Opinion Editorials, January 2011

Since When "Israel” Was Not a Fascist State?

By Samir Karam,

Translated by Adib S. Kawar

Al-Jazeerah, CCUN, January 16, 2011

On December 4th 1948 the American daily New York Times published in its letters to the editor page signed by German born American citizen scientist, Albert Einstein, along with one hundred Jewish and non Jewish great scientists, thinkers and people interested public affairs. The letter is of utmost importance, and this is what the newspaper had considered it to be, and we notice that it was written on December second and published on the fourth of the same month, which is an unusual speed in publishing a letter to the editor, if we notice that some letters to the editor in any paper could take a month to be published. We also notice that the letter was published in its full text though it is relatively long and exceeds in length any letter to the editor that the New York Times had ever published.

There is also another remark that ought to be pointed out, namely that Albert Einstein’s Letter to New York Times was written after less than one year’s time after his refusal to become Israel’s first president of its republic. The matter that gives the letter this importance regarding Einstein’s opinion in relation to Israel, its policy, to where it is proceeding and its inclination.

The subject matter of the letter is the warning from Zionist Fascism in Israel.

The letter regained its great importance lately, to the extent of noticing that a big number of leftist American writers caution now anew from the speed that Israel is sliding towards Fascism, they establish their criticism on its internal and external policies on various evidences on this dangerous trend that widens the gap between Israel and the values of the American society, as Israel’s life and continuity depends on its economic, technological, and political support, and of course strategic and military help.

We find ourselves obliged to republish the letter in its full text, though it is going to take a good part of the space allowed for this article, because its importance increases with the details it contains and practically responds to the question we chose to be the title : for this article: Since When "Israel” was not Fascist?

Albert Einstein’s Letter to New York Times Dec. 4, 1948 - New Palestine Party - link

TO THE EDITORS OF THE NEW YORK TIMES:

New Palestine Party Visit of Menachem Begin and Aims of Political Movement Discussed

Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the "Freedom Party" (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties.  It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine.

The current visit of Menachem Begin, leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit.  It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughout the world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Beginâs political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents.

Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Beginâs behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement.

The public avowals of Beginâs party are no guide whatever to its actual character.  Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism, whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the Fascist state.  It is in its actions that the terrorist party betrays its real character; from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future.

Attack on Arab Village

A shocking example was their behavior in the Arab village of Deir Yassin.  This village, off the main roads and surrounded by Jewish lands, had taken no part in the war, and had even fought off Arab bands who wanted to use the village as their base.  On April 9 (THE NEW YORK TIMES), terrorist bands attacked this peaceful village, which was not a military objective in the fighting, killed most of its inhabitants÷240 men, women, and children and kept a few of them alive to parade as captives through the streets of Jerusalem.  Most of the Jewish community was horrified at the deed, and the Jewish Agency sent a telegram of apology to King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan.  But the terrorists, far from being ashamed of their act, were proud of this massacre, publicized it widely, and invited all the foreign correspondents present in the country to view the heaped corpses and the general havoc at Deir Yassin.

The Deir Yassin incident exemplifies the character and actions of the Freedom Party.

Within the Jewish community they have preached an admixture of ultranationalism, religious mysticism, and racial superiority.  Like other Fascist parties they have been used to break strikes, and have themselves pressed for the destruction of free trade unions.  In their stead they have proposed corporate unions on the Italian Fascist model.

During the last years of sporadic anti-British violence, the IZL and Stern groups inaugurated a reign of terror in the Palestine Jewish community.  Teachers were beaten up for speaking against them, adults were shot for not letting their children join them.  By gangster methods, beatings, window-smashing, and wide-spread robberies, the terrorists intimidated the population and exacted a heavy tribute.

The people of the Freedom Party have had no part in the constructive achievements in Palestine.  They have reclaimed no land, built no settlements, and only detracted from the Jewish defense activity. Their much-publicized immigration endeavors were minute, and devoted mainly to bringing in Fascist compatriots.

Discrepancies Seen

The discrepancies between the bold claims now being made by Begin and his party, and their record of past performance in Palestine bear the imprint of no ordinary political party.  This is the unmistakable stamp of a Fascist party for whom terrorism (against Jews, Arabs, and British alike), and misrepresentation are means, and a "Leader State" is the goal.

In the light of the foregoing considerations, it is imperative that the truth about Mr. Begin and his movement be made known in this country. It is all the more tragic that the top leadership of American Zionism has refused to campaign against Beginâs efforts, or even to expose to its own constituents the dangers to Israel from support to Begin.

The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism.

