by Laurie Smith

Following large protests in the city against Israel’s barbarous war on Gaza and an unfortunately short-lived occupation at Hallam University, CS members in Sheffield have been participating in several meetings discussing Palestine and the British movement. These have been well attended, a public meeting at the University attracting over 100 people, and activists at Sheffield uni have been discussing whether to occupy. It is clear that there has been a resurgence in the anti-war movement in terms of both numbers and militancy, the level of destruction visited upon the people of Gaza being chiefly responsible for this outburst of anger. Another factor in the wave of occupations has been, quite simply, boredom and frustration with the utter lack of meaningful action in student politics.

The Hallam occupation

During the conflict it was clear from reading even the more biased media sources that the Israel Defence Force were using hugely disproportionate tactics, and not just while hunting militants but used deliberately as a weapon of terror against the whole population. The homes of suspected Hamas fighters were routinely bombed by air or shelled by a tank a few times, then bulldozed. A new tactic to ensure the IDF suffer minimal casualties, helping to keep support for Israel’s colonial project strong. And indeed only 11 Israeli soldiers died during the invasion. Random attacks and indiscriminate airstrikes- some using white phosphorus, one of the nastiest chemicals known- were used as tools of collective punishment. Over 1300 Gazans were killed in two weeks of conflict.

Anger- but no answers

The latest one-sided war has made clear that the Palestinians cannot win a military victory over the Israeli state. Armed to the hilt with the latest weapons technology by the U.S. it has progressively corralled Palestinians into the modern-day bantustans of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This state of affairs looks set to continue; Israel is dominated by Zionist politics (indeed moving right at the recent general election) and is backed to the hilt as regional guard dog for the U.S., which as dominant capitalist power is undergoing quick decline in the recession. Decreasing profits, increased protectionism and competition over dwindling natural resources create a recipe for war and Barack Obama has made it clear that he supports Israel as much as the last President.

Unfortunately, the left’s strategies for Palestinian liberation leave a lot to be desired. A recent meeting organised by the uni’s Palestine Campaign under the banner of ‘Justice for Palestine’ on February 10^th attracted well over 100 people including many students from both Sheffield and Hallam universities. The main speaker from the left was Lindsey German, who was entirely uncritical of Hamas, a backwards clerical force which calls for an Islamic state. Such a force can only be a temporary ally of socialists and democrats; and one we must criticise openly. Like the Iranian state which the SWP is so keen to whitewash, Hamas, like Fatah before it, could well make a deal with imperialism. German also told us that Israel’s attack was a ‘war crime’ and we should be pushing for IDF generals to go before a U.N. Court. The collapse of Marxists into liberal nationalist, pro-U.N. politics is never a pretty sight.

German argued we should build a ‘mass movement of solidarity’ here, with students in the vanguard. No complaints there- but the movement Lindsey desires surely involves endless marches and meetings where we are regaled with the same platitudes by the same people; a recipe guaranteed to disillusion activists. Rather than asking serious questions of strategy and politics, of how to build a mass and effective anti-imperialist movement, German put forth the usual SWP hyperbole. Apparently Palestine is the new South Africa and even the new Republican Spain(!). The comparison with South Africa has weight in some aspects. But the argument, echoed by a speaker at a recent PSC day school, that the pro-Palestine movement is about to reach the critical mass of the campaign against apartheid in South Africa is clearly fanciful. Unfortunately comrade German left for a train before the meeting was opened to the floor.

Students in particular should be proud of our mobilisations in solidarity with Gaza, but the British movement is clearly far from having a decisive impact. If Palestine cannot win against an Israel dominated by Zionist politics and backed by a U.S. in decline, and if the movement here is not going to force the IDF out, what is the best route to Palestinian liberation? A regional approach is required; one in which progressive and working class forces in the surrounding Arab countries play a crucial role. As the Israeli socialist Moshe Machover puts it:

“Within the Israel-Palestine ‘box’ there is no short or long-term solution – the relation of forces simply does not admit it. You can paint a beautifully abstract solution, whether in one or two states, but it is meaningless. In the present balance between the two no equitable solution can emerge… The only possibility that is credible must take place in the context of a profound social transformation of the whole region. This can offer both the carrot and the stick that will persuade the Israeli masses to accept – and to actively want - an equitable solution”¹

Sheffield occupation stifled by bureaucrats

Activists at Sheffield University, inspired by the occupations of universities across the country have had several meetings to discuss whether we should also take direct action. These have been well attended and we could have probably gone into occupation at the last two. I was rather surprised in fact that there was no suggestion of it at the large public meeting mentioned earlier (most of the occupations began at a big meeting). Numbers is not a problem at Sheffield, and the wave of occupations have shown they can achieve results. Largely symbolic ones, yes, but the main advantage of this sort of action is the example it sets; that collectively we can win. But the clear possibility of direct action has been so far stymied by comrades in the Student Broad Left and those close to them in the PSC, who wish to treat with the University and enter negotiations. A list of demands (below) has been sent to the Vice-Chancellor while we have no chips on the table, so to speak. This approach may, who knows, result in one or two demands being achieved. But certainly not as much as would be achieved by occupying the university!

The SBL comrades have said that an occupation is not off the table for them- but only if the university rejects all of the demands straight out. If the V.C. is willing to entreat on any of them, the comrades would presumably rather be sucked into negotiations even if it means achieving very little. This ‘strategy’ also misses the point entirely of why joining this wave would be a positive thing in itself- for the participants who engage in the action, the attention it draws to Palestine, and as an act of solidarity. Some members of the PSC have argued that an occupation ‘looks bad’ and that as the demands are small in relation to the massive suffering of the Palestinians, we should focus on long-term education work. Certainly education -and political debate- are important. But nothing has done more to draw attention to the Palestinian cause on campuses than these occupations; action and education cannot be dogmatically separated. We await the reply of the Vice-Chancellor.

1. http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/751/hellfor.html

Demands sent to the Vice-Chancellor

Dear Professor Keith Burnett,

I am writing on behalf of Sheffield Students Against Israel’s Attack on Gaza – a group of hundreds of Sheffield University students involved in campaigning against Israel’s invasion of Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis.

As you will be aware, Israel’s recent invasion of Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 Palestinians, including 550 children. The Islamic University of Gaza was bombed, massively disrupting the education of 20,000 students enrolled there.

Across Britain universities have taken steps to support the Palestinian people. As students of Sheffield we want to see the University play its role in supporting the people of Gaza, including students whose University education has been ruined.

To this end we call upon the University to:

1. Issue a statement condemning the disproportionate actions of the Israeli state on the Palestinian people.

2. Create a special programme of 5 Palestinian scholarships and waive all fees for current students of the occupied territories.

3. Enter into an academic partnership with the University of Gaza.

4. Donate old books, computers and other relevant equipment to the University of Gaza, and pay for the transport of these materials.

5. Publicise the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal on the Sheffield University notice boards, website and via e-mail.

6. Initiate a programme in partnership with students of divestment and ending links with the arms trade.

7. Allow those studying medicine to carry out their electives in the occupied territories of Palestine.

8. Commemorate the United Nations Palestine Solidarity Day annually on November 29th.

As this is an urgent issue we would be grateful for a response by 12 noon on Monday 23rd February.

Regards,

Fiona Edwards on behalf ‘Sheffield Students Against Israel’s Attack on Gaza’ Campaign