Episode Details

Rumble link Bitchute link

Ann Arbor, MI activist Henry Herskovitz revisits his classic article “The Role Of Jews In The Palestinian Solidarity Movement” (reproduced below).

Born Jewish, Henry Herskovitz tendered his resignation from the Tribe after an eye-opening trip to Occupied Palestine. For 20 years he has been leading weekly “Witnesses for Peace” demonstrations outside the synagogue he used to attend. The demonstrations became increasingly controversial as Henry researched such topics as 9/11 and the Holocaust and came to doubt those and other Jewish supremacist narratives, and began protesting with signs reflecting such concerns. He was sued by local Jews backed by big money, but prevailed in court, winning a huge victory for the First Amendment. Herskovitz deserves a “profiles in courage” medal for his willingness to grab the third rail of American politics and not let go.

The Role Of Jews In The Palestinian Solidarity Movement

By Henry Herskovitz & Michelle J. Kinnucan

27 July, 2011CounterPunch

After Malcolm X returned from his epiphanic trip to Mecca, he was asked if White people could join his Organization of Afro-American Unity. He was very clear in his response:

They can't join us. I have these very deep feelings that white people who want to join black organizations are really just taking the escapist way to salve their consciences. By visibly hovering near us, they are "proving" that they are 'with us'. But the hard truth is this isn't helping to solve America's racist problem. The Negroes aren't the racists. Where the really sincere white people have got to do their 'proving' of themselves is not among the black victims, but out there on the battle lines of where America's racism really is - and that's in their own home communities." The Autobiography of Malcolm X, pp 383-384, emphasis in original.

He added that by working separately, Whites and Blacks would form a successful collective. "Working separately, the sincere white people and the sincere black people actually will be working together."

The words of this fighter for justice are valid 46 years later in another context: Defining the role of Jews in the Palestine solidarity movement. The lesson is that sincere Jews should not play leading roles in the Palestinian solidarity movement, but should instead expose and challenge the racism that exists in their own Jewish communities. So what are Jewish-led and Jewish-identified groups and leaders doing? Certainly, they criticize atrocities committed by Israel in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, but are they clearly defining their positions? Do they oppose Jewish supremacism, as some opposed White supremacism in South Africa during the 1980s? Which of the higher profile Jewish-led and Jewish-identified groups are demanding an end to a Jewish state and full and immediate return for displaced Palestinians and their descendents?

With the possible exception of the Neturei Karta rabbis, they don't exist. Following Malcolm X, Jews have predictably ingratiated themselves into some Palestinian organizations, have created "dialogue" groups between Jews and Palestinians (where the elephant of who's oppressing whom is conveniently ignored), have spoken clearly against Christian Zionism, but where are their voices challenging Judaic Zionism? After all, it's "their own home community".