On 15 May, the Progressive International dispatched a delegation to Palestine. Over six days, we visited East Jerusalem, Hebron, Bethlehem, the Naqab Desert, and Ramallah, meeting with a broad swathe of Palestinian society.
Today, we are publishing a report from our delegation, which summarizes our impressions from the visit and shares some of what we learned from liberation forces in Palestine.
It is becoming clear that the mythology of Israeli innocence is crumbling — even among its staunchest supporters.
Last month, US President Joe Biden characterized some ministers in the Israeli cabinet as “extreme” — a sentiment shared by the European Union, whose delegation in Israel cancelled its Europe Day diplomatic reception over the participation of Israel’s National Security Minister Ben-Gvir.
The United Nations estimates that 112 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces just this year between January and May, more than twice the number killed in the same period last year. And, since our delegation, the violence of Israeli regime forces in Palestine has only worsened.
In early July, Israeli forces launched a two-day ground and air assault on Jenin, killing at least twelve and injuring hundreds. This attack was the biggest incursion into the West Bank by Israeli regime forces in 20 years. It included the targeting of multiple hospitals, and forced thousands into displacement. After the assault on Jenin concluded, Israeli fighter jets turned their eyes and bombs to Gaza once again.
As we write in the report, these brazen acts of violence underscore the fragility of the Zionist project. The Israeli regime forces we encountered appeared to be terrified, cowering, prepared at all times to unleash disproportionate violence against people who posed no apparent threat to them. The Palestinian people, on the other hand — despite routine humiliation and constant violence — remain unafraid and dignified in their struggle. In a very visceral sense, it is obvious that the commitment of the occupied to liberation is greater than the commitment of the occupier to subjugation.
Now, our task is to strengthen the movement of solidarity with Palestine. The Progressive International is actively working with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement to advance the Cities’ Initiative — a campaign that seeks to end complicity with Israel at the municipal level. And we will transmit the lessons from our delegation to our membership to mobilize further action.
But, to continue this work, we need your support. So far, we have only recovered a quarter of the expenses of our delegation and reporting. If everyone reading this email donated just $1 per month, we would not only cover the costs of the delegation, but have the resources to sustain our campaign for the year ahead.
Stand in solidarity with Palestine
In solidarity,
Pawel Wargan
Delegation Head