ISIDORE ABRAMOWITZ, HANNAH ARENDT, ABRAHAM BRICK, RABBI JESSURUN CARDOZO, ALBERT EINSTEIN, HERMAN EISEN, M.D., HAYIM FINEMAN, M. GALLEN, M.D., H.H. HARRIS, ZELIG S. HARRIS, SIDNEY HOOK, FRED KARUSH, BRURIA KAUFMAN, IRMA L. LINDHEIM, NACHMAN MAISEL, SEYMOUR MELMAN, MYER D. MENDELSON, M.D., HARRY M. OSLINSKY, SAMUEL PITLICK, FRITZ ROHRLICH, LOUIS P. ROCKER, RUTH SAGIS, ITZHAK SANKOWSKY, I.J. SHOENBERG, SAMUEL SHUMAN, M. SINGER, IRMA WOLFE, STEFAN WOLFE.

New York, Dec. 2, 1948

Probably Einstein and his supporters – had they still been alive up till today, they would have found that there is no difference between "Freedom Party" (Tnuat Haherut), and the parties that ruled and are still ruling Israel all throughout the years since its establishment , and there is no difference between Menachem Begin and any other leaders and military commanders who alternated on ruling “Palestine” ( Einstein continued to be loyal to the name of Palestine as we read throughout the letter). Fascism had its deep roots in establishing Israeli parties and organizations. Fascism and its terrorist and racist tendency is what determines the outlines of Israeli politicians policy against Arabs and all those who support them. Jews are no more exposed to the terrorism of Israeli Fascism, because they learned how to keep at a distance from supporting Palestinian rights and be satisfied with supporting the policies of their rulers…. except for a minority among the Israeli left alone. As for the aim for which Einstein letter was written and published, nothing of it was achieved. America’s rulers had never been aware of this warning, on the contrary they themselves became the first and main supporters for Israeli Fascism and specially against Palestinians, with Americans weapons and money Israel committed what is uglier than Deir Yassin in and out of Palestine, especially in Lebanon. We wonder what would Einstein could have said about the war against Gaza and its terrorist siege on the slip? We also wonder what would Einstein and his comrades could have seen in the Israeli special forces attack on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara VIDEO: Footage From Israeli Raid On Gaza Flotila that was trying to deliver the much needed supplies to besieged Gaza?

Israel’s Fascism widened and deepened with America’s assistance and support from A to Z, and Einstein’s warning to be aware of the Fascism of the State of Israel has gone with the wind.

Would our memory be able to return in any time to find out that Israeli Fascism have vanished or retreated since Deir Yassin? Israeli Fascism was in 1948 represented by a party, but now in the last days of 2010 we see it expending to cover all the Israeli state in what we see in its internal and external policies, civil and military. Israel’s Fascism clearly seen practicing its policy against the 1948 Arabs, how it treats them, and how it specifies its transfer targets against them, it also shows against the Palestinians of the diaspora whom it is trying with a stroke of the pen to eliminate their citizenship and human and national rights. It also shows with its Fascism in its dealing with the citizens of the future Palestinian state. It gives itself the right to chose who to leave free and who to imprison without accusations and trials. Israel’s Fascism is exposed in its worst extremism and intensity in its way of dealing with the “Palestinian Authority” that detached itself from the weapons of resistance to satisfy Israel’s conditions without achieving any substitute, . The “Palestinian Authority” fulfills Israel’s demands – Arrest this list, don’t train on this or that weapon, accept the presence of colonialists (settlers) on the land of the Palestinian state on which you are negotiating… and many other conditions. Israel’s Fascist history is clear in its dealing with the outside world. We still remember well its relations with the white apartheid regime in South Africa starting with military cooperation in training the whites on programs of police curbing against African patriots, up to cooperation in producing and testing atomic weapons. This is not much different than the Persian Shah repressive regime normalization, and what portrays Israel’s antagonistic stances against the Islamic revolutionary Iran.

Israel’s Fascism is apparent in its programmed dealing with the state that concluded peace with it, isn’t Israel continuity in spying on Egypt, which is a continuity of the Fascist programs in dealing with the outside world?!

What makes of a state that was originally established on the feeling of victimhood on the basis of Fascist and Nazi policies, that as soon as it tried to become a state for the Jews it instantly became a Fascist state from the top of its head down to the bottom of its feet?

There is no reply to this question except in the nature of racist thought that overwhelmed Zionism since its first days of existence, even before humanity knew the nature of what is known as Nazi and Fascist parties in the world of the twenties and thirties of the twentieth century.

Racism is Israel’s chronic disease that was intensified by the passing of years, and racism is the disease that could not be confronted peacefully and pacifically. Under the shadows of these procedures it intensifies its intensity and ugliness. The motto of “Israel is over all” is not openly declared but practiced with all earnestness and seriousness and up to the furthest extent.

Israel had never been at any time other than Fascist.

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