Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

We now have a ceasefire in the Middle East but there is no cessation of occupation, no cessation of oppression and no cessation of the forcible denial of the rights of the Palestinian people. In the past week, the Palestinian people will have clearly seen their allies and their enemies. The most obvious enemy is the Israeli capitalist state and its ruling class, which implement an oppressive regime of occupation, siege, racism and apartheid. Then there are the major capitalist and imperialist powers, led by the United States and the states of the European Union, that arm and back the regime. For them the Israeli state, the fourth largest military power in the world, is an asset which they can use to continue to dominate and economically exploit the Middle East, as they have done for over a century, resulting in conflict, wars and the impoverishment of its people. Despite their past rhetoric, the other corrupt repressive regimes of the Middle East are not friends of the Palestinian people. They dutifully defend and uphold an economic, social and political order which defends the interests of their super rich and those of the multinationals and oil companies that exploit the region.

The real allies of the Palestinians were seen in the inspiring mass protests in recent weeks in cities as diverse as Dhaka, New York, Baghdad, London and cities across Ireland. They were seen through the decision of the Italian dock workers who refused to handle arms destined for Israel, and the strike action taken by South African dockers against the massacre taking place in Gaza. A key ally is the working class and oppressed in the Middle East, Arab, Iranian, Turkish, Kurdish and others. Crucially, a key potential ally was seen in the actions of Israeli Jewish workers and young people who joined the public demonstrations that united Jews and Palestinians under the banner, "We Refuse to be Enemies".

The Palestinian masses will rely on their own strength to advance their own cause, strength shown in the Palestinian general strike last week. However, the past week has shown clearly who will be their friends, who can be their friends and who will be their enemies.

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