British imperialism, Israeli apartheid
By Christian
Noakes, Workers, June 3, 2018
British
imperialism laid the groundwork and set the precedent for Israeli settler
colonialism long before the official establishment of the Israeli state in
1948. British forces, acting in the name of the Zionist cause, early on created
the conditions of apartheid and ethnic cleansing that persist today, even as
U.S. imperialism has become the major supporter of Israel.
imperialism laid the groundwork and set the precedent for Israeli settler
colonialism long before the official establishment of the Israeli state in
1948. British forces, acting in the name of the Zionist cause, early on created
the conditions of apartheid and ethnic cleansing that persist today, even as
U.S. imperialism has become the major supporter of Israel.
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British
politician Lord Arthur Balfour with hand raised. |
Britain
gained a mandate over Palestine as one of the spoils of World War I. London’s
support for the establishment of a Zionist state in Palestine was made an
official policy in the 1917 Balfour Declaration. British Foreign Secretary
Arthur James Balfour spoke on behalf of the empire in a letter to the
aristocrat and Zionist Walter Rothschild: “His Majesty’s government view with
favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,
and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this
object.”
gained a mandate over Palestine as one of the spoils of World War I. London’s
support for the establishment of a Zionist state in Palestine was made an
official policy in the 1917 Balfour Declaration. British Foreign Secretary
Arthur James Balfour spoke on behalf of the empire in a letter to the
aristocrat and Zionist Walter Rothschild: “His Majesty’s government view with
favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,
and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this
object.”
Balfour
then went on to proclaim support for the rights of Palestinians. However,
unlike the stated commitment to Zionists, these claims of neutrality and
fairness proved hollow.
then went on to proclaim support for the rights of Palestinians. However,
unlike the stated commitment to Zionists, these claims of neutrality and
fairness proved hollow.
While the
British gave Zionists political and military support, the Palestinians faced
dispossession and terror at the hands of British forces. In fact, prior to the
formal establishment of the state of Israel, Britain was in many ways the
primary force behind Zionist colonization.
British gave Zionists political and military support, the Palestinians faced
dispossession and terror at the hands of British forces. In fact, prior to the
formal establishment of the state of Israel, Britain was in many ways the
primary force behind Zionist colonization.
While
anti-Zionists and even people with modest criticisms of Israel are often
accused of being anti-Semitic, the reality is that the British Empire’s initial
interest in sponsoring and overseeing Zionist appropriation of Palestine was
far from altruistic and often outright anti-Semitic.
anti-Zionists and even people with modest criticisms of Israel are often
accused of being anti-Semitic, the reality is that the British Empire’s initial
interest in sponsoring and overseeing Zionist appropriation of Palestine was
far from altruistic and often outright anti-Semitic.
While the
imperialists often equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, many of Zionism’s
earliest and most dogged supporters, including Balfour, were in fact
anti-Semitic. However, they saw Zionist colonization as a foothold to assert
the interests of the British Empire in the Middle East.
imperialists often equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, many of Zionism’s
earliest and most dogged supporters, including Balfour, were in fact
anti-Semitic. However, they saw Zionist colonization as a foothold to assert
the interests of the British Empire in the Middle East.
Using the
most notoriously violent forces, which had been deployed to terrorize the
people of Ireland, the British Empire subjected Palestinians to a similarly
ruthless campaign of terror and dispossession. This was absolutely essential in
Israeli colonization and ethnic cleansing. British forces, many of whom saw
Arabs as subhuman, ruthlessly suppressed rebellions, killed thousands of
Palestinian men, women and children, and intentionally cleared land for
colonization.
most notoriously violent forces, which had been deployed to terrorize the
people of Ireland, the British Empire subjected Palestinians to a similarly
ruthless campaign of terror and dispossession. This was absolutely essential in
Israeli colonization and ethnic cleansing. British forces, many of whom saw
Arabs as subhuman, ruthlessly suppressed rebellions, killed thousands of
Palestinian men, women and children, and intentionally cleared land for
colonization.
During
the 1936-1939 Arab rebellion against British rule, many Palestinians were
subjected to detention without charge or trial in the Sarafand concentration
camp and other labor camps. The gross sense of injustice drove many detainees
to go on hunger strike.
the 1936-1939 Arab rebellion against British rule, many Palestinians were
subjected to detention without charge or trial in the Sarafand concentration
camp and other labor camps. The gross sense of injustice drove many detainees
to go on hunger strike.
Between
the two world wars, Zionist forces, continuing the practice of ethnic
cleansing, received material support from the British; many worked for British
police forces. Zionist employers and trade unions also contributed to the
inhumane treatment of Palestinians via discrimination in employment and gross
disparities in wages.
the two world wars, Zionist forces, continuing the practice of ethnic
cleansing, received material support from the British; many worked for British
police forces. Zionist employers and trade unions also contributed to the
inhumane treatment of Palestinians via discrimination in employment and gross
disparities in wages.
