Speaking as a “former Zionist” is no longer strange. In fact, it’s become quite common within some Jewish circles. Yeah, it goes, I used to be a Zionist—a socialist Zionist; a two state Zionist; a Zionist who believed in giving back the occupied territories from ‘67, etc., etc., etc. But a Zionist. Self-determination for both peoples, two peoples/two states, like that. The Nakba? Didn’t enter into the conversation. Not a mention.
So now there are lots of us (former Zionists, that is) out there. Relieved that we are no longer stuck in this false sense of radicalism. Yeah, it seemed radical at the time—Marxist Zionism. National liberation movement, class struggle. True, it was on Palestinian land, but that fact didn’t enter the equation. Our identities fit the definition of OXYMORONS.
Gave that up, we say. Went through a process. For some of us, a long, not fun process. Emerged clear-headed, in support of the Palestinian-led movement for justice. For justice. For justice.
But, then, the right of return rears its head. Wait, we say, I support justice for Palestine, I know about the Nakba now. But, but, but, how can we get Israeli Jews to support the right of return? (That’s the first thing we think about.) It’s complicated, we say. It’s complicated. It’s complicated. What if…and what if…and what about…
The Israeli Jewish organization Zochrot addresses the right of return head-on. The right of return, not the I’m-doing-you-a-favor of return. Zochrot points out there’s lots of room in Palestine/Israel for everyone. Equal rights for all. Inroads being made among some Israeli Jews. Among some. Useful work.
But change is inevitable, with or without a gaggle of Israeli Jewish support. The movement grows. And grows. For justice. For justice. Global support for BDS, for ending apartheid, for equal rights for all, for the right to return home.
Oh no! The movement is getting too big, too strong. Huge amounts of money poured into trying to sabotage that growing (and growing more) movement. Accuse everyone, yes, everyone in it of being anti-Semites. Yeah, that should kill it. A temporary set-back for sure, but it won’t come close, not at all, to killing it.
Won’t kill it ‘cause Palestinians world-wide and supporters of justice across the globe are fighting, fighting with integrity, with passion, with compassion, with conviction. Fighting for Justice. Fighting for Justice.
So, yes, more Jews have left our fantasy notions of Zionism far behind, far behind, and joined the growing movement for justice. But let’s not get too self-satisfied. A positive development, for sure, but still lots of unlearning to do among us, within our communities.
Still a sense that the land is “ours” to “give away.” That we are doing good by supporting Palestine—like when white people think we are doing good by opening up “our” schools to families of color. It’s not just “progressive except Palestine,” by the way. “Progressive except Public education” is the same phenomenon. Thinking that we will determine the parameters based on “generosity” when, in fact, those whose right it is to be there will prevail because it is their right (not your/our generosity) making it so. The “facts on the ground” will be exposed for the thievery they were and are.
For those of us who identify as part of a Jewish community (in one form or another), let’s not sit passively by, as so many already aren’t. Let’s do the work in our community(ies) while remembering we’re not the vanguard of the revolution. Let’s continue to participate in the broader struggle with humility. With humility. We have a lot to learn as we do this work together.
A version of this article was first published in Alternet under the title, “Letter From a Former Zionist Who Supports Justice in Palestine”
Hello Dona,
Thank you so much for such thoughtful writing about the right of return.
I am finding myself in the similar bind as many of your post Zionist friends.
When anybody floats for idea that Ashkenazi Jews should be returning back to Europe, I automatically bristle.
My country, Poland, has for many centuries been a host country to Jews – Some came from Germany, Some came from Russia and presumably before that, from Khazaria.
In many small towns, villages and other population areas 25% of the population there consisted of Jews; speaking their language, having their own laws, own justice systems, own communities. They were dressing in a distinctive clothes, and were having very little interaction with the rest of the population.
For centuries Poland was multicultural melting pot not unlike London or Brussels. Many people from many cultures were entitled to call it home.
