Zionism And Nazism: Is There A Difference That Makes A Difference?

Part II of 'Us vs. Them: On the Meaning of Fascism'


By Roger Tucker

This disarmingly simple formula, Zionism equals Nazism, is analogous to the famous assertions of Galileo and Copernicus - demonstrable but so heretical in their contemporary context as to unleash a deafening chorus of outrage from defenders of the conventional wisdom. Speaking truth to power is always a very risky business but it has its compensations – if you live long enough you can enjoy the fleeting pleasure of vindication and the comforting thought that no matter how bad things may seem at the time, they do have a way of working themselves out..

In Part I of this series, ”Us vs. Them: On the Meaning of Fascism,”(1) I laid out the basic argument for classifying Zionism as a form of fascism. This brief essay takes the next logical step, equating Zionism with Nazism. It is meant for readers who have developed at least some measure of immunity to the omnipresent, ubiquitous and extraordinarily effective propaganda effort underway for as long as almost all of us have been alive. We will proceed in the same fashion, drawing on the Wikipedia definitions and then looking at the current usage in order to deconstruct the deceptions of the Zionists.

Wikipedia: “Nazism, known officially in German as National Socialism, is the totalitarian ideology and practices of the Nazi Party or National Socialist German Workers’ Party under Adolf Hitler, and the policies adopted by the dictatorial government of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945...In the 1930s, Nazism was not a monolithic movement, but rather a (mainly German) combination of various ideologies and philosophies which centered around nationalism, anti-communism, traditionalism and the importance of the ethnostate. Groups such as Strasserism and Black Front were part of the early Nazi movement. Their motivations were triggered over anger about the Treaty of Versailles, and what they considered to have been a Jewish/communist conspiracy to humiliate Germany at the end of the World War I. Germany’s post-war ills were critical to the formation of the ideology and its criticisms of the post-war Weimar Republic...”

Note that the principal ideological elements of Nazi thought were “nationalism, anti-communism, traditionalism and the importance of the ethnostate.” The rest of the definition elaborates on the importance of a sense of victimhood. Also note the elision of “Jewish/communist conspiracy.” As people are increasingly coming to understand, Hitler’s primary animus was not against Jews as such, but Bolshevism, which indeed was largely a Jewish endeavor.(2)

Wikipedia: “Zionism is the international political movement that originally supported the reestablishment of a homeland for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, the historical homeland of the Jews. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to support it. Zionism is based on historical ties and religious traditions linking the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. Almost two millennia after the Jewish diaspora, the modern Zionist movement, beginning in the late 19th century, was mainly founded by secular Jews, largely as a response by Ashkenazi Jews to antisemitism across Europe, especially in Russia...”

In this definition we are confronted with the inescapable imprint of Zionist propaganda that is characteristic of any Wikipedia pages having to do with Zionism or Israel. Notice the favorite rhetorical tactic of begging the question. We are asked to blindly accept as axiomatic the highly dubious proposition of “the reestablishment of a homeland for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel.” These are the key points of the mythology exploded by the Israeli historian Shlomo Sand in his recent best-seller “The Invention of the Jewish People.”(3) And never mind that it was years after the founding of Zionism by Theodor Hertzl that the main goal of creating a homeland for “the Jews” zeroed in on Palestine as the location for a Jewish State. In any case, we can accept the Wikipedia definition as at least accurately representing the Zionist belief system.

In terms of current usage, Nazism is a thoroughly discredited ideology that has become virtually synonymous with political evil in much the same way as the more general category of fascism. As the well known formula has it, history is written by the winners. It is largely forgotten that there was considerable support for the Nazis in both the US and in Britain, articulated by numerous highly regarded people like Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh. It could have gone either way. As for what Zionism means nowadays, it is the expression of an historical aberration, the political Zionism of people like Vladimir Zabotinsky(4) – the source and continuing gold standard of Middle Eastern terrorism - quite the opposite of the idealistic philosophy of the cultural or spiritual Zionists who were dominant in the movement prior to the rise of the Nazis, whom the political Zionists admired and collaborated with.

