Palestinians, but also among the Arab masses, and it explains not only why the Palestinians support

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Saddam but why the whole majority of the Arab peoples do so as well.' Send to 3435 Army St., Suite 308, San Francisco, CA 94110 City Zip SOCIALIST ACTION MARCH 1991 13 August provided the opportunity to realize a return and to show their return to the national consensus.

This is when [Citizens Rights Movement member of the Knesset] Yossi Sarid wrote to the Palestinians, "Come find me." Two days ago, he published a new article, "Don't look for me anymore," which is a new statement.

It was the beginning of a long, deep affair between Yossi Sarid and [Likud Knesset member] Benny Begin which even the Zionist daily press was laughing about and making jokes about. It is something which has to be understood as an essential component of the Zionist left.

For them, what is basic is national unity and what is unfortunate is a split in the national consensus in Israel. Now, with missiles on Tel Aviv, it became a phenomenon among the peace forces in Israel.

There is no doubt that we are at a turning point where there will be no peace movement in Israel and it will take quite a lot of time [for another to develop).

Now, the second point which has to be understood is a ghetto mentality in Israeli society in general and its left part in particular. Everything is looked at and understood only from the point of view of Israel.

The global role of the United States, the global implications of the United States' intervention in the area, is never understood in its entirety, but rather if it is good for us in the immediate future or not.

For that reason, the Israeli left, and there have been plenty of examples the last two weeks, cannot only not accept but cannot even understand the peace demonstrations in the United States and Europe.

Ratz [Citizens Rights Movement] secretariat issued a strong statement against the peace demonstrations in Europe. Amos Oz and A.B. Yehoshua also issued strong statements against all of that.

I believe they cannot understand at all the reasons for the mass opposition in the world in general and in Europe in particular to the war. Their whole understanding is that Iraq is threatening us, Iraq is to be destroyed.

It is simplistic, but this is the way they are looking at it. Like Yehoshua, for example, saying, "When the possibility of Auschwitz is on the agenda, even the atomic bomb can be used." He is completely out of focus, and he is a famous left-wing intellectual in Israel, losing every sense of proportion.

There is no possibility, not necessarily to accept, but to understand why Arabs in general and Palestinians in particular identify with the Iraqi side in the war. For them, it is simply nonsense or Muslim fundamentalism or anti-Semitism or the true feelings of the Palestinians who never wanted peace but only to kill as many Jews as possible.

All that means that we have quite a long period of setback, of reshaping a peace movement, and this statement of Yossi Sarid, "Don't get in touch with me," only reflects in an extreme way the fact that an important part of the Iraeli peace camp doesn't believe anymore in the possibility of dialogue, of negotiations, of peace.

Al Fajr: What is your response to the question: Why do the Palestinians support Saddam Hussein?

Warschawski: Why not? On one hand, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. This is the first reaction of any normal person. Then you have to qualify it a bit.

On one side you have the United States, strongly supported by Israel and pushed even by Israel, who gave a lot of false promises to the Palestinians and who is also responsible for the continuation of the occupation for over 23 years, and who also accepts every crime of the Israeli occupation forces.

On the other hand, you have an Arab nation which is taking the lead, verbally at least, for the liberation of the Arab people.

The slogans or the declared aims of Saddam's war—and I don't entertain now the question of whether it is true or not or whether he is willing to do it or able to do it—are the liberation of Palestine and the unity of the Arab world against imperialist intervention in the area.

All of these things reflect a very deep sentiment not only among the Palestinians, but also among the Arab masses, and it explains not only why the Palestinians support Saddam but why the huge majority of the Arab peoples do so as as well.

Al Fajr: I think the reason so many ask why the Palestinians support Saddam is because it appears so obvious to them that the Send to 3435 Army St., Suite Name Adddress But this is not a confrontation where sides are taken over whether I like the regime in Baghdad or about Kuwait. I am sure of one thing: a total victory, an easy victory for the coalition, cannot and will not promote a peace settlement between Israel and the Arabs.

Al Fajr: What is your opinion of the curfew now in effect in the occupied territories?

Do you expect the Israelis to try to finish off the Intifada? It seems the right wing would consider the war a historical opportunity to deal with the Palestinians.

Warschawski: Of course, they recognize the situation in the Gulf presents opportunities to do things they otherwise might not try, and this is what is frightening. The possibilities for severe bloodshed, another massacre or worse, are very real.

We know for sure that there is a plan in the government to deport 1500 Palestinians from the territories. The question is whether they feel they can get away with it without too much damage.

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