Anger and indignation
Article by Υiannakis Colokasides, member of the C.C of AKEL
Sunday 16th May 2021, “Haravgi” newspaper
What is happening criminally in long suffering occupied Palestine is provoking outrage and indignation. The zionist state of Israel is once again showing its inhuman and brutal face. But even more outrage and indignation is provoked by the fact that the Cypriot government and the ruling DISY party do not dare say a single word and criticize their ally criminal Netanyahu. For them, only Hamas exists and it’s the only thing they criticize. And their mouthpieces in the mass media indirectly but unmistakably align themselves with the government’s line and offer generous support to the zionist crimes being committed. All of them together align themselves with Cyprus’ new recent “strategic ally”, the United States.
The new crisis has broken out because the state of Israel is planning to expel Palestinians from their homes and place settlers in their place. In the case of Cyprus, the government, the ruling DISY party, other parties too and their mouthpieces in the mass media attack Turkey every day for the colonalisation of the occupied Cypriot territories. They are correct in doing so. However, in the case of Palestine, they turn a blind eye to the Israeli colonalisation, as they also turn a blind eye to the occupation of the Palestinian territories. Subsequently, the pitiful, talk about principles and have the audacity to demand from others in the international community that they should approach the Cyprus problem on the basis of principles!
The fact that Israel and Turkey are TEMPORARILY at each other’s throats does not make zionism any less criminal than Turkish chauvinism. The fact that Erdogan is manipulating for its own purposes the struggle of the Palestinian people does not absolve Netanyahu of the guilt arising from his own crimes. The fact that Netanyahu responds to Erdogan by invoking the example of Cyprus does not make him the first less hated occupier. The assertion that my enemy’s enemy is automatically my friend, regardless of whether the hands of this or that “friend” are dripping with blood, only applies to immoral people. People who do not profess any principle and value whatsoever.
Certain forces and circles will for sure rush to accuse us of supporting Hamas. We have the courage to say frankly that Hamas is committing a crime not only against civilians in Israel, but also against the Palestinian people themselves. Hamas’ role is to say the least suspicious. Whenever Israel is in a tight corner because of the crimes it commits, Hamas, with its actions, provides it with an alibi and rescues it. This clear truth should cause many in the Gaza Strip to reflect.
Israel prides itself that it is supposedly the only democratic country in the Middle East. The Americans and Europeans support this narrative at every opportunity. When elections and the existence of parties coexist with militarism and genocide, it is anything other than a democracy. It is a peculiar form of dictatorship that is supported by the so-called Western world.
Israel presents itself as the great enemy of theocratic Iran, which it portrays as representing a threat to world peace. With all that is happening in Palestine today, Israel is a much bigger threat to world peace than Iran is.
A few days ago we watched in astonishment the trampling of dozens of people at a religious ceremony of so-called orthodox Jews. And we saw a picture of people portrayed as seeking to live as their ancestors did 2 thousand two hundred years ago! That’s how contemporary they are. Let no one think that these so-called orthodox groups are marginal. Unfortunately, they represent the ideological and political foundation of the extreme right that in essence is governing Israel. In truth, how do ultra-right Jews differ from the mullahs of Iran? Let those who in Cyprus harbor the illusion that today’s Israel is a modern liberal democracy answer this question.
Fortunately, there exists the Communist Party of Israel and its allies, both Jews and Arabs. People who have the strength to oppose occupation, chauvinism, racism, fascism and any far-right ideological concept. They also are the hope of Israelis and Palestinians for a future of peaceful coexistence.
