Socialist Viewpoint

Note: Socialist Viewpoint is proud to print articles by Israel Shamir of Tel Aviv. In the course of preparing this edition, we have had some e-mail exchanges which we think will be of interest to the readers and we are printing excerpts below.—Carole Seligman

Socialist Viewpoint: American news outlets have said that one of the Palestinian organizations has taken “credit” for the bombing [of the discotheque]. Is this something you have seen as well?

Israel Shamir: In the beginning, no Palestinian organization took responsibility. Later, a heretofore unheard of “Hisbulla Palestine” accepted responsibility, but it was found to be a non-existent body of a few kids from Nazareth, who just claimed some deeds, while doing nothing. They were arrested and charged with “pretending to be a terrorist organization.” All later claims were rather claims of sympathy, than of actual organization.

Socialist Viewpoint: You mention the “Sunday Times.” Are you referring to the London Times, or which newspaper?

Israel Shamir: Yes, the Sunday Times of London. I shall forward you the article.

“A Palestinian with links to Israeli intelligence unwittingly acted as a driver for the suicide bomber responsible for the devastating explosion that killed 22 people outside a Tel Aviv discotheque.” (Uzi Mahnaimi, “Disco Bomber Used Israeli Mole As Driver,” Sunday Times, June 24, 2001)

“The bomber of a Tel Aviv discotheque who killed himself and 20 others had entered Israel from Jordan on an Israeli visa and had no ties with the Palestinian National Authority, an Israeli Arab MP said Wednesday. Mohammed Barakei, a communist member of parliament, told AFP the information came from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whom he and fellow Israeli Arab MP Issam Mahlul met Wednesday afternoon in the West Bank town of Ramallah.” (“Tel Aviv Bomber Arrived from Jordan with Israeli Visa,” AFP, June 06, 2001)

Socialist Viewpoint: Another question that has come up on our editorial committee: You have seen (hopefully, you received our June issue in which we printed your articles “The Rape of Dulcinea” and “The Failed Test”). If so, you know that the position of Socialist Viewpoint is opposed to Zionism and the state of Israel as a Jewish state. I believe we informed you of our views on Israel when we first inquired about whether you would give us permission to print your articles. Do you believe that the Zionist, Jewish state of Israel can be reformed to grant the Palestinian peoples their human and civil rights? Or, are you opposed on principle to a Jewish state? Or, what is your long-term view of what should exist in the historic lands of Palestine?

Israel Shamir: I am against existence of a Jewish state per se. In my opinion, Jews in Palestine should become Palestinians, while Jews of France should be French, etc. So, the democratic process would bring to termination this anomaly. But, as there are quite a lot of Jews in Palestine, it is probable that the new Palestinian democratic entity will be a continuation of the Jewish state in Palestine in some way.