Announcements
73 years of the Nakba
We condemn the current escalation of violence in Palestine and Israel.
The recent court ruling and plan to forcibly evict over 2,000 Palestinians from their homes in the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Jarrah and Al-Bustan is currently being portrayed as the reason for the most significant escalation of violence between Palestinians and Israelis of the past decade. Given the background to these events, relating to the past eviction of Jewish inhabitants under Jordanian occupation, there is a lot of room for discussion - as with so much in this longstanding, highly complex issue. But whether this specific court ruling is considered justified or not, it is part of a broader pattern of oppression, violence, and settler colonialism which has been in place since 1948.
After decades of violations of international law and fundamental human rights, ever increasing under the right-wing ultranationalist Netanyahu government, this move is yet another attempt by the state of Israel to extend and in this case ensure full control over occupied East Jerusalem.
It is necessary to clarify: the state of Israel has every right to its existence as well as self defence when faced with aggression - but so do the Palestinian people.
Due to the human rights violations the Palestinian people have been subject to for so long, it is inevitable protests would occur.
These protests have been met with violent and indiscriminate repression by Israeli security forces, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and continuing today on the 73rd anniversary of the Nakba, giving the Hamas the pretext to escalate the violence once again.
As strongly as we condemn this disproportionate use of force at the hands of the Israeli state, we condemn the antisemitic, ultranationalist Hamas’ ideology and actions, particularly their ongoing targeting of civilians. In our view, both the government of Israel and Hamas hold responsibilities for this ongoing escalation, with a long history of provocations, disproportionate violence and human rights violations on both the Hamas’ and the Israeli government's side.
Both sides have shown - and continue to show - their utter disregard for civilian lives and human rights multiple times, and have made it clear that they have no interest in finding a peaceful end to the decades of violence.
However, the might, power and possibilities between the two parties are incredibly unequally distributed and a crucial question remains unanswered by supporters of Israel: when faced with colonial expansion and violence, occupation, repression and ethnic cleansing, and when protests against all of these crimes are not heard but rather oppressed with brutal force, what options do the Palestinian people have left?
Both the Israeli and Palestinian civilians have been and are suffering under the ongoing violence. But as the numbers so clearly show, the vast majority of the victims are on the Palestinian side.
The responsibility for this sad fact does not only lie with Israel and Hamas. The Israeli- Palestinian history and current state of affairs are both intertwined with British colonisation, European and Arab antisemitism, racism, nationalism, capitalism, regional wars and conflicts, the interests of various global players and much more.
Given this background, the international community is as much responsible for the seemingly endless horrors endured by the people of Palestine and Israel.
We recognise and are painfully aware that the history of Israel is closely tied to the horrifying endless struggle of the Jewish people which culminated in the Holocaust, and remains far from over. We acknowledge that much of the debate, discourse and criticism of Israel until this day is fuelled by and filled with antisemitism. We cannot state too strongly that we distance ourselves from all “solidarity” protests, statements, etc. which solely serve to instrumentalise the struggle of the civilian people of Gaza and Palestinians elsewhere as a platform to spread their antisemitism. We further acknowledge that antisemitism is rampant across the Arab world and that the state of Israel has always been threatened by its neighbouring countries.
The fact that criticism of the state of Israel is so often fuelled by and filled with antisemitism however cannot lead to a situation where legitimate criticism of Israel is unacceptable. Giving any state a blank check and the pretext to delegitimise all criticism of its actions is unacceptable. We believe that it is not only possible, but of paramount importance to voice criticism against the internationally recognised illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land (see here and here for two detailed maps illustrating the illegal settlements), and against the human rights violations committed by Israeli defence forces whilst ensuring this criticism is free from antisemitism. We can’t leave the stage to antisemites and fanatics instrumentalising the suffering of the people of Gaza and other Palestinians for their own agenda.
Why are we speaking up on this?
Josoor’s work is all about solidarity with and documentation of human rights violations at the hands of the European border regime. Fighting the European border regime is part of an anti-colonial, anti-racist, anti-fascist, anti-patriarchal struggle. As such, we see it as our duty to also speak up on other, connected struggles, as we have done with our statement on solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The Israeli occupation is directly linked to Europe’s colonial and antisemitic past. It is furthermore supported and funded by Europe (see below). Even more clearly than that, fleeing from the Israeli oppression, as well as Hamas, Palestinians make up a notable percentage of the people we support after they’ve survived violent and illegal pushbacks. The fact that so many of them are forced to leave and seek refuge elsewhere, while the same is not true for Jewish Israelis attests to the asymmetric nature of the so-called “conflict” between Israel and Palestine. We put this term in quotation marks and otherwise refuse to use it because oppressors and oppressed are not in conflict with each other, but rather the latter is in resistance to the first.
