* conferences Gilbert Achcar
In August 1897, delegates to the founding conference of the World Zionist Movement gathered in the Swiss city of
The 100th anniversary of Theodor Herzl's conference been a low-key affair. After all, the Zionists are divided by political disputes over the practical implementation of their historical project in Palestine/Israel. And the present Zionist government has succeeded in provoking the unanimous disapproval of Western governments. The official centenary conference organised in Basel was also marred by the controversy around the sordid behaviour of Swiss banks concerning the funds belonging to victims of the Nazi genocide.
To highlighting the oppression to which the Zionist state submits the Palestinian people, an alternative conference was organised on August 15-17, in Basel, by
Association Suisse-Palestine, Association pour l'Union entre les Peuples Juif et Palestinien, and Sozialistische Alternative, Basel.
The conference was also supported by Movement suisse de la Paix, Neue Partei der Arbeit, Parti du Travail de Suisse, SolidaritéS). Israeli and Palestinian organisations, including the Alternative Information Center and the General Union of Palestinian Women also gave their support.
Three hundred people, mostly from Switzerland, but also from the Middle East and other countries, discussed, often passionately, a range of issues pertaining to the history and present-day realities of Zionism and the Palestinian people. Among the (Palestine), Albert Aghazarian (Palestine), Abdel-Bari Atwan (Palestine/Britain), Khaled Ayed (Palestine/ Lebanon), Erica Deuber-Pauli (Switzerland), Meir Gal (Israel/USA), Tikva Honig-Parnass (Israel), Islah Jad (Egypt/Palestine), Elias Khoury
(Lebanon), Jakob Moneta (Germany), Akiva Orr (Israel), Maurice Rajsfus (France), Abraham Serfaty (Morocco/ France), and Ella Habiba Shohat (Israel/ USA).
Former Algerian president Ahmed Ben Bella and former Tunisian political detainee Khemais Chammari were also present. The cultural programme included a screening of films by Palestinian director Michel Khleifi, an exhibition of works by Israeli artist Meir Gal, and a musical evening with Palestinian singer Marwan Abado.
In terms of the modest goals set by the organisers with their limited financial resources, the conference was an undeniable success. It was reported in the Swiss media, including television, by the BBC World Service, and by various organs of the Arab
Beyond the obvious interest of listening to so many specialists on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for many participants the key importance of the event was the fact that it brought together political and intellectual opponents of Zionism from the many communities involved in one way or another in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Palestinians from the West Bank, from Israel and from exile, Israelis of European descent, Mizrahim (Oriental Jews), people from other Arab countries, including Arab Jews, and Europeans of Jewish descent. The 'ethnic' composition of the participants was so varied as to
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One can only regret that such gatherings of thinkers and activists from so diverse origins, yet sharing common progressive values are not organised more often. They would be a welcome alternative to the numerous conventional international meetings dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian issue. More meetings like this one would undoubtedly contribute a great deal to the sonecessary convergence between Arab and Israeli left-wing anti-Zionist thinking. It would also provide the European supporters of the progressive anti-Zionist struggle with a better understanding of the topic, in order to treat it in the best way.
Unfortunately, not enough emphasis was put on the question of racism and anti-Semitism today, and how to fight it. As I stressed in the workshop I co-led on anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, since the event was held in Europe with a mainly European audience; since Zionism was originally a reaction, however misguided, to the resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe; and since moreover there is currently a resurgence of racism on the continent not only anti-Jewish this time but also and mainly anti-Muslim, this issue should have been one of the key topics
This was all the more necessary since the boundaries between anti-Zionism and antiSemitism in Europe are not always very clear. Anti-Zionism still serves sometimes as a disguise for anti-Semitic views. These cases are rare, but often become highly visible. In the Arab world too. the boundaries between anti-Zionism and anti-Jewish racism
or fanaticism are very often crossed.
Of course, one cannot treat the racism of the oppressed and the racism of oppressors as if they were the same. And Zionism, which is inherently racist and oppressive, is in no position to blame the Arabs for "anti-Semitism." The false claim that "anti-Zionism means anti-Semitism" is a key ideological argument used world-wide by Zionism to win sympathy from many short-sighted and well-intentioned persons.
But this does not change the fact that European anti-Semitism, like anti-Muslim racism, is oppressive through and through. This is why it should be kept clearly in mind that the priority in Europe is not anti-Zionism, but the fight against racism in all its all forms and shades. This is a fight where Muslims and Jews are objectively on the same side of the barricade today. And it is only on the basis of this uncompromising fight that solidarity with the Palestinian people can and should develop in Europe and the rest of the
For this reason, it would have been more effective to ask not only "what has Zionism conferences * led to?" ', but also, "is Israel the answer to present-day anti-Semitism?" and "how best to fight anti-Semitism, which Herzl called the 'propelling force' of Zionism, while recognising that Zionism now incorporates antiMuslim racism."
