Statement by the Communist Party of Israel, October 9

Statement of the Communist Party of France, published in  L’humanité, October 9, 2023

The policy of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, whom he holds responsible for the situation, and warns against acts of revenge that could be carried out against the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel. He calls for the recognition of the rights of Palestinians.

“As the Israeli Communist Party and a member of the Hadash movement (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality), we believe that the Israeli fascist government is responsible for the brutal and dangerous escalation of recent hours, which has cost the lives of many innocent citizens. This happened at the end of a shocking week during which the settlers went wild in the occupied territories under the auspices of their government, desecrated the al-Aqsa mosque and perpetrated another pogrom in Huwara (Palestinian city near Naplos already attacked a few months ago by the settlers – editor’s note). It is a very serious escalation that endangers the entire region in a war that the right-wing government has been fuelling since its first day.

The events we have been experiencing since Saturday show in what dangerous direction the Netanyahu government and the settlers are leading the entire region, and stress once again that there is no way to manage the conflict or resolve it militarily. There is only one solution: to end the occupation and recognize the legitimate claims and rights of the Palestinian people. The end of the occupation and the establishment of a just peace are a distinct and common interest of the two peoples of this country.

We are deeply concerned about the Netanyahu government’s use of these events to carry out a vengeful attack on the Gaza Strip. We call on the international community and the countries of the region to intervene immediately to silence the drums of the war and launch initiatives for a political solution. Finally, we warn against acts of revenge that could be carried out against the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and in particular the inhabitants of mixed cities and unrecognized villages of the Negev (Bedouin villages that the government does not recognize as legal – editor’s note), who have already paid a high price because the state does not take care of them.

In this reality, it is the duty of the healthy forces in Israel, Jews and Arabs, to make a strong and clear voice heard against any attempt to incite violence against entire populations and to promote the aspiration for a normal life without occupation, discrimination and supremacy – a life of peace, equality and true democracy for all. ”