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Answer
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Name
Muslim
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Profession
Question
Why should Zionism be equated with racism? Any evidence in the ongoing events that it is?
Answer
Simply, the suppression of the Intifada is a recent case. Intifada is an uprising of a people that are under an occupant army. Since the occupation in 1948 and 1967, there has been a regime implanted that has resorted to massacres and expulsion and other forms of suppression. The law of return is another example of the above description. It gives the right to any Jew to go back after a short period of 2-3000 years but denies that right to Palestinians who are natives and left in 1948 and afterwards, mostly by being forced out. Recent evidence from Israel that show Zionist armies forcing people out by the use of terror. Ben Gurion, in describing the Law of Return, does not give the Jew the right of return because it is innate. Why is it innate for the Jew living in Europe but not for the current Palestinian inhabitant of the land. Israel is a state not for its citizens but for world Jewry. If it can’t be described by racism, I don’t know which term by which to describe it. This phenomenon is that of colonial power-subjugating inhabitants. Colonial enclaves are based on inequality that gives settlers rights while taking away the rights of the local inhabitants. We do not see it as a Jewish phenomenon, but in the Western Colonial context like that in South Africa and elsewhere.
Name
salih
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Profession
Question
Assalamu Alaikum. It's very obvious now that zionism=racism due to the Israeli's aggression in Palestine. With these type of inhumane practices on the part of the Israeli government, why are they so successful in hiding the truth and even earned the support of the many countries? Thanks.
Answer
Mostly are supported by Western Countries. The West planted it and is committed to its presence. They have subsidized it and given it military weapons, etc. Elsewhere (Africa, Asia, etc) it is seen in its real colonial context. I see it as a Western phenomenon. Sir Loernce Olithant and Earl of Shafeesbury, both of whom are anti-Semitic, designed Zionism. They developed the Zionist project long before the Jews. There was Love of Zion, but it is different from Zionism. Love of Zion is a religious, spiritual value, which I as a Muslim respect. They can come, show their love to the religious places. Zionism is a western colonial idea; that of subjugation and control. The same applied in South Africa. They also used biblical apologetics. The minority colonial settlers used the same in South Africa; that this was a promised land and the Bible was quoted, but none of this is in the Bible. As it was said the devil can quote the Bible.
Name
Sarah
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Profession
Question
Since the UN Conference has taken the Zionism issue off the agenda, what are the chances the Arabs could get any international support for the condemnation of Israel for its atrocities towards the Palestinians?
Answer
I think if the Intifada persists, and it can only persist by support from Arab and Muslim states, then the Israeli aggression will escalate. There was one today where Israel assassinated a Palestinian leader. The brutality is becoming explicit. Then American interests will be hindered. Material interests are the most important things and power is the mechanism for conflict resolution.
Name
rana
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Profession
Question
Assalaamu Alaikum,
What is the argument put forth by the U.S. and Israel that Zionism is NOT racism? Which elements of Zionism exactly are racist?
Answer
I think any ideological movement is based on an idea of right. They believe that they are people returning to their land and not colonial settlers. They also believe it is their right to terrorize the Palestinian inhabitants since they believe its their right to exit there and not the Palestinians, the inhabitants. Then if the Palestinians uprise, they consider it terrorism.
However, we see it as the inhabitants resisting a foreign colonial power that has taken control by force and subjugated the people of the land by force. It is no different than the black attacking white interests and security forces in South Africa. It was seen as a legitimate right to resist Apartheid.
Name
Ahmed
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Will a Zionism equals Racism statement do any good anyway?
Answer
Yes. First it is the truth. From a pragmatic point of view it will shed light on the right to resist and on the unfairness and brutality of the Zionist atrocities towards the Palestinians. Thus, the world can see the legitimacy of the Palestinian resistance and that it is their right. It has deep pragmatic application and not just an ideological view.
Name
Saladin
- United States
Profession
Question
Why cannot the conference continue without the participation of the U.S.? Or rather, should not a statement equating Zionism with Racism without the U.S. present be just as forceful a statement as if they were present?
Answer
Well the presence of the United States is quite important but not essential. It should continue and address these issues like the compensation of slavery, which the US also objects to, and the equation of Zionism to racism. The US presence is important, but it is not essential.
