Climate activists are fully justified in their criticism of Israel’s horrendous bombing campaign in Gaza. Those who label criticism of the Gaza massacres as antisemitism are totally wrong.
Bombed home in Gaza | Muhammad Sabah – B'Tselem - CC BY 4.0 Deed (image cropped)
Many climate activists have condemned the massacre of civilians in Gaza by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). But the Hamas atrocities in southern Israel and the IDF’s horrific bombing campaign in Gaza have evoked sharp differences in some sections of the climate movement.
The climate change movement stands with oppressed, vulnerable, exploited people everywhere. Support for the people of Gaza with unequivocal condemnation of Israel’s continuing murderous campaign is a stance aligned with the movement’s principles.
Antisemitism
But some climate activists, especially in Germany, have criticized others who have come out against Israel. Greta Thunberg has come in for particular criticism, getting blamed for not being even-handed and condemning Hamas. For these critics, almost all opposition to Israel is a sign of antisemitism.
Many people are genuinely concerned about antisemitism. The history of Germany, with the horrors of the Nazis and the holocaust, has had a strong and lasting effect on the country’s politics. “Never again”, is a commonly held view.
Conservative alliance
The government of Israel, with the support of conservative western politicians and lobby groups, have exploited these concerns to equate any criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
Of course, this is totally incorrect. Many Jewish people are themselves passionately opposed to Israel’s policies and its actions in Gaza.
What is important is that Gaza massacres are happening right now. Thousands of men, women and children are dying. Hundreds of thousands are being completely traumatized by the bombing and being chased out of their homes. Israel’s actions are completely inhumane.
“Campism”
On the other side, socialists and activists refusing to condemn Hamas are wrong. Under the guise of anti-imperialism, they see any action against the US and its allies as justifiable. This position, often called “campism”, leads to unquestioning support for oppressive regimes. There is an excellent article in the US journal “New Politics” that gives a well argued critique of campism.
Socialist, democrats and humanitarians must stand up for the vulnerable and oppressed, no matter what government or state they live in. No support for dictatorships, systematic oppression of barbaric violence, wherever it comes from.
Bombed home in Gaza | Muhammad Sabah – B'Tselem - CC BY 4.0 Deed (image cropped)
Gaza massacres and the climate movement
Many climate activists have condemned the massacre of civilians in Gaza by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). But the Hamas atrocities in southern Israel and the IDF’s horrific bombing campaign in Gaza have evoked sharp differences in some sections of the climate movement.
The climate change movement stands with oppressed, vulnerable, exploited people everywhere. Support for the people of Gaza with unequivocal condemnation of Israel’s continuing murderous campaign is a stance aligned with the movement’s principles.
Antisemitism
But some climate activists, especially in Germany, have criticized others who have come out against Israel. Greta Thunberg has come in for particular criticism, getting blamed for not being even-handed and condemning Hamas. For these critics, almost all opposition to Israel is a sign of antisemitism.
Many people are genuinely concerned about antisemitism. The history of Germany, with the horrors of the Nazis and the holocaust, has had a strong and lasting effect on the country’s politics. “Never again”, is a commonly held view.
Conservative alliance
The government of Israel, with the support of conservative western politicians and lobby groups, have exploited these concerns to equate any criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
Of course, this is totally incorrect. Many Jewish people are themselves passionately opposed to Israel’s policies and its actions in Gaza.
What is important is that Gaza massacres are happening right now. Thousands of men, women and children are dying. Hundreds of thousands are being completely traumatized by the bombing and being chased out of their homes. Israel’s actions are completely inhumane.
“Campism”
On the other side, socialists and activists refusing to condemn Hamas are wrong. Under the guise of anti-imperialism, they see any action against the US and its allies as justifiable. This position, often called “campism”, leads to unquestioning support for oppressive regimes. There is an excellent article in the US journal “New Politics” that gives a well argued critique of campism.
Socialist, democrats and humanitarians must stand up for the vulnerable and oppressed, no matter what government or state they live in. No support for dictatorships, systematic oppression of barbaric violence, wherever it comes from.