We are sad to have learnt in the past days that almost all of our past and current Palestinian beneficiaries have lost friends and family members to the violence. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the violence, whether Arab or Jew, and anyone in between, and whether on Palestinian or Israeli territory.
Last but not least, we are an organisation registered in the EU, specifically Austria. The EU issued a statement condemning the rocket attacks by Hamas - which we agree with - but has completely failed to address the violence exerted by the Israeli regime. The Austrian government decided to raise the Israeli flag in solidarity with the oppressive regime - understandable given Austria's history. On the same day, however, the Austrian police allowed an (unrelated) demonstration to play a speech of Hitler in Mauthausen concentration camp, showing once more the performative nature of the Austrian government's solidarity with the Jewish people.
For all these reasons, we felt the need and obligation to take a stance in solidarity with the Palestinian people, against oppression and injustice while clearly distancing ourselves from all antisemetic motivation.
Furthermore, prior to this current escalation, we joined the Stop the Wall campaign which addresses the little known fact that the increasing externalisation, securitisation and militarisation of the European borders, which we fight, more and more of which has been going into the pockets of the Israeli government, thus funding their oppression of the Palestinian people (see below).
Since 2018, Frontex and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) have contracted Elbit and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (IAI/UAV) military drones. Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms company, develops its drones together with the Israeli military and promotes its technology as “field tested” – on Palestinians. It provides 85% of the drones used by Israel in its repeated military assaults and continued inhumane siege and attacks on Gaza.
In October 2020, the EU signed two new contracts, worth €50 million each, for the supply of unmanned drones: one joint contract with European aeronautics and defence conglomerate Airbus and state-owned IAI, as well as one contract with Elbit Systems.
These contracts take the European border militarisation to the next level and are used for no other purpose than to prevent people seeking protection and a safe future from reaching Europe. The Stop the Wall campaign demands the defunding of Frontex to end the EU’s criminal anti-migration policies and the end of military ties with Israel. We stand with this campaign and these demands.
We furthermore urge all groups organising protests and actions in solidarity with the Palestinian people to assure that no platform is given to antisemitic ideology, rhetoric and activity.
Josoor will keep fighting for fundamental rights and democracy for all. We stand against division, hatred, violence and oppression of any kind with the hopes of one day seeing a world of people living in peaceful coexistence and freedom.
The recent court ruling and plan to forcibly evict over 2,000 Palestinians from their homes in the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Jarrah and Al-Bustan is currently being portrayed as the reason for the most significant escalation of violence between Palestinians and Israelis of the past decade. Given the background to these events, relating to the past eviction of Jewish inhabitants under Jordanian occupation, there is a lot of room for discussion - as with so much in this longstanding, highly complex issue. But whether this specific court ruling is considered justified or not, it is part of a broader pattern of oppression, violence, and settler colonialism which has been in place since 1948.
After decades of violations of international law and fundamental human rights, ever increasing under the right-wing ultranationalist Netanyahu government, this move is yet another attempt by the state of Israel to extend and in this case ensure full control over occupied East Jerusalem.
It is necessary to clarify: the state of Israel has every right to its existence as well as self defence when faced with aggression - but so do the Palestinian people.
Due to the human rights violations the Palestinian people have been subject to for so long, it is inevitable protests would occur.
These protests have been met with violent and indiscriminate repression by Israeli security forces, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and continuing today on the 73rd anniversary of the Nakba, giving the Hamas the pretext to escalate the violence once again.
As strongly as we condemn this disproportionate use of force at the hands of the Israeli state, we condemn the antisemitic, ultranationalist Hamas’ ideology and actions, particularly their ongoing targeting of civilians. In our view, both the government of Israel and Hamas hold responsibilities for this ongoing escalation, with a long history of provocations, disproportionate violence and human rights violations on both the Hamas’ and the Israeli government's side.
Both sides have shown - and continue to show - their utter disregard for civilian lives and human rights multiple times, and have made it clear that they have no interest in finding a peaceful end to the decades of violence.
However, the might, power and possibilities between the two parties are incredibly unequally distributed and a crucial question remains unanswered by supporters of Israel: when faced with colonial expansion and violence, occupation, repression and ethnic cleansing, and when protests against all of these crimes are not heard but rather oppressed with brutal force, what options do the Palestinian people have left?
Both the Israeli and Palestinian civilians have been and are suffering under the ongoing violence. But as the numbers so clearly show, the vast majority of the victims are on the Palestinian side.
The responsibility for this sad fact does not only lie with Israel and Hamas. The Israeli- Palestinian history and current state of affairs are both intertwined with British colonisation, European and Arab antisemitism, racism, nationalism, capitalism, regional wars and conflicts, the interests of various global players and much more.
