In 1948 Menachem Begin’s Militant Zionism was called by Albert Einstein the “latest manifestation of Fascism"
If you have ever said that militant, right-wing Zionists behave and think like Nazis and Fascists, you are not alone. Dr. Albert Einstein and his friends are on your side. Read on...
NEW PALESTINE PARTY
Visit of Menachem Begin and Aims of Political Movement Discussed
DECEMBER 2, 1948
TO THE EDITORS OF THE NEW YORK TIMES:
Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the Freedom Party (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine.
The current visit of Menachem Begin, leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit. It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughout the world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Begin’s political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents.
Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Begin’s behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement.
The public avowals of Begin’s party are no guide whatever to its actual character. Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism, whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the Fascist state. It is in its actions that the terrorist party betrays its real character; from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future.
ATTACK ON ARAB VILLAGE
A shocking example was their behavior in the Arab village of Deir Yassin. This village, off the main roads and surrounded by Jewish lands, had taken no part in the war, and had even fought off Arab bands who wanted to use the village as their base. On April 9 (THE NEW YORK TIMES), terrorist bands attacked this peaceful village, which was not a military objective in the fighting, killed most of its inhabitants - 240 men, women, and children, and kept a few of them alive to parade as captives through the streets of Jerusalem. Most of the Jewish community was horrified at the deed, and the Jewish Agency sent a telegram of apology to King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan. But the terrorists, far from being ashamed of their act, were proud of this massacre, publicized it widely, and invited all the foreign correspondents present in the country to view the heaped corpses and the general havoc at Deir Yassin.
The Deir Yassin incident exemplifies the character and actions of the Freedom Party.
Within the Jewish community they have preached an admixture of ultra-nationalism, religious mysticism, and racial superiority. Like other Fascist parties they have been used to break strikes, and have themselves pressed for the destruction of free trade unions. In their stead they have proposed corporate unions on the Italian Fascist model.
During the last years of sporadic anti-British violence, the IZL and Stern groups inaugurated a reign of terror in the Palestine Jewish community. Teachers were beaten up for speaking against them, adults were shot for not letting their children join them. By gangster methods, beatings, window-smashing, and wide-spread robberies, the terrorists intimidated the population and exacted a heavy tribute.
The people of the Freedom Party have had no part in the constructive achievements in Palestine. They have reclaimed no land, built no settlements, and only detracted from the Jewish defense activity. Their much-publicized immigration endeavors were minute, and devoted mainly to bringing in Fascist compatriots.
DISCREPANCIES SEEN
The discrepancies between the bold claims now being made by Begin and his party, and their record of past performance in Palestine bear the imprint of no ordinary political party. This is the unmistakable stamp of a Fascist party for whom terrorism (against Jews, Arabs, and British alike), and misrepresentation are means, and a “Leader State†is the goal.
In the light of the foregoing considerations, it is imperative that the truth about Mr. Begin and his movement be made known in this country. It is all the more tragic that the top leadership of American Zionism has refused to campaign against Begin’s efforts, or even to expose to its own constituents the dangers to Israel from support to Begin.
The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism.
(Signed,)
Isidore Abramowitz, Hannah Arendt, Abraham Brick, Rabbi Jessurun Cardozo, Albert Einstein, Herman Eisen, M.D., Hayim Fineman, M. Gallen, M.D., H.H. Harris, Zelig S. Harris, Sidney Hook, Fred Karush, Bruria Kaufman, Irma L. Lindheim, Nachman Maisel, Symour Melman, Myer D. Mendelson, M.D. Harry M. Orlinsky, Samuel Pitlick, Fritz Rohrlich, Louis P. Rocker, Ruth Sager, Itzhak Sankowsky, I.J. Schoenberg, Samuel Shuman, M. Znger, Irma Wolpe, Stefan Wolpe
New York, December 2, 1948
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Don't forget Hannah Arendt
Don't forget signer Hannah Arendt, IIRC, she coined the term "banality of evil" to describe Adolph Eichmann.
no doubt
Zionism itself is very complicated. I'm reading Joel Kovel's absolutely amazing book Overcoming Zionism where he (a firm believer in the official holocaust narrative) expresses the view that Zionism basically began to emulate its own victimizer (the Nazis) in ways that are psychologically rather common among victims (in his view anyway)
That Zionism is fascism can't really be argued anymore, though at one point in time perhaps it could have avoided that fate, but what's done is done. HIGHLY recommend Kovel's book....
