Das andere Israel: 26. Kongress der kommunistischen Partei

The congress calls the members of the Communist Party of Israel (CPI), its supporters, members of the Young Communist League of Israel (YCLI), our partners in Hadash (the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality), friends and allies of the party – to strengthen the Communist Party of Israel, the party of class struggle, the party of Israeli-Arab partnership, the party of the struggle for an Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab peace that is total and just, the party of the struggle for the equality of the Arab minority, the party of the struggle for social justice and true democracy in Israel, the party of gender equality, the party of the struggle for socialism – the historical alternative to the regime of class exploitation, wars and discrimination.

The congress calls for the creation of broad based cooperation against the plans for a regional war that Netanyahu's government is promoting, against the continuing policy of settlements and occupation, against the strong attacks against democracy and the Arab community and its leaders, against the exclusion of women from the public sphere. Netanyahu's government is leading all of us to catastrophe, and we must not agree to be pushed in this direction. A strong communist party and broad based democratic Jewish-Arab cooperation are essential for halting this disaster. Member of CPI, Jews and Arabs, emphasized at the 26^th congress our commitment to the principles of Marxism-Leninism and social justice. This is particularly correct at this time, when social distress grows heavier under the weight of the capitalist and imperialist crisis.

CPI General Secretary, Mohammad Nafa'h, during the 26^th Congress (Photo: Al Ittihad)

Histadrut elections and the social struggle

The congress calls for the members of the party and of the front and to members of the Histadrut to unite around the Hadash list in the upcoming Histadrut (Federation of Labor in Israel) elections, which will take place on May 22^nd. CPI, based on its strong union heritage, sees in the Hadash faction as the voice that truly protects the interests of the working public, especially against the current Histadrut leadership, which is submissive to businesspeople and free market sharks, and which works against the workers and their rights. The strengthening of the Hadash faction in the Histadrut is especially necessary in light of the wave of social protests that swept the country last summer in a demand for true social justice. This struggle was born out of the consequences of the crises of capitalism, and because these are only worsening, it is expected that this struggle will only strengthen and broaden. We are proud of the members of the party, Arabs and Jews, who were active in the protests of the summer, and who continue today to lead the social struggle.

The campaign against occupation and for peace

The 26^th congress expresses its worry regarding the freezing of the negotiation process between the Israeli and Palestinians governments, a freeze that is a result of the far-right positions of the Netanyahu government; the aggressive policies of the government, and its steps towards creating facts on the ground that further entrench the occupation. We call to dismantle the settlement, stop the Judaicizing of the East Jerusalem and the harm being caused towards holy places; to dismantle the separation wall, to cease the process of dismembering the West Bank into small pieces, to cancel the blockade of Gaza and to immediately cease the military offensive against its citizens, to cease the policy of assassinations and arrests, the policy of closures, oppression, plundering of lands, and the violent and murderous dispersal of popular demonstrations in the occupied territories. The congress calls for a renewal of the peace process, which will lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state in the 1967 borders, with a capital in East Jerusalem, next to the state of Israel, and to a solution to the refugee problem based on UN decisions.

The 26^th congress calls to immediately release the Palestinian political prisoners, and expresses support for the struggle against administrative detentions. The congress stands behind of Hana Shalabi, who is on hunger strike and fighting against her detention.

The congress supports those who take part in the popular struggles in the occupied territories – in Bil'in, in Nabi Saleh, in Nil'in and all other places – and congratulates our members and all other Israeli and international forces of peace for their essential part in the anti-occupation movement. A special congratulations is sent to occupation resisters.

The congress expresses worry at the continued split within the Palestinian arena, which weakens the popular struggle against the occupation. We call for an end to this split out of a commitment to democracy and the position of the PLO as the legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people, and out of a rejection of imperialist dictates.

The congress warns against the Israeli and American threats to attack Iran, and the severe anticipated consequences of a difficult regional war, and emphasizes the need for the nuclear disarmament of the entire Middle East, including Israel.

The campaign for civil and national equality for the Arab community

The 26^th congress calls for the strengthening of the movement for the national Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel, and against the ongoing policy of oppression and discrimination, which has only accelerated in recent years under the extreme-right government. These policies intensify unemployment and poverty, and with them the violence and criminality within Arab society, enflames racism in the society, and attempts to drive a wedge between the nations.

The 26^th congress censures the attack on the Arab community and its leadership, of whom the first to be hurt were the communists, and stands behind our comrades Muhamad Barakeh, head of Hadash, and comrade Ayman Odeh, secretary of Hadash, in their struggles against the legal persecution they face and the attempts to limit their political activities.

The campaign for the protection democratic freedoms

Over the years the party has warned that the constant injuries being done to the Arab community in Israel would quickly turn into an injury to other minority groups and to the democratic freedoms of all the country's citizens, and lead to a process of fascisization in Israeli society.

The last years have proved that this claim was not empty intimidation. We are currently witnessing a journey towards attacks against human rights organization, artists, academics and lawyers, against the independence of the press, and against any body that comes out against the policies of the government.

Next to these the politics of hate and racism are growing. In addition to the Arab population, more and more groups are becoming victims of this process: Ethiopians immigrants, foreign workers, refugees, members of the LGBT community, and many others. These processes have always existed, and to this day they are typical characteristics of the fascist ideology.

The campaign for women's equality

The congress congratulates the female members of the party, and the all women, on the occasion of International Women's Day. We are proud of the female party members and their enormous contribution in all of our activities and struggles. The last few years have seen an intensification of the oppression and discrimination against women as a result of two connected processes: intensification of capitalist policies: privatization and moves towards 'efficiency' especially hurt working women, and increase difficulties upon women's efforts to work outside of the home, their ability to earn a dignified living, and fulfill their most basic rights. Secondly, religious fundamentalism, strengthening amongst both nations, and which is itself a result of capitalism, intensifies the patriarchal and oppressive reality of women. These two trends clarify, once again, that the struggle for women's equality happens as a part of a class struggles against capitalism and conservatism as a whole. Women have always been the first victims, and there they also stand in the front lines of the revolutionary struggle. The congress calls for the strengthening the activities of the party amongst women and pointing our efforts and resources to this field.

On developments in the Arab world

The congress emphasizes the commitment to the people's struggles for democracy, social justice, against oppressive and reactionary regimes, and along with this – against servility to imperialist interests in the region. The congress observes with concern the cynical imperialist intervention against the authentic popular struggles. We condemn any attempt to deflect the struggle from its path, to hurt it, and to reduce it to a civil war.