But then came Second World War and for three generations now Poland has been completely homogenous, 98% Catholic, uniformly white, caucasian population.
If Israel were to face the Algerian situation ( a suitcase or a coffin choice given by natives to the colonists), and they were made to leave, many of them would be entitled to go back to Poland, from where their ancestors came from.
I am not happy about it. I would never argue that they are not entitled to come back, but I would find it very very difficult to feel comfortable about it.
And there is room in Poland for several million Jews, and there are synagogues still standing, kept restored by public purse….
But would I be pleased about immigration of Israelis to Poland? No, I wouldn’t.
My sense of fairness and justice says one thing, but my gut says something completely different.
But then nobody promised us that doing the right thing will be easy.
A most wonderful and inspiring article. Thanks so very much for sharing it with us, Donna.
(I love the image above, btw!!! It remains so freaking, sadly, and shamefully true 8 years later from when “Anna Baltzer and Haithem El-Zabri’s” great photo of the action was taken…… and too many decades, hours, minutes and seconds since the beginning…)
It seems blindingly obvious, yet few will acknowledge the reality that we are not dealing with two peoples divided by two narratives, but two peoples united in common experiences from the past, demands of the present and hopes for the future. Two peoples who both crave peace and security. Two peoples who have faced hardship and oppression. Two peoples who have not been best served by their leaders, political and military, or by their media and institutions. Two peoples with a deep and spiritual attachment to a tiny patch of contested ground. Two peoples with very similar religions, who even share the same sacred sites in Jerusalem and Hebron.
Most especially these are two peoples motivated by a passion for a right of return, from a proclaimed ‘exile’, either real or imagined. How ironic, how deeply hypocritical it is that the dominant one of these two peoples can assert an absolute right for the return for a miscellaneous bunch of people, some no doubt long-standing members of a faith, but others more recent converts in diverse lands to a supposed “ancestral homeland”. This is asserted whilst they simultaneously and categorically deny similar rights to those who dwelt in that land more recently and for much longer, and had real land deeds to real “real estate” rather than simply some supposed title derived from book of ancient fairy stories.
The apogee of this absurdity is demonstrated in Hebron, where a small community established itself before 1929 / 1936, including an authentic indigenous resident, the 8th generation Hebronite Ya’akov ben Shalom Ezra, but most very recent immigrants (from Lithuania and elsewhere in Northern Europe and the US), many itinerant (esp. yeshiva students), and few owning land, but subsisting on charitable doles in rented accommodation, purpose built by the accommodating locals. Since 1967 a fanatical group, including some original inhabitants but heavily augmented by fundamentalist Brooklynites (e.g. Baruch Goldstein) asserted a right to reclaim their “residence”, irrespective of the violent chaos this brought to the local community.
We hear much hypocritical ranting that acknowledging any right of return for Palestinians driven from their homes in 1948, 1967 and later would “destroy” (i.e. change) Israeli society, but not the slightest recognition that the supposed Jewish right of return has destroyed, and is continuing to destroy Palestinian society.
One day perhaps the Divine Being will realise that the past prophets did not effectively communicate his message of peace, justice and righteousness, and will send an authentic communicator to reinforce the message. Till then we rely upon those activists of all faiths and none who are attempting to do His work for Him.
Haithem was born in the US, lives in Austin, and presumably has American citizenship.
Is he not “from Austin” the same way Anna is?
@ejay
“As I understand it, you don’t even have to prove “Jewish lineage” – all you need is a religious conversion to Judaism and you get to live where the indigenous population-turned-refugees does not.”
In the absence of a clear uncomplicated explanation to the contrary what you say appears to be the case. Hypothetically you can convert to Judaism on Monday and exercise your “right of return ” on the Tuesday.
Bear in mind the Right of Return was initiated , was driven by and continues to be driven by the Zionist obsession with Jews versus native Palestinian demographics
http://nomadcapitalist.com/2014/03/11/how-to-get-second-citizenship-israel-law-of-return/