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Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc) is the hardcore of the Israeli peace movement. Often described as "resolute", "militant", "radical" or "consistent", it is known for its unwavering stand in times of crisis, such as the al-Aksa intifada. This is an official statement from Gush Shalom on Latuff's "We are all Palestinians" cartoon series.
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Comparing the suffering of the Palestinians from the Israelis with the suffering of the Jews from the Nazis may not be very sophisticated and is definitely counterproductive, but to say that it is antisemitic is ridiculous.
Comparing the suffering of the Palestinians from the Israelis with the suffering of the Vietnamese from the Americans, with the suffering of the blacks from the whites in South Africa, with the suffering from the blacks in the United States from the Ku-Klux Klan, and then among all these also with the suffering of the Jews from the Nazis is an effort to emphasize the universality of(suffering from) oppression.
Writing in every cartoon "I am a Palestinian" is a way of saying: it doesn't matter who it is, suffering makes us all into the same, while appealing to identication with the plight of the one here and now.
So, it may be clear that for various reasons I am against comparing the Israeli oppression of the Palestinians with how the Nazis behaved towards the Jews.
But at the same time I think that it is nonsense to call such a comparison "antisemitic." That is a ridiculous accusation, and a malicious. It is an effort to intimidate and undermine those critical of Israeli politics.
Beate Zilversmidt and Adam Keller
Gush Shalom
Gush Shalom
POB 3322
Tel-Aviv 61033
Israel
info@gush-shalom.org
Original: Official statement from Gush Shalom on Latuff's cartoons