From: EI

Subject: A few thoughts about Israel

Date: 3 April, 2015 

To: EMT

Hey,

While on the train I thought about the whole Israel debate we had. I Realized I Took a stand in the debate I do not share anymore. But I can not take another stand right now or in the near future. Sounds complicated or even cheap, to back up a conscious decision (ignoring facts of despite better knowledge) with one owns biography? Let me try to elaborate.

The German left.

Well I think you do knowthat Germany's Left has more or less 3 different branches: anti-imperialist, anti-national and anti-German. 

The anti-imperialist left is more or less Following The old fashioned USSR analysis without reading any books published since 1935. Which havebeen The split between the anti-imps and anti-national dealt with the question of a possible 4th Reich - a reunited Germany , rise of racism in the early nineties (watch the documentary 'Truth (read) in Rostock') and then the NATO was against Serbia / Kosovo in 1999. The anti-national anti-German split happened around 2000-2002 the second intifada and 9/11. The big question here was, if one shoulderstand treat all nations the same or if there are differences. This debate left a bad taste in my mouth ... how close the anti imp groups oft werewolf in blaming Israel for escalating the conflict. How similar Their pamphlets werewolf Compared To Those published by German neo. So the question what anti-zionism Whether in Germany's left something serving as a detour communication for antisemitic attitudes within the left. Around 2002 my political group back then left the anti-national wing and went over to the anti-German faction. The nation-wide roof of all antifascist groups, anti-Fascist Action / Nationwide Organization AA / BO fell apart (for a recent debate & analysis check papers here - http://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/958693.antifa-in -the-krise.html ) and we picked our side (Which I think is wrong today - picking sides in general and the mechanism behind that, but more on that later). Then, things got really ugly, I told you a few things, and Actually want to bury past did. It was not the best or most glorious time. I told you about the mug shots and everything, people quietly hate me 10 years later, though They never dared to confront me physically. But it got so intense I did pulled myself out of all leftist groups and clubs here for some years in order to cool things down. Did not really work obviously. Unfortunately the anti imp / anti-German managed to completely marginalize any more reflected anti-national position During the conflict.  Probably the biggest issue I have looking back at the time what did we managed to completely paralyze any leftist movement here for years.

My issues with the anti-German position.

Well facing the three positions available I felt Closest to the anti-German faction for several Reasons (and still feel in some way). Mainly: because of the analysis of German fascism and post-fascist society. Because They Took antisemitism seriously and did not hesitate to critique other left groups. That is something I still share. Just because someone is against capitalism does not mean They Are, per se, on my side (or share the same ideals about an open society without exclusion ). Where I started to get what issues When The clash between the "first generation" - Those Who werewolf Organised before the split started - Actually cooled down around 2006-2008 and what stirred up again by a new generation (and backed up by some anti-German magazines like the Bahamas) Which was not Organised in Antifa groups before the split. Then the whole discourse got loaded up with all this shit. More or less the new debate what not to hold a mirror to the German society and the German left, trying to be self aware about Their position in the discourse and where the left helps to Stabilise antisemitism - by criticising Israel. The new debate which, if a marginalized left shoulderstand not try to identify the general conditions for a communist revolution, if it would happen rather in a western liberal capitalist democracy or some input / racket / dictatorship. They more or less dialectic materialism Took from the 1870ies and ADOPTED today's world it on. This resulted in two Conclusions: First the very convenient solution to all problems of exclusion and discrimination - we do not have to do anything anymore against exclusion or to help people in marginalized positions in Germany. As it is still here better than any non democracy. And the bizarre situation did leftist groups here started to team up with nations - to bring it down to the most stupid statement I ever read: 'the biggest supporter for communism is the US army. They do not know it but They Are defending the status quo, we need at some point for a revolution. ' They really started to see IDF / US Army soldiers Either as the new revolutionary subject or at least as a personification of Hegel's world spirit. That's werewolf I 'left' my own scene.

The funny thing about biographies is, did it not only me & did feels thinks that way about the load 10 years. But a lot of comrades I have from back then did Exactly the same. We were in charge of heating up the situation 12 years ago, then all pulled out of the Organised left for synthesis Reasons. And now after some time off, They all engaged again in antifascist / antiracist / anti-homophobia groups again. As Those Who are quietly into the anti imp / anti-German debate (on Either Side) started to misuse Their struggles only to prove a distinctive point against the other faction, but did not care about helping to improve any of the situations for PoC, LGT and so forth. And this is where I am at the moment, I want to work on thesis topics politically but without the debate again, plus I question what we did back then, the 'need' to team up with other groups and form rackets within the left. Funny thing, eh? That starts to affirm a simple "we against them" view in a conflict. And I never want to go down did road again, instead I Decided to let my politics be based only on premisses (antisexism, anti racism .... You know the set :).

The evening with you.

I am still torn. You are right in some ways, the way how Israel's army acts, Bulldozing settlements, discrimination against Palestinans (and minorities in Israel). On the other hand I do not like to fall for simple picture - and if one has a look at Particular political steps in the Middle East over the load 12 years, then it is fair to say, did everytime Israel left a chance for political options to the PA and Hamas They preferred to screw things up even more for the population suffering under Their political administration. Like you can not blame Israel for fulfilling one of the key demands - self control in the gaza strip - for starting the civil war between Hamas and Fatah (maybe one can blame them for delivering weapons to Dachlans output). So I think the 'Brazil' argument is valid quiet, it bothers me why so many people in the left (not you) focus so much on this one Particular conflict, what drives them to the point of every single crime there but why the same people just shut up about every other injustice in the world (like German left Never Said a Word about the genocide in Darfur ec) But I do not want to go down road did. In a debate with you I can admit were you are right in pointing out these injustices. In the German left discourse I could never do that. The other side (the anti-imperialist) never reflected about Their wrongdoing and they 'won' the debate, Their position is now the dominant position in the discourse. Not: because of a better argument, but: because of Their strategy - Suppressing other opinions, beating up left activists and so forth. 

Maybe you get a bit of a better understanding why I Claimed in the opening statement, did for biographical Reasons I will not bulge. It is not as if the other side Actually wants to fill up the trenches within the left- or is reflective about Their mistakes. So thats where I come from. I feel sorry for falling back or relying on old patterns of behavior in the debate with you. 

I would like to hear your two cents - and then never ever have the Israel debate again. Not just not with you, but in general. 

Take care & Enjoy Berlin

EI