Given this background, the international community is as much responsible for the seemingly endless horrors endured by the people of Palestine and Israel.
We recognise and are painfully aware that the history of Israel is closely tied to the horrifying endless struggle of the Jewish people which culminated in the Holocaust, and remains far from over. We acknowledge that much of the debate, discourse and criticism of Israel until this day is fuelled by and filled with antisemitism. We cannot state too strongly that we distance ourselves from all “solidarity” protests, statements, etc. which solely serve to instrumentalise the struggle of the civilian people of Gaza and Palestinians elsewhere as a platform to spread their antisemitism. We further acknowledge that antisemitism is rampant across the Arab world and that the state of Israel has always been threatened by its neighbouring countries.
The fact that criticism of the state of Israel is so often fuelled by and filled with antisemitism however cannot lead to a situation where legitimate criticism of Israel is unacceptable. Giving any state a blank check and the pretext to delegitimise all criticism of its actions is unacceptable. We believe that it is not only possible, but of paramount importance to voice criticism against the internationally recognised illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land (see here and here for two detailed maps illustrating the illegal settlements), and against the human rights violations committed by Israeli defence forces whilst ensuring this criticism is free from antisemitism. We can’t leave the stage to antisemites and fanatics instrumentalising the suffering of the people of Gaza and other Palestinians for their own agenda.
Why are we speaking up on this?
Josoor’s work is all about solidarity with and documentation of human rights violations at the hands of the European border regime. Fighting the European border regime is part of an anti-colonial, anti-racist, anti-fascist, anti-patriarchal struggle. As such, we see it as our duty to also speak up on other, connected struggles, as we have done with our statement on solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The Israeli occupation is directly linked to Europe’s colonial and antisemitic past. It is furthermore supported and funded by Europe (see below). Even more clearly than that, fleeing from the Israeli oppression, as well as Hamas, Palestinians make up a notable percentage of the people we support after they’ve survived violent and illegal pushbacks. The fact that so many of them are forced to leave and seek refuge elsewhere, while the same is not true for Jewish Israelis attests to the asymmetric nature of the so-called “conflict” between Israel and Palestine. We put this term in quotation marks and otherwise refuse to use it because oppressors and oppressed are not in conflict with each other, but rather the latter is in resistance to the first.
We are sad to have learnt in the past days that almost all of our past and current Palestinian beneficiaries have lost friends and family members to the violence. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the violence, whether Arab or Jew, and anyone in between, and whether on Palestinian or Israeli territory.
Last but not least, we are an organisation registered in the EU, specifically Austria. The EU issued a statement condemning the rocket attacks by Hamas - which we agree with - but has completely failed to address the violence exerted by the Israeli regime. The Austrian government decided to raise the Israeli flag in solidarity with the oppressive regime - understandable given Austria's history. On the same day, however, the Austrian police allowed an (unrelated) demonstration to play a speech of Hitler in Mauthausen concentration camp, showing once more the performative nature of the Austrian government's solidarity with the Jewish people.
For all these reasons, we felt the need and obligation to take a stance in solidarity with the Palestinian people, against oppression and injustice while clearly distancing ourselves from all antisemetic motivation.
Furthermore, prior to this current escalation, we joined the Stop the Wall campaign which addresses the little known fact that the increasing externalisation, securitisation and militarisation of the European borders, which we fight, more and more of which has been going into the pockets of the Israeli government, thus funding their oppression of the Palestinian people (see below).
Since 2018, Frontex and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) have contracted Elbit and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (IAI/UAV) military drones. Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms company, develops its drones together with the Israeli military and promotes its technology as “field tested” – on Palestinians. It provides 85% of the drones used by Israel in its repeated military assaults and continued inhumane siege and attacks on Gaza.
In October 2020, the EU signed two new contracts, worth €50 million each, for the supply of unmanned drones: one joint contract with European aeronautics and defence conglomerate Airbus and state-owned IAI, as well as one contract with Elbit Systems.
These contracts take the European border militarisation to the next level and are used for no other purpose than to prevent people seeking protection and a safe future from reaching Europe. The Stop the Wall campaign demands the defunding of Frontex to end the EU’s criminal anti-migration policies and the end of military ties with Israel. We stand with this campaign and these demands.
We furthermore urge all groups organising protests and actions in solidarity with the Palestinian people to assure that no platform is given to antisemitic ideology, rhetoric and activity.
Josoor will keep fighting for fundamental rights and democracy for all. We stand against division, hatred, violence and oppression of any kind with the hopes of one day seeing a world of people living in peaceful coexistence and freedom.
