Palestine Follow

The present dismal reality unfolding in the Middle East has clear historical roots and a journey into the past may help to illuminate what lies behind the destructive policies of Israel in both Palestine and Lebanon.

Zionism claims that Jews have the right to return to the land where their religion, Judaism, took root, in order to create an exclusive Jewish state.The land of Palestine is a vital centre for all of the three great monotheistic religions with roots in the Middle East - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. None of them can have an exclusive claim of ownership of the land.Zionism claims that the Jews were exiled when the Roman Empire overthrew the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in AD70. In fact most Jews were already living outside the land of Palestine at the time of the Roman Empire.

Looking back on my own experience in Palestine I can see how today’s horror grew from small beginnings. Zionism, Jewish separateness and the belief in a Jewish homeland, have developed into state violence. My parents were pioneering Zionists, leaving Russia for Palestine in 1902 to join a total Zionist population of a few thousand.

The Palestinian people are continuing to resist Israel’s onslaught on the Gaza Strip. Israel has placed Gaza under siege since Palestinian groups took an Israeli soldier hostage late last month.

The Israeli assault is not just taking place in the Gaza Strip. Abedwahab Sabbah, a Palestinian activist in the West Bank, writes, "In the past three months Israel has continued its policy of assassinating Palestinian leaders.

There was a deep historical significance to taking to the streets in solidarity with the people of Lebanon and Palestine last Saturday, 22 July.

Tony Blair’s envoy to the Middle East is a very busy man. Not with Palestine or Lebanon or even Iraq - but helping the police with their inquiries.

The campaign of terror that Israel is waging against the Palestinians in Gaza and against the Lebanese is frighteningly similar to the terror that was used to create the Israeli state in 1948. The Palestinians call the creation of Israel the Nakba - the catastrophe.

Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip are continuing, creating a terrible situation for the 1.4 million Palestinians living there.

Israel’s assault on Lebanon has revived bitter memories of its previous onslaughts on that nation. In 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon. Some 14,000 Lebanese and Palestinians were killed in the ensuing conflict.

Ismail Patel is the chair of Friends of Al-Aqsa, a voluntary organisation working for Palestinian human rights. He spoke to Socialist Worker about why he will be attending the 23 September demonstration in Manchester called by the Stop the War Coalition.

London - Saturday 22 July, 12 noon, Embankment, central London (nearest station Embankment).Go to www.stopwar.org.uk Organised by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association of Britain, British Muslim Initiative, Lebanese organisations. Glasgow - George Square, Glasgow, Saturday 22 July, 12 noon Called by Stop the War Coaltion Manchester - The BBC, Oxford Rd, Manchester, Saturday 22 July, 1pm For info e-mail

22 July 2006