No doubt the organisers of the Basel counter-conference took it for granted that these questions are linked. But the point is precisely that these progressive concerns cannot be considered as self-evident. They must on the contrary be stated on each occasion, and repeated very loudly. * comming soon
Seminars on Che Guevara FF100 for individuals, FF200 if Many of these speakers are well known
A seminar on Che Guevara will be organised by the Organisation of Solidarity with the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America (OSPAAAL) in Havana on 25-27 September.
On 2-5 October, America Libre magazine is holding a seminar in Argentina on the same theme, followed by a festival in Buenos Aires on October 8th called "With Che: for a free America" Contact: Frei Betto, America Libre, tel/fax +54 1/953 2934 "Surviving in a Globalised World" 27 September-11 October 1997, Aachen, Germany
The International Autumn University on North-South Issues and the Environment is a seminar on environmental suicide, poverty and injustice.
Speakers include Susan George (associate Director of the Transnational Institute, former board member of Greenpeace International), Prof. Nanjundaswamy (KRRS, India), Christine von Weizsaecker (ECOROPA), Myriam Vander Stichele (Transnational Institute), and Alistair Smith (Farmers' Link).
Working languages are English and Spanish www.asta.rwthaachen.de/orga/ir/AU97.html Ernest Mandel Study Centre: Symposium on the Russian revolution
Co-organised with Espaces Marx, a pluralistic Marxist research foundation linked to the French Communist Party, the research centres of Paris VIII and Dijon universities and journals including La Pensée and Critique communiste. The symposium will take place at Université Paris VIII on November 14-16.
This event is likely to be one of the major international gatherings of Marxists scholars and thinkers held in recent years. Scheduled partıcıpants include Samir Amin, Daniel Bensaid, Robin Blackburn, Samuel Farber, Marc Ferro, Janette Habel, Boris Kagarlitsky, Paul Leblanc, V.P. Volobuyev, and Claudie
Simultaneous translation into English, French and Russian. Registration fee:
sponsored by an institution, FF50 for students and unemployed. Accommodation in 2 or 3-bed rooms costs FF50 ($9) per night To register, write to Espaces Marx (64 Bd Blanqui, 75013 Paris, France), attaching a check for the registration fee plus accommodation if needed (specify which nights). The check will be kept as a deposit and returned to you against payment in French cash on arrival. Meals will be paid on the spot International LaborMedia '97 (Seoul, Korea, 10-12 November 1997)
In spite of a total lack of financial resources and experiences Korean conference on "Labour Movement and Media: Workers, Information Technology and Solidarity" and an international labour video and film festival in Seoul, Registration Fee: evening of November 8 - morning of November 13-- Including accommodation for five nights with all meals and participating in Worker's mass rally Private room: 130 $ • Pension: 250 $ (30% discount for Underdeveloped Country, 10% discount for registration Contact: Seoul International LaborMedia '97 Committee, tel: +82-2-855-1913, fax: 858-1913, e-mail: labormedia@mail.sing-kr.org [To join conference mailing list write to LM@mail.sing-kr.org] Internet: http://kpd.singkr.org/labormedia South Asia and the diaspora 50 years after the end of British colonialism School of Oriental and African Studies* Malet St, London. 18-19 Oct. 1997
Organised and co-ordinated by the British-based South Asia Solidarity Group, this unique conference will bring together key academics and activists from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Europe and North America. We will discuss the effects of globalisation on South Asia, and the intense organised struggles waged by powerful people's movements: a feature of all countries in the region today.
Speakers and participants will examine the new strategies and theoretical approaches emerging in these movements, and the identities of class, caste, gender and nationality which these struggles are heightening and reshaping activists in South Asia, but speaking for the first time in Britain. * Sponsored by SOAS, De Montfort University and Luton University Registration: E3/day for students, low and unwaged £10/day for waged individuals, and £25/day for institutions. Cheques payable to SASG, c/o Londec, Instrument House, 205-217 Kings Cross Rd, WC1X 9DB. For further details tel./fax +44 171 354 8744 or 713 7907 Raise your banners '97 31 Oct.-2 Nov. 1997, Sheffield, England
Following the enormous success of the '95 festival, plans are under way for a bigger, better, even more exciting celebration of political music
Invitations have gone out to some of the best known British and international names in political music. An extensive programme of films, drama, performance poetry, workshops, children's events, exhibitions and discussions will comple ment the more than 20 concerts which are planned for city centre venues, large To receive a programme send a SAE to the Festival Office RYB, PO Box 44, Sheffield, S4 7RN Asia Pacific Solidarity Conference Sydney, Australia, April 1998
Organised by the Asia Pacific Institute for Democratisation and Development See advertisement in last month's magazine
The Institute also welcomes applications to present papers at the conference, and suggest specific themes for discussion under the general framework of supporting democratisation, self-determination and social justice and opposing the neo-liberal austerity offensive
Individual affiliation to the Institute costs A$150 per year. Affiliates are entitled you to copies of major articles by Institute Fellows, a bi-annual newsletter and access to Email news services on developments in the Asian region. Contact: Dr Helen Jarvis, School of Information, Library and Archive Studies, (SILAS) University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052 Australia. Or Email to: apiaustralia@peg.apc.org. Or fax to: 02-96901381
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