Contrary
to the claim by one of Britain’s high commissioners for Palestine that
rebellions were an irrational or intolerant reaction to “different manners and
customs” of the colonizers, Palestinian revolt was and is based in the
oppressive conditions of settler colonialism imposed by the British and
Zionists.
to the claim by one of Britain’s high commissioners for Palestine that
rebellions were an irrational or intolerant reaction to “different manners and
customs” of the colonizers, Palestinian revolt was and is based in the
oppressive conditions of settler colonialism imposed by the British and
Zionists.
On April
9, 1948, news of a massacre by Zionist paramilitary forces of men, women and
children in the village of Deir Yassin quickly spread, causing thousands of
Palestinians to flee their homes as Zionist troops advanced elsewhere. This
grisly event became known as the Nakba (Catastrophe).
9, 1948, news of a massacre by Zionist paramilitary forces of men, women and
children in the village of Deir Yassin quickly spread, causing thousands of
Palestinians to flee their homes as Zionist troops advanced elsewhere. This
grisly event became known as the Nakba (Catastrophe).
Even
before the Nakba and the establishment of the state of Israel, the Palestinians
had already become acquainted with settler colonialism and saw the rate of
expulsion rise dramatically.
before the Nakba and the establishment of the state of Israel, the Palestinians
had already become acquainted with settler colonialism and saw the rate of
expulsion rise dramatically.
Contrary
to the ahistorical imperialist narrative that blames the ongoing conflict on
supposedly anti-Semitic Palestinians, the Nakba and the resulting establishment
of the Israeli state marked an intensification of oppression,
disenfranchisement and dispossession.
to the ahistorical imperialist narrative that blames the ongoing conflict on
supposedly anti-Semitic Palestinians, the Nakba and the resulting establishment
of the Israeli state marked an intensification of oppression,
disenfranchisement and dispossession.
As the
support of the most reactionary segments of the U.S. population for Israel
would suggest, the link between Zionism and other racist ideologies persists.
One need look no further than the ceremony at the recently opened U.S. Embassy
in Jerusalem, where Robert Jeffress — an Evangelical pastor who has made many
inflammatory statements, including the claim that Jewish people are destined to
go to hell — addressed a group of Zionists. Jeffress and other reactionaries
celebrated the occasion as Israeli forces were murdering Palestinians in Gaza.
support of the most reactionary segments of the U.S. population for Israel
would suggest, the link between Zionism and other racist ideologies persists.
One need look no further than the ceremony at the recently opened U.S. Embassy
in Jerusalem, where Robert Jeffress — an Evangelical pastor who has made many
inflammatory statements, including the claim that Jewish people are destined to
go to hell — addressed a group of Zionists. Jeffress and other reactionaries
celebrated the occasion as Israeli forces were murdering Palestinians in Gaza.
Just as
it had been for British imperialism, Israel is today an indispensable asset for
U.S. imperialism in the region. While Britain has a less active role since
relinquishing control to the Israelis, the U.S. has in many respects taken up
the mantle to the benefit of Britain and other Western imperialists. As the
recent attack on Syria by the U.S., Britain and France illustrates, the West’s
ruling elite are united in their continued plunder of the region. Israel
remains central in subjecting the resource-rich region to the international
capitalist order.
it had been for British imperialism, Israel is today an indispensable asset for
U.S. imperialism in the region. While Britain has a less active role since
relinquishing control to the Israelis, the U.S. has in many respects taken up
the mantle to the benefit of Britain and other Western imperialists. As the
recent attack on Syria by the U.S., Britain and France illustrates, the West’s
ruling elite are united in their continued plunder of the region. Israel
remains central in subjecting the resource-rich region to the international
capitalist order.
Last
November, the British ruling class celebrated 100 years since the Balfour
Declaration with a gala dinner for Benjamin Netanyahu. Prime Minister Theresa
May told him Britain was “proud of our pioneering role in the creation of the
state of Israel.” (The Guardian, Nov. 2, 1917) No amount of rebranding
will absolve Britain’s ruling elite from their abhorrent role in the Middle
East.
November, the British ruling class celebrated 100 years since the Balfour
Declaration with a gala dinner for Benjamin Netanyahu. Prime Minister Theresa
May told him Britain was “proud of our pioneering role in the creation of the
state of Israel.” (The Guardian, Nov. 2, 1917) No amount of rebranding
will absolve Britain’s ruling elite from their abhorrent role in the Middle
East.
From the
slaughter and expulsion of thousands of Palestinians to Prince Harry boasting
about killing people in Afghanistan, Britain remains stubbornly culpable for
the widespread anti-Arab sentiment and the ongoing process of ethnic cleansing
it informs.
slaughter and expulsion of thousands of Palestinians to Prince Harry boasting
about killing people in Afghanistan, Britain remains stubbornly culpable for
the widespread anti-Arab sentiment and the ongoing process of ethnic cleansing
it informs.
For a
fuller understanding of Britain’s involvement, readers can check out journalist
David Cronin’s book, “Balfour’s Shadow: A Century of British Support for
Zionism and Israel,” and also visit electronicintifada.net, for which Cronin is
an associate editor and regular contributor.
fuller understanding of Britain’s involvement, readers can check out journalist
David Cronin’s book, “Balfour’s Shadow: A Century of British Support for
Zionism and Israel,” and also visit electronicintifada.net, for which Cronin is
an associate editor and regular contributor.