Herzl’s “Der Judenstadt†and the Psychology of Utopia
Hey G, nice to see you back.
Yes, I have long thought that what has been witnessed in the history of 20th century Palestine collectively shows the example of a sexually molested child who later turns into a child molester. Within that psychological phenomenon there seems to exist the revenge factor, where the victim dreams of being able to show power over a victim who comes to symbolize the original persecutor of the molested child. The show of brute force is also used to demonstrate to the old persecutor that the formerly meek, intellectual, religious Jew can also be a bad-ass motherfucker just like the Christian. This is a theme discussed in that movie “The Believer,†which is about a Jewish kid who becomes a hard-core member of the KKK. Heavy-duty film, check it out.
Several days ago, as part of my research project work (which is now set as a series of three articles or rather, one article in three parts), I read an English translation of Theodore Herzl’s “Der Judenstadt†(The Jewish State) (~ 167 pages). If you want to really understand the Zionist phenomenon and the thinking at its roots, this is the book to read. Herzl set out to be a Moses to the oppressed Jews of 19th century Europe. His book was to be the guide and inspiration for a literal Exodus out of Europe to either Argentina or Palestine – very much like Marcus Garvey’s “Back-to-Africa†on the Blackstar Liner project in 1920. In 1896, of course, Herzl’s whole plan at this point is still in the theoretical stage, and no fixed Jewish homeland has been decided on, so he does not even discuss the problem of what if there are people who are already living in the land that is finally decided upon. His whole piece is couched in that 19th century Jewish utopian, socio-political genre of writing and thinking. Herzl’s “Der Judenstadt,†as a foundational manifesto, is to the utopian, socio-political ideology of Zionism as Marx’s 1848 “Communist Manifesto†is to the ideology of Communism. But, back to the subject of psychology, Herzl’s work is also an incredibly revealing piece with regards to the general psychology of victim-hood and persecution which underlies his work. Herzl actually puts forth some nakedly honest statements in this regard – fascinating and very revealing stuff. Anyways, for the beginning of my three part article, I will be discussing some of the socio-political ideas in “Der Judenstadt†and some of the general psychology behind those ideas. An understanding of the general character of Zionism’s founding document and its ideas will be essential for understanding how it eventually evolved in the 1930s into the militant, super-racist, Nazi-like, Jabotinsky Zionism, which, through Jabotinskyites like Benjamin Netanyahu and his followers (see Richard Perle, et al.), carry us down to the modern day and the times we are in right now.
good summary
I'll check it out. Wasn't Chaim Weizmann the first heir to Herzl? Because Herzl met an unfortunate end?
Weizmann sat at the head of the Paris Peace Conference table
After the 1918 Paris Peace Conference -- where Germany was hit with astronomical reparations for a war that they had already offered favorable peace terms on only two years before -- Chaim Weizmann and his World Zionist Congress were looked upon rather unfavorably by the German people who were very adversely affected economically by the terms of the Paris Treaty. When Vladimir Jabotinsky and his terrorist-fascist compatriots and followers organized a world-wide economic boycott against Germany, and in 1933 declared a war by World Jewery against the German state, you can imagine that this might have stirred up a bit of the old European anti-Semitism in the Weimar Republic. Was this a picador tactic by the Zionists to drive the Jews of Germany into Palestine? Probably.
Weizmann, from his writings, is definitely a bit more militant and rascist than Herzl seems to be, although a general atmosphere of toned-down Jewish Supremacy is most definitely present in "Der Judenstadt."
How Herzl met his end? I do not know.
wikipedia says "heart failure at age 44"
almost sounds like Ken Lay Syndrome but in fact I think I read somewhere that he is suspected of having been murdered... i'll check on it...