LOS ANGELES (USA), February 14— “There is no ceasefire in Gaza,” said an activist friend with family in the West Bank of Palestine. “And the Zionist government has authorized Israeli settlers to start seizing Palestinian properties in the West Bank cities as well as in the countryside.” His steady voice betrayed anxiety, anger, and urgency.
It’s true. Israeli bullets and bombs have murdered over 520 Palestinians in Gaza since the so-called “cease-fire” last fall. Probably over 100,000 in total. Well over a million Gazans huddle in tents, cold and hungry. At least 800,000 of them are in immediate danger. Life expectancy in Gaza has fallen catastrophically. Before the genocide, Gazans could expect to live into their upper seventies. Now they would be lucky to approach 50.
The 1995 Oslo Accords divided the West Bank into three areas. Area A was to be run by the Palestinian Authority. Area B also, but with “security” handled jointly with the Israeli military. Area C is under direct Israeli control.
The Israeli government took steps last week to effectively erase these distinctions and occupy the entire West Bank. For example, Zionist settlers assaulted Palestinian farmers on their lands near Talfit, in Area B, near Nablus. Israeli troops fired tear gas and live ammunition at residents who tried to repel the settler attack.
Yesterday, settlers attacked several towns and villages. The Israeli military protected them. Settlers wounded at least 54 Palestinians. They destroyed olive trees and vandalized Palestinian properties.
Here in Los Angeles County, many anti-genocide activists have joined protests against ICE and Border Patrol fascists. Regular pro-Palestine vigils now frequently feature posters linking ICE and the IOF (Israeli Occupation – not “Defense” —Forces). Our party has consistently made this connection.
“The tactics ICE is using against people with Brown skin here are the same tactics the IOF has used for a long time against Palestinians,” a friend explained to passers-by.
That’s no accident. ICE kidnappers have been trained by the IOF. So have Los Angeles Police officers and other local cops. Some trained in Israel. Some wear Zionist flags on their uniforms.
The Israeli company Elbit and the US companies Palantir and Motorola, among others, market their deadly surveillance technologies in Palestine, the US, and elsewhere.
“Fascism is the face of Capitalism,” an ICWP poster proclaims. “Mpls – Gaza – LA: Resist, Rebel, Organize for Communist Revolution.” People at anti-ICE rallies take pictures. Many, many accept copies of Red Flag. Friends at rallies against the genocide in Palestine ask for copies. They initiate serious conversations. Our reach is limited only by our ability to inspire more comrades and friends to do this work more frequently. And to recruit new members to ICWP.
From Palestine to the USA, the stakes are higher. This is fascism, like in El Salvador, India, and many other places. Neither electoral politics nor non-violent resistance will defeat it. Communist revolution will. The responsibility and the privilege of our Party is to organize that fight. As our comrades in El Salvador, India, and Palestine are also doing. As we hope you do, too.
Read our pamphlet Genocide in Palestine Demands Communist Revolution here