Palestine: A Socialist Introduction

by Sumaya Awad (Editor), brian bean (Editor)

Overview

This essay collection presents a compelling and insightful analysis of the Palestinian freedom movement from a socialist perspective.

In Palestine: A Socialist Introduction, contributors examine a number of key aspects in the Palestinian struggle for liberation. These essays contextualize the situation in today’s polarized world and offer a socialist perspective on how full liberation can be won.

Through an internationalist, anti-imperialist lens, this book explores the links between the struggle for freedom in the United States and that in Palestine, and beyond. Contributors examine both the historical and contemporary trajectory of the Palestine solidarity movement in order to glean lessons for today’s organizers. They argue that, in order to achieve justice in Palestine, the movement must take up the question of socialism regionally and internationally.

Contributors include: Jehad Abusalim, Shireen Akram-Boshar, Omar Barghouti, Nada Elia, Toufic Haddad, Remi Kanazi, Annie Levin, Mostafa Omar, Khury Petersen-Smith, and Daphna Thier.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642595314
Publisher:	Haymarket Books
Publication date:	06/04/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	346
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Sumaya Awad is a New York-based, Palestinian, socialist writer and activist. She is a cofounder of the Against Canary Mission Project, which helps defend student activists targeted by blacklists because of their advocacy for Palestinian human rights. Sumaya is a senior media editor at the Institute for Middle East Understanding, and an independent writer focused on refugee issues, Palestine solidarity, Islamophobia, and immigration. She has been published and interviewed by a wide variety of outlets including the Feminist Wire, Truthout, In These Times, Open City, the Middle East Solidarity Magazine, and Slate.

brian bean is a Chicago-based socialist activist, writer, and speaker originally from North Carolina. He is one of the founding editors of Rampant magazine. His work has been published in Jacobin, Socialist Worker, Red Flag, International Viewpoint, Bel Ahmar (???????), Spring Magazine, Green Left Weekly, Chronique de Palestine, Agency, Viento Sur, and more.

Table of Contents

About This Book Sumaya Awad brian bean 1

Timeline 9

Part 1 Circumstances Given and Transmitted from the Past

1 Roots of the Nakba: Zionist Settler Colonialism Sumaya Awad Annie Levin 15

2 How Israel Became the Watchdog State: US Imperialism and the Middle East Shireen Akram-Boshar 39

3 The National Liberation Struggle: A Socialist Analysis Mostafa Omar 53

Part 2 The Road to Jerusalem Goes through Cairo

4 Not an Ally: The Israeli Working Class Daphna Thier 79

5 The Price of "Peace" on Their Terms Toufic Haddad 99

6 Palestine in Tahrir Jehad Abusalim 119

Part 3 Workers of the World, Unite

7 What Palestinians Ask of Us: The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement Omar Barghouti Sumaya Awad brain bean 141

8 Multiple Jeopardy: Gender and Liberation in Palestine Nada Elia 157

9 Cops Here, Bombs There: Black-Palestinian Solidarity Khury Petersen-Smith 169

Conclusion: "Revolution Until Victory" Sumaya Awad brian bean 185

Afterword: It's Time to Move Remi Kanazi 199

Acknowledgments 205

Notes 207

Index 225

About the Editors 235

Contributors 237

Editorial Reviews

In Palestine: A Socialist Introduction, editors Sumaya Awad and brian bean introduce both the Question of Palestine as well as socialist principles—topics that have each produced volumes of scholarly literature—to new audiences. They accomplish this tremendous feat with moral clarity and analytical rigor. The volume provides the reader with an internationalist framework, defined as a commitment to anti-imperialism, and uses it to place Palestine into local, regional, and global historical context. The book connects the past to our present and, despite the daunting odds before us, sustains a commitment to a socialist future where all of us are free because all of us are free.” —Noura Erakat, author of Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine

“A crucial reminder that Israel’s settler-colonial project is not merely a historical event that we can move past, but an ongoing reality backed by successive western administrations. In moments where those who fight for freedom and equality triumph in their local battles around the world, we (Palestinians) see this as part of the victory in our battle for freedom in Palestine. Only through the strengthening of our civil society, of trade unions and workers, can we build our struggle against occupation and pressure Israel until it ends its project of colonialism and racial segregation. This volume lays bare just that.” —Ahmed Abu Artema, Palestinian journalist and peace activist

“The Vietnam war was once a line in the sand. Protests against the war radicalized a generation, built a new Left, and taught it why imperialism was indispensable for capitalism. Palestine is the Vietnam of our times. This urgent book will offer a new generation of activists lessons on why, to fight capitalism and apartheid today, we need to fight like Palestinians.” —Tithi Bhattacharya, co-author of Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

“This collection is a poignant and incisive engagement with the past, and possible future, role of the Left in the struggle for justice in Palestine. From critical analysis of organizational matters to the very complex issues of gender and secularism, this book is a must read for anyone whose socialism has brought them to care and act on behalf of Palestine and the Palestinians. As a Left, we are at a crucial juncture of strategic contemplation in general and on Palestine in particular. This book offers ways forward that can re-energize the Left as a robust alliance of identification and solidarity for the sake of the liberation of Palestine as well as that of all the oppressed workers and peoples around the globe.” —Ilan Pappé, author of Ten Myths About Israel

“Ten powerful essays, meticulously woven together by Sumaya Awad and brian bean, combine rich political history with incisive analysis of the current conjuncture and struggle. The book provides an entry-point for new activists to understand a conflict whose history has been so deliberately obfuscated, alongside a rich well of analysis on complex political questions. Awad and bean's book should be widely read, and its socialist, bottom up vision of transformation acted upon.” —Hadas Thier, author of A People's Guide to Capitalism: An Introduction to Marxist Economics

“The contributions within this book not only offer an understanding of Palestinian realities, they also provide insight into themes such as Diaspora and the search for belonging, and reflect the voices of all those who wish to return home in dignity, justice, and freedom. In essence it is a book which outlines a roadmap for return, with nuance and an offer to go beyond acknowledging the injustice in order to do something about it.” —Mariam Barghouti, Palestinian American writer

“This collection of essays is an essential contribution to the socialist perspective on the issue of Palestinian liberation. Its authors share a valuable overarching insight: that for socialists the fight for Palestinian individual and national rights is not a mere object of abstract solidarity, but must be approached within the context of the international struggle against imperialism and for socialism.” —Moshé Machover, author of Israelis and Palestinians: Conflict and Resolution

“A Palestine primer for the growing socialist movement, and an argument for socialism for the growing Palestine solidarity movement, this book is a valuable resource for building the type of US left that the world desperately needs.” —Danny Katch, author of Socialism...Seriously: A Brief Guide to Human Liberation

“The truth is simple: Palestinian people deserve the right to self-determination. But to get to that truth, you need to understand the history and politics of their struggle. This book is a tremendous roadmap to get to that truth.” —Dave Zirin, author of A People's History of Sports in the United States

“Essential reading for anybody interested in understanding the past, present, and future of the Palestinian liberation struggle.” —Eric Blanc, author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers' Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics

From the Publisher