is making desperate efforts to change the agenda of the election
scheduled for January in order to marginalize the burning social problems, which
Lieberman said he’s ‘sick of hearing all the cries about’. The assassinations by
the government in recent months had a central part in the escalation of the
conflicts in the south and Gaza.
“The government’s decision to respond to straying shells from the Syrian
civil war by returning fire, and maximizing the threats of retaliatory military
action alongside the threats of punitive action against the [West Bank]
Palestinian Authority as well, are part of the election campaign of failing
nationalist politicians. They fear losing their seats and are willing to gamble
the lives of ordinary Israelis.
“The government hopes to deepen even further the divide between the Israelis
and the Palestinians in an attempt to win more votes. However, this is a
particularly big gamble that could definitely get out of the control of
Netanyahu, Lieberman and Barak. It is still not clear at this stage what will be
the scale of the air strikes in Gaza on one hand (it is declared to last at
least several days) and the response of the Palestinian militias in Gaza on the
other. A number of children and teenagers in Gaza have already paid with their
lives in the passing week for the cruel election campaign of Likud Beytenu and
Security Minister Barak, and today, 14 November, another baby and a small girl
innocent of any crime were killed.”
Leaders of the main Israeli ‘opposition’ parties Yachimovich (Labour), Lapid
(Yesh Atid) and Mofaz (Kadima) were quick to stand by the government and speak
in one voice, without any hint of reservation, as they do not even pretend to
offer any real alternative to the narrow, mad and dangerous agenda of the
current government.
In addition to their re-election aims, the Israeli leaders want to cut across
the revival of a Palestinian bid for UN recognition later this month, pre-empt
any pressure for peace talks from the re-elected President Obama in the U.S. and
try to counter any strengthening of Hamas as a result of the major changes and
tensions in the region – in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, etc.
The Socialist Struggle Movement argued that the Israeli government is
gambling “that the offensive on Gaza would not produce sharp regional and
international protests. The government hopes to exploit the Syrian civil war and
the growing tension in Lebanon in order to strike a blow against Hamas in Gaza.
But the developments in Syria and Lebanon will not be necessarily prevent the
possible development of significant protests in Egypt with the call to defend
the residents of the Strip against another bloodbath on the lines of 2008-09’s
‘Operation Cast Lead’.”
But Netanyahu, Lieberman and Barak’s blood-filled strategy can spiral out of
their control and rebound on them by massively inflaming relations between
countries and the situations within them; already there are protests and
demonstrations breaking out across the Arab countries and worldwide, as well as
in the Palestinian territories. In Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, a
call to defend the residents of Gaza is being made on demonstrations.
Inside Israel, the Socialist Struggle Movement immediately argued that
“opposition to the war plans of Netanyahu, Barak and Lieberman could and should
be organized, also inside Israel and in the Palestinian Territories, in order to
prevent a sharper escalation in the military conflict. Initial protest steps
have begun to be organized and they should be widened.”
As well as calling for protest demonstrations, Socialist Struggle Movement is
calling for the Israeli workers’ organisations, including the Histadrut trade
union federation and the social movements, to publicly denounce the offensive
and to initiate and take part in protests against it.
- Stop the slaughter! End the missile strikes and other attacks on
Gaza!
- No to this war of the Israeli government of big business and settlements!
- End the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Open the Gaza-Egypt border!
- For the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Palestinian
territories.
- For a mass struggle of the Palestinians, under their own democratic control,
to fight for genuine national liberation.
- For working class support, throughout the Middle East and internationally,
for the Palestinians’ struggle.
- For independent workers’ organisations in Palestine and Israel.
- For a struggle for governments of representatives of workers and the poor
that will end oppression, defend democratic rights and break with capitalism and
imperialism.
- For democratic socialism in Palestine, Israel and throughout the Middle
East, with guaranteed democratic rights for all national
minorities.
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