‘A Zionist without qualification’
JVL Introduction
Leon Rosselson teases out the contradictions and traps of being a Palestinian trying to talk freely about their experience. He shows with pity and irony how their lives are an offence under the IHRA definition of antisemitism and how describing them only compounds their offence.
While they are silenced and speaking on their behalf is punished, their oppressors can control their lives and insult them with impunity.
As Leon concludes:
“ A Zionist without qualification is someone who has two countries.”
“Why does this someone need two countries?”
“One to live in, one to worship.”
“Isn’t that an antisemitic trope according to the IHRA definition?”
“You learn fast, my son.”
This article was originally published by medium on Wed 18 Nov 2020. Read the original here.
‘A Zionist without qualification’
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This article invoked virtually every emotion, anger, fear, humour, sadness, despair. I was in tears at the end…was there a chink of hope there? I hope so. Such a well written article that explained everything in a nutshell.
I first joined the Labour Party in 1956 ag the age of 16. I became a member of the Young Socialists in Dewsbury. My parents were ardent Labour supporters . My Grandad was a miners who was apprenticed to a collier at the age of twelve. He was a founder member of the local CLP. I am steeped on the history of the years between the Wars . I learned how working class people suffered under the Conservatives ; 150 people died every day in the decade prior to 1939. I knew about the Household Means Test by the tie I could read. All my life I have believed the Labour Party is the only vehicle for change in our country . Like thousands of others I rejoiced when Corbyn was elected leader .He gave us hope that the UK could become a good place to live . That our fellow citizens could enjoy the same benefits my generation were given by the Attlee Government. Those of us who grew up in the years immediately after WW2 experienced lives totally different to younger people today; real full employment ,rising living standards our forebears could only dream of. More inequality and much more social mobility. When Jeremy was elected leader I began to dream of a return to those days. A major political party was advocating real change . Of course , I knew the Right would mobilize to crush our dreams but at least there was a glimmer of hope. Alas ,the Right wing of our Party determined progresive policies would never be enacted . No need to describe how they mobilized. From the moment he took office he was undermined and vilified. Even right wing journalists have described his treatment as a national disgrace. The accusation of antisemitism against a man who was the least likely man in the UK to be racist in any way seemed crazy. Alas ,thanks to a well funded , well organised conspiracy , the charge stuck. I believe the hand of the Israeli government is behind this. In the event the Far Right have been given carte blanche to rule. Our Party is neutered for the foreseeable future. For the first time in 64 years I have lost faith in the Party I have loved. I am actually grieving. I cannot support the leadership of Starmer. He has no intention of carrying out our progressive policies . WE must carry on the quest of getting to the truth about the assassination of decent ,honest MP. That has to be the priority. There can be no unity until then
This was just brilliant but still made me mad and sad.
What would George Orwell have written? But this has been going on for years – the house demolitions. A British girl hoping to defend them got shot. Think her name was Rachel.
What a sad world we live in to be called Anti-semitic for caring about people, in reality it shouldn’t be Anti-semitic if it was a countries other than Israel the world would be condemning this Government and taking action, it makes me sad 😥
I agree – hard hitting satirical tragic commentary – even the strangely dissociated human rights lawyer Sir Keir might be discomfited were he to read this.
Leon Rosselson, a blast from the past – I last heard him live at a Tony Benn commemoration do in Covent Garden community centre about 10 years ago. He is the author of iconoclastically imaginative and historically inspired songs like “Don’t get married girls”; “Stand up for Judas” and “The World turned Upside Down” – a song about the first major social upheavals in England to which the beginnings of democratic and socialist theory and practice can be traced. Here, in the late autumn of his days, he turns his creative smouldering anger to one of the great injustices of our time: the plight of the Palestinians under brutal occupation. As they say in Ireland: “go mairfidh sé an céad”: That he may live to be a hundred. (For those not old enough to have heard of him: seek out his collaborative work with Roy Bailey – now deceased: RIP)
Such a powerful commentary on what is happening, in full view, to destroy Palestinian people en masse and deny them a voice and human rights.
Wonderful article. Beautifully constructed, direct, concise, true. Thank you JVL. Thank you Leon Rosselson.
I would be very grateful to join.
Tricia. You can just go to http//is.gd/join_JVL
Moved to tears. Beautifully written. Thank you Leon Rosselson, and thank you JVL for helping me keep my sanity in the insane world of today’s Labour Party. My daily JVL dose of wisdom, decency and sensitive intelligence is an important part of the slender thread still keeping me in the Party.
This tells me all I need to know about Keir Starmer’s approach to Israel and Palestine
Nice summation. Why aren’t more people simply pointing out the contradictions and falsehoods?
I could cry for those poor Palestinians but what good will that do?
It is an enormously powerful article, evoking strong emotions like anger, sorrow, despair in me; at the same time it laid bare a bottomless pit of depravety in those ordering and committing the destruction of a people. The bystanders and profiteers are as guilty as those doing it. It is incomprehensible to me how human beings can do that and still sleep at night.
Couldn’t fault that article at all. Will be sharing, and if I’m expelled I’m expelled.
So close to the truth it made me laugh & cry & angry all at once, and looking over my shoulder nervously.
Yes. Brilliant satire and, dare I say it, FORENSIC dissection of the entire s**tshow.
Excellent article, and as for starmer, he doesn’t know what he is, but everyone knows he is not a socialist.
Touche! Very sad especially in the light of what the Nazis did to he Jews. There are Jews with equal despair for what is being done in their names.
Wonderful piece, amazing skill in finding humour in the horror
Thank you, it is good to hear someone speaking the truth. Have been great admirer of Leon Rosselson since the 1970s.
I felt exactly the same emotions as Chris Proffitt, I felt so stressed and helpless I too had to wipe away tears so I could keep reading.
Can I copy and share please?
Also, what can be done to stop these heinous crimes?
I once wrote after watching a video of an Israeli soldier killing a young boy, the bullet smashed open his skull. The soldiers started cheering and patting the back of the killer.
I wrote, “Isn’t it a shame that some Israeli children are taught that Palestinians are less than vermin”. Facebook suspended me.
How strange, my reaction is that it is uplifting to hear the reality expressed with such integrity, wit, power and persuasiveness. I believe there are cracks around Starmer: I hear creaking. I too remember Leon Rosselson’s wonderful songs when we were both young. My response is to hope that people tweet this everywhere possible, to the culprits, the airbrushers and the allies who will witness their responses. Is there any way that supporters can plug into a network to be effective on social media? We are many, and out there there’s the members of the biggest political party in Europe (counting nervously). JVL? Or anyone else skilled in social media campaigning? Lots of us are chafing to support more and ram the case home, and lack some of the skills though we have others.
A marvellous article which lays bare the experience of the Palestinians living under occupation. The IHRA definition that the Israeli lobby are so keen on is designed to censor articles like this. This is why we need to campaign against it.Palestinian voices and those of their supporters must be heard!
Make this into a play and take it on tour.