Call for criminalizing Zionism and recognizing right to resistance

Global conference called for recall of 1975 UN Resolution that defined Zionism as a form of racism and urged for recognizing right to resistance

By Iftikhar Gilani

ISTANBUL, Türkiye – An international conference, featuring delegates from more than 50 countries gave a call to criminalize Zionism and equate it with racism.

The diverse assembly, comprising politicians, scholars, academics, parliamentarians, and journalists, united in their plea for a radical solution to the long-standing issue of Palestine. They called for confronting the lingering problems of occupation, colonialism, and apartheid.

The conference’s declaration underscored the origins of these issues, tracing them back to the British occupation of Palestine and the Levant.

It emphasized the forceful imposition of the Zionist project on Palestine and its people, and the complicity of Western powers, notably Britain, in arming Israel, even with nuclear weapons.

“The origin of these atrocities was the British occupation of Palestine and the Levant, and its forceful imposition of the Zionist project on Palestine and its people. Britain, along with other Western powers, was keen to arm Israel with weapons, including nuclear weapons,” said the declaration issued at the end of the conference.

One of the primary grievances highlighted by the conference was the Zionist assertion that Palestine constitutes the “national homeland for the Jews.”

This claim, deemed racist by the delegates, advocates for one group at the expense of another. Furthermore, it seeks to undermine the Palestinian people while legitimizing these actions using terrorism, oppression, and persecution against indigenous Palestinians.

The conference engaged in extensive discussions on the historical context of Zionism and its documented consequences, shedding light on the impact of this ideology over time. One of the key resolutions of the conference was a call for the revival of United Nations Resolution 3379, which in 1975 defined Zionism as a form of racism and racial discrimination.

Regrettably, this definition was revoked in 1991, a move that the conference viewed as a setback in the pursuit of a just solution to the Palestine issue.

Moreover, the conference pointed out that Zionism not only poses a threat to the Palestinian people but also to Jews worldwide. By imposing its own definition of Jewish identity and stifling other interpretations, Zionism effectively dictates how Jews should perceive themselves. This coercive approach deprives Jews of the opportunity to define their identity independently from Zionist principles.

The declaration reiterated that there is no intrinsic link between Judaism, an ancient religion, and Zionism, a relatively recent political ideology born in Europe under the backdrop of European anti-Semitism, which had no bearing on Palestinians, including Palestinian Jews who rejected Zionism.

The declaration strongly condemned Zionism’s broader impact, branding it as a global menace to the fundamental freedoms of opinion, expression, and belief. It asserted that, when unable to defend its legitimacy through reasoned argument, Zionism resorts to oppression, curbing freedoms, intimidation, and even criminalizing criticism to stifle any meaningful debate.

In addition to addressing these critical issues, the conference championed the recognition of the right to resist foreign occupation. It emphasized that the right of peoples to resist foreign occupation, including through armed means, is a natural and inherent right, not contingent on the entity’s status.

In fact, this right grants legitimacy to the struggle for self-determination and the restoration of basic rights, underlining that power derives its legitimacy from the pursuit of justice.

The Istanbul conference marked a significant moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding Zionism and its consequences. Delegates from around the world united to advocate for a more inclusive, equitable, and just resolution to the complex challenges faced by the Palestinian people and the broader implications of Zionism on global freedoms and identities.