Middle East and Palestine

[Editor's note: this is part 2 of the series Eyes on the Prize. Part 1 can be read by clicking on this link: https://www.blakdwarf.org/post/iran-eyes-on-the-prize ] Opening of the 1979 mass insurrection Whatever the vicissitudes of the current ceasefire, each passing day of the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran and Lebanon have made it abundantly clear that both Trump and Netanyahu are determined to blast their way towards a new Middle East – one in which a Greater Is

Imperialism's war aims and quandaries First of a two-part series

by Katie Coles and Jane Hard Editor's note: This article is reproduced from issue number 185 of the International Socialism journal. https://isj.org.uk/palestinian-womens-resistance-today-imperialism-islamism-and-violence/ The history of women’s activism in nationalist movements in Palestine has been eviscerated or marginalised at best. 1 Yet, women have played a central role in the Palestinian struggle against occupation by the British and then the Israelis dating back t

The recent political assassination of two members of the Israeli diplomatic mission in Washington DC has facilitated a frenzied campaign in which all supporters of Palestinian freedom are once again being tarred with the brush of anti-semitism. It has even been used by the war criminal, Benjamin Netanyahu, as a stick to beat some of his traditional European allies who have had the temerity to suggest that the Israeli war machine is violating basic humanitarian principles. Ne

Part Two: Capitalism or Socialism: Challenges of the Revolution [Author's note: this is the concluding part of the series. To read Part One, click on this link: https://www.blakdwarf.org/post/dynamics-of-the-syrian-revolution ] A cousin of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Controlled a vast business empire that spanned telecommunications, real estate, and banking. Syrian Capitalism in crisis: Neo-liberal Reforms and Rising Inequality The Syrian uprising of 2011 ha

Part One: Independence, class struggle and state capitalism [ Author’s note : this is the first instalment in a two-part series, Part two looks at how the ciriss unfolded and the challenges of reconstruction, revolution and Kurdish self-determination. It is available now by following this link: https://www.blakdwarf.org/post/dynamics-of-the-syrian-revolution-2 ] Introduction “ Whatever comes next will be better than what came before. Syria has been mired in civil war

(PART ONE: THE DYNAMICS OF THE ARAB LIBERATION STRUGGLE) As Washington and Westminster use their imperial might to protect their vast trade and commercial interests in the Middle East, they are upscaling their narrative that the primary source of the regional conflicts is to be found in the machinations of Tehran and its alleged proxy forces. This is echoed by a recent statement of Netanyahu decrying the supposedly Iranian-led “axis of evil” intent on destroying the Israeli

“Almost 80 years after the end of the Second World War it is shocking to hear nakedly anti-Semitic chants on the streets of London today. There are people who plainly want to ignore the Hamas massacre of October 7. They want to wipe Israel off the map. That is what they were chanting for today. They must not and will not succeed. I thank the police for all their efforts to keep people safe - but we must all do more, because an ancient hatred is rising again in Europe. It must

The Israeli state’s genocidal bombing campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza is the latest instalment of a nearly 80-year-old effort to establish and consolidate an imperialist buffer state in the Middle East. The philosophy and practice of this assault - identified the world over as collective punishment - was built into its very foundations. In 1950, just two years into its establishment, the future Israeli Defence Minister, Moshe Dayan, was the first to openly s

Rajida is a young Asian woman from Leicester. She has been to Palestine on 3 occasions. I met her and her friend Hawa on the first of two recent mass demonstrations demanding freedom and justice for Palestine. Rajida is a very eloquent and passionate advocate of Palestinian rights and it was a privilege to interview her.

Why the struggle for a democratic, secular Palestine is the only way forward for the Arab and Jewish masses in the Middle East. [ The following article was written as a response to Brian Grogan’s blog entitled “ Considerations on the December 2019 UK general election ” which can be found here: https://politicaleconomyofimperialism.blogspot.com/ For reasons of space I was unable to develop the points on Brexit and the national question in the UK. ] The assessment of the ele

Featuring addtional commentary, footage and graphics alongside the interview with members of the London Celtic FC Supporters on the May 15 mass demonstration.