Two peoples, two states, one peace

National Assembly of Sinistra per Israele

We are a relatively small group, but we play a very important role because we do what no one else is doing right now: politics, not ideology. This was the thrust of many of the speeches at the National Assembly of Sinistra per Israele due popoli due stati, held in Milan on Sunday, May 24th.

President Emanuele Fiano‘s introductory remarks were followed by a speech by Pina Picierno, Vice President of the European Parliament. The live link-up with Yair Golan, leader of the Israeli Democratic Party, clearly demonstrated the priority commitment that Sinistra per Israele will assume in the coming months, leading up to the Israeli elections: to fully support the Israeli left, and the opposition to the current government in general, and to do everything in its power to ensure that it is and feels supported, rather than opposed, by the Italian and European left.

The afternoon debate thus highlighted pride in the achievements (increasing membership, new chapters formed and continuing to form, a large number of successful initiatives and events), but also loneliness, disappointment, anger, and despair: the common and shared feelings experienced by many leftists regarding the way a large segment of their political faction speaks and acts regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (indeed, as has been rightly noted, it’s already a mistake to define it as such, while neglecting the role of other actors in the region). These positions are far removed from what the left should be: unconditional support or equally unconditional hatred not of this or that ideology but of entire peoples, whose individuals are judged based on their birth, regardless of their opinions and actions: a Manichean reading, as Emanuele Fiano has defined it, according to which there are no longer two peoples, two memories, two national rights, but only absolute evil on one side and absolute good on the other. In effect, it is a form of racism, therefore, that results in uncritical adherence to totalitarian ideologies that can undoubtedly be defined as fascist. Many have said that the left seems to have abandoned its own values. A disturbing sign of this is what happened in Milan on April 25th, when the Jewish Brigade and Left for Israel were expelled from the march amidst a hostile crowd. Among the haters, a shocking testimony recounted, was one person giving the Nazi salute, which was not criticized but applauded. It’s incredible that something like this could happen just when we should be celebrating liberation from Nazi-fascism.

Yet, it has also been said, there is no alternative to dialogue, no matter how difficult it may be, no matter how betrayed one may feel. And we must also be careful not to fall into the opposite error and consider any criticism of Israel and its government unacceptable. The only truly viable solution to the conflict continues to be that of two states for two peoples. If we abandon the idea that Israelis and Palestinians both have the right to live free and secure, Fiano said, we abandon the very idea of ​​democratic politics.

Anna Segre