The bombs under Durban – Slavery and Zionism – by Ronald Eissens Two subjects which will, if I’m not mistaken, create a lot of dissension during the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, as they are already doing here at the second PrepCom in Geneva. Everybody is trying to downplay the existence of the words, they have, in a sense, become ‘forbidden words’ here in UN country. There is fear, fear that the WCAR will be a failure if these two subjects are breached. There is pressure too. From the United States for example, who are adamant about not wanting to talk about slavery and reparations. The other western countries take a more relaxed approach, although they aren’t exactly lining up to admit blame. To this white boy, the matter seems relatively simple. Yes, the western world, including the U.S. have a historic debt. Slavery and all the related effects of it have disrupted the lives of millions and the results are still felt, it being one of the roots of modern-day anti-black racism. How reparations should be implemented is not for me to say but words like ‘cancellation of third-world debt’, ‘educational programs’ , ‘money for anti-racist curricula’ and ‘revision of textbooks on the subject of slavery’ come to mind. But I am not a victim of slavery or a descendant of victims of slavery, so it is really not for me to say. The victims will have to say, have the right to say, what their demands are. It will have to be negotiated, walking away from it wont do any good. It will make the WCAR a failure and will be disruptive, to say the least, for the process of living together in the countries of this world, which are becoming more multicultural and diverse every day. Now for the other word, Zionism. First of all, the Palestinians as a people have rights. Of course. I’m not going to drag the whole terrible situation in Israel into this piece, like some are trying to do here at the PrepCom and will undoubtedly try in Durban. I will however say this. The (mis)deeds of the State of Israel are, like the deeds of any State, open for debate. But that is something else then equating Jews around the world with Israel and its deeds. It is painfully funny that whenever something is done by the State of Israel Jews all over the world are blamed. ("No, not you of course you are my friend, you are a good Jew") but when another State does something, lets say the Indonesian army kills people in East-Timor, or the Indian State massacres protesters, then Indonesians and Indian people living all over the world are not blamed for it. Should we blame all Chinese living in other countries (or in China, for that matter) for the occupation of Tibet, the killing and deportation of lots of Tibetans over the years? That would be ridiculous. Like it is equally ridiculous to blame Jews all over the world for what the State of Israel does. ‘But Jews always support Israel!’ is the next argument you will hear. Well, yes and no. The more people blame Jews for what happens in Israel, the more Jews will stand by Israel, this is a normal reaction. If you are attacked for deeds done not by you, but by your country of origin, and it doesn’t matter if you stress that you are not the Israeli government, or that you are not interested in the State of Israel, or that you just want peace and quiet in the country you are living in, or you say you don’t even feel Jewish, or that you do not sympathise with Israel… Today I overheard a heated conversation between a Palestinian woman and a secular Jewish woman who is not very interested in Israel. The Jewish women was told that there was no Anti-Semitism in Europe or the rest of the world. Examples of virulent Anti-Semitism, burning of Synagogues, killing of Jewish people, desecration of graves, it was all waved away. "Nonsense, I don’t believe you. The Jews are killing us, there is no Anti-Semitism" Ah well, lets call it ‘lack of information’ But it is saddening, like the way the peace process in the Middle-East is going is very saddening. Jews get blamed anyway. They will tell you that "they expected a higher moral standard from the Jewish people who suffered so much during the Holocaust and who are now doing the same to the Palestinians that the nazi’s did". Strange, it seems that Jews have to have a higher morality than other people because of the Holocaust, because of their victimisation. Jews are not measured the same way as other people. I call that discrimination or, more apt in this case, plain Anti-Semitism. So you are blamed anyway. Wouldn’t you identify with your country of origin? Don’t forget, the moment Israel ceases to exist, Jews will no longer have a place to flee to if another Holocaust comes along. Like it did. Like it could happen again. Not only to Jews, by the way. You might not like the word Zionism. Zionism is, and was a political movement directed at giving the Jews, a group of people who have been victimised, discriminated, deported and massacred throughout the last 2000 years a save place to live. Equating Zionism with racism is, in the words of Bishop Desmond Tutu, ‘total utter poppycock’. You might as well call Liberalism, socialism or any other legit political movement racism. If people want to drag Israel, Zionism and occupied territories into the WCAR, then lets drag some other occupied territories into it as well, there are lots around on this world. Lets for good measure say that we don’t want to talk about reparations (dirty word), caste (horrible). Let’s get some white African Boers in to complain about their dying culture and threatened identity, let President Arafat and Prime Minister Sharon open the joyful ceremony with a duet so… after a totally failed WCAR we all can have a nice holiday in the beautiful Republic of South Africa. If we are all different but equal, we are all equal victims. The hierarchy of victims is a stupid game which unavoidably leads to inter-victim discrimination. Yes, a new concept. Or is it?