Declaration of “Initiative Palästina Solidarität” on the Jewish Anti-Zionist Initiative and Congress
As the Palestine Solidarity Initiative (IPS), we fully support the Jewish-Anti-Zionist Initiative and Congress and see the following far-reaching goals as being pursued:
1.) Zionism is not Judaism:
Zionism’s claim to be the sole political representative of Judaism should be shaken and, conversely, the hostage captivity should be lifted, in which Zionism holds Judaism to facilitate the genocide of the Palestinians. The emergence of Jewish voices against Zionism, especially autochthonous Austrian ones, is crucial in this regard. This is a completely new development that has not been seen since the fall of communism in 1989/91. Zionism, as mainly responsible for the genocide of the Palestinians currently being observed and for the support of this genocide by the rulers in Austria, must be directly confronted and its justification propaganda must be taken from it.
2.) Zionism is no “protection against anti-Semitism”:
To make equal rights for Jews possible, the racist assertion of their fundamental otherness (whether negative or positive) must be invalidated. Zionism legitimizes itself by claiming to protect Jews from anti-Semitism and a new Holocaust. The Zionist state is presented to be necessary for this, even at the price of genocide against the indigenous population of Palestine, who were declared anti-Semitic sub-humans for this purpose. The genocide perpetrated by Israel in the name of Judaism is, however, more of a danger to Judaism. Jews do not need their own state, which is also based on genocide, in order to protect themselves, but rather a solidary and democratic movement in their countries of origin, so in Austria as well.
3.) Reclaiming anti-fascism:
Criticism of Zionism in the sense of equal rights for Palestinians is structurally denounced as anti-Semitic (see IHRA definition of anti-Semitism), while real anti-Semitism is absolved. In the same sense, anti-fascism is misused as a tool of Zionism. Accordingly, criticism of Israel is tendentially declared to be fascist. This must be countered and, on the contrary, it must be explained that anti-fascism has nothing in common with Zionism (see the Mauthausen Oath). The institutions that act as pressure groups in Austria must be exposed as imperialist tools. By reclaiming antifascism, a central instrument for suppressing solidarity with Palestine will be turned, anti-Zionism will become comprehensible as a form of antifascism, and the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and the Palestinian resistance will be strengthened.
4.) Embedding in the Austrian and international Palestine solidarity movement
(especially the Jewish part):
On the one hand, this will strengthen the solidarity movement, and on the other hand, it will also promote the democratic, anti-imperialist and emancipatory forces in the Jewish population. This embedding should be promoted, nationally and internationally, with the ultimate goal of a united anti-Zionist resistance in the spirit of Palestinian liberation and a free Palestine.
5.) Positioning against those in power:
The Austrian government, the political-media system, has dedicated itself to the fight against “anti-Semitism” and sees democratic anti-Zionism as its most dangerous representative. We must point out the hypocrisy of this, not only on the left, but especially in the ÖVP, which is the traditional bearer of Christian anti-Semitism and only half-heartedly distances itself from Austrofascism.
