Democratic Palestine : 32 (ص 39)
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munity to recognize the independent
Palestinian state as declared at the PNC
in Algeria in 1988.
(6) to form a committee of interna-
tional lawyers’ unions and to coor-
dinate with the organizers of this con-
ference to visit the occupied territories
and Israeli prisons, especially Ansar
III, and to give a report on the condi-
tions.
(7) to proclaim an international day of
solidarity with the intifada on which all
the world’s lawyers stop working for a
certain period of time to support the
intifada and to protest Israeli violations
against the Palestinian people.
The second day’s program, dealing
with women and children in the in-
tifada, was opened by Roula
Kaklamanakis, a PASOK member of
parliament and a writer. Rounds of
speeches and discussions emerged with
tens of suggestions made by Palesti-
nian, Arab and European women.
Among them were ideas of concerts, art
exhibitions and literature with all pro-
ceeds going to the intifada. They also
suggested women’s delegations,
medical treatment grants and tangible
political support. March 8th, Interna-
tional Women’s Day, was suggested as
a day of international solidarity with
Palestinian women and June Ist, In-
ternational Children’s Day, was sug-
gested as an international day of
solidarity with Palestinian children.
Later in the day, a reception was held in
honor of Um Jihad, sponsored by the
Athens PLO office.
The conference was an overall suc-
cess, producing three resolutions, tens
of suggestions of tangible support for
the intifada and an accusation against
the Israeli occupation forces. The
resolutions were all addressed to UN
Secretary General Xavier Perez De
Cuellar and dealt with (1) expulsions of
Palestinians, (2) the protection of the
Palestinian population, and (3)
recognition of the independent
Palestinian state. The accusation was
(1) that the Israeli occupation forces are
in South Lebanon in violation of in-
ternational conventions, and protesting
their expulsion of 31 Lebanese from
South Lebanon, and (2) protesting the
arrest, detention and torture of Suha
Beshara and calling for UN interven-
tion.
Democratic Palestine, March 1989
Book Review
American Jewish Organizations and Israel
Lee O’Brien’s book, American
Jewish Organizations and Israel,
published in 1986 by the Institute for
Palestine Studies, is important for three
main reasons:
Firstly, to our knowledge, it is the
first really inclusive, objective and
documented book on this subject,
covering not only the Zionist lobby, but
the full range of major pro-Israel
political, community, fundraising and
special focus organizations. (This is not
to discount the pioneering works of
anti-Zionist American Jews, like Elmer
Berger and Alfred M. Lilienthal, who
addressed the subject in terms of the
major political and moral questions
involved, with less emphasis on the in-
stitutional aspect of the pro-Israel
network.)
Secondly, Lee O’Brien’s book dispels
some commonplace myths. Though not
heavily analytical, it rests on a clear
understanding of class questions and
imperialist policy. Thus, the influence
of the pro-Israel lobby is ascribed first
and foremost to the prevailing con-
vergence of interests between Israel and
US policy: «The main source of the
Israel lobby’s strength lies in the fact
that support for Israel is an inherent
component of U.S. strategy... such
policies face no significant challenge
from forces within the U.S. political
mainstream at this time» (page 154).
This dispels simplistic ideas such as that
Jews control US policy by virtue of
their numbers or wealth - ideas which
not only border on anti-Semitism, but
also serve to whitewash US imperialist
policy.
Thirdly, the book has _ political
relevance for pro-Palestinian and peace
activists. Knowing where the pro-Israel
lobby’s strength lies is a prerequisite for
serious anti-Zionist work that goes
beyond slogans, and for efforts to at-
tain a just peace in the Middle East.
Moreover, evaluating the chances for
breaks in the pro-Israel consensus,
whether in the Jewish community or the
American public at large, presupposes
such knowledge. This is highly relevant
in the context of the ongoing Palesti-
nian uprising in the occupied ter-
ritories, which has opened new
perspectives for making such inroads.
The book, in fact, covers historical and
current differences within the American
Jewish community, but the author
finds no evidence of these leading, at
that time, to more just consideration of
the Palestinian question. O’Brien notes.
that despite conflicts between the
traditionally liberal/Democratic
American Jewish establishment and the
rise of the extreme right in Israel itself,
‘virtually all mainstream organizations
have given at least tacit support to
Israeli policies like increasing set-
tlements, the 1982 invasion of
Lebanon, arms sales to dictatorships,
etc. (It is to be noted that the author
does not in this book deal with anti-
Zionist groups or those which have ex-
pressed radical criticism of Israeli
policy, such as the New Jewish Agenda.
Her analysis applies to the mainstream
organizations alone.)
«ISRAELIZATION»
Over 30 major pro-Israel organiza-
tions are examined in detail in terms of
their stated positions; their structures
and activities for organizing the Jewish
community, garnering support for
Israel, and influencing the US
government and public opinion; and
their origins and changes over the
years. From this emerges the following
basic picture of the relationship bet-
ween the American Jewish organiza-
tions and Israel:
While American Jews have never
been a monolithic community in social,
political or religious terms, they have
united to an unprecedented degree in
support of Israel. There are over 200
national Jewish organizations, making
Jews the most institutionally organized
minority group in the US. Originally,
almost all Jewish community
Organizations were non-Zionist; the
Zionist parties, while active, enjoyed
little mass support. Yet virtually all
supported the Israeli state after it was
created, beginning the process of
«Israelization» whereby any _ real
distinction between the positions of the
avowedly Zionist and nominally non-
Zionist organizations has disappeared
over time. Today, the most important
Organizations in Israel support work
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