We are currently experiencing a similar phenomenon – the battle between the Zionazis and the anti-Zionists. It is essentially the same battle, fought out by two different protagonists, but the principles involved are the same. For the sake of simplicity it can reasonably be viewed as the age old struggle between good and evil. The differences are even starker, as this is clearly a conflict between the forces of money and power versus ordinary people, between a purely utilitarian, amoral materialism vs. a sense of what is truly sacred, between imperialism and those less powerful, between colonialism and “the natives,” between truth and falsehood, and so on and so forth. And due to the Zionization of the Western world, it is playing out as the West against the rest of the world. It is an epic confrontation and it is not hyperbole to say that once again the fate of mankind lies in the balance.

What, then, are the differences and similarities between Zionism and Nazism? If we go back to the definition of Nazism we see four characteristics mentioned. One of them was a reference to a transient political ideology, communism, while the other three are historical constants. Throwing out “anti-communism” we are left with the essential elements. When we look at Zionism in terms of what it actually is rather than some devious, self-serving Zionist definition we find what? - “Nationalism, traditionalism and the importance of the ethnostate.” We also find the essential elements of fascism in general, the arrogance of group ego and the assertion of an a priori privilege that trumps any such fripperies as civil rights, human rights, international law or even common human decency. Coercion and force majeure are the means and virtual enslavement or extermination of the “others” (the goyim) are the ends. Characteristically, we also find the common element of a sense of infinite entitlement based on perceived prior victimhood.

As for any arguments based on the obvious or perceived differences between Zionism and Nazism, we can easily dismiss them as superficialities, rather than any differences that make a difference. Substantively, they are identical manifestations of the same basic pathology and they are equally dangerous to the well being of humanity. We can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that the bullies never win in the end, because underneath the bluster they are abject cowards and cowardice can’t sustain itself in the long term. But that doesn’t mean we can just sit back and wait for them to meet their inevitable fate – as we have seen, they are capable of doing immense harm in the meantime.

All of the great wisdom traditions are in agreement that we are human beings first and anything else is at best a secondary characteristic. As long as there remains any confusion about this various forms of fascism will arise and bedevil us. As long as we identify ourselves primarily in some tribal fashion, whether it's based on nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender or any parochial and exclusionary manner, then confusion and conflict will reign supreme. We shall indeed overcome, if we last that long, but only when it is universally understood that We refers to all of us. In the meantime, silence is complicity.

If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, you better duck

Links:

(1) Us vs. Them: On the Meaning of Fascism, by Roger Tucker

(2) “Stalin’s Willing Executioners”?, by Kevin MacDonald

(3) The Invention of the Jewish People, by Shlomo Sand

(4) Ze'ev Jabotinsky-A Brief Biography & Quotes

Roger Tucker is a Jewish American activist in the One Democratic State movement. His website is at http://onestate.info. He can be reached at rtucker41 @ earthlink.net

More on the same topic here:

The Brutal Truth About With God On Our Side And The Ninth of Av By Eileen Fleming Many Christians ascribe to a theology that teaches that the Jews have a divine right to a piece of real estate and thus, uncritically support the Israeli government’s policies that privilege any Jew without any historical tie to the land at the expense of the indigenous Palestinians, and this is the fuel of much of today’s Anti-Semitism and distrust of and anger at America. The heretical religious fundamentalism espoused by the likes of John Hagee and the tedious Left Behind series of pap combined with a limp and fawning Corporate Media, have colluded to deceive good Christians and has lead to 63 years of suffering and human rights abuses inflicted upon Palestinian Christians and Muslims which threatens Israel's and America’s security! Everywhere but in America the 43 years of Israeli Occupation of Palestine is viewed as a USA-Israeli collaboration and the empire’s claims of supporting democracy, freedom, equality and justice while enabling misery and death is blatant hypocrisy and nothing more than blowing idiot wind! Khalid Sheikh Mohammad involvement in the terror upon America, “By his own account…stemmed from his violent disagreement with U.S. foreign policy favoring Israel.” [1] Abdulmutallab’s Christmas Day 2009, attempt to blow up a plane was fueled by “his sympathies toward the Palestinians and anger over Israel’s actions in Gaza.” [Ibid] Dr. Ilan Pappe, an Israeli born historian said: "On March 10, 1948, eleven men had a meeting in the Red House headed by Ben Gurion. The eleven decided to expel one million Palestinians from historical Palestine. No minutes were taken, but many memoirs were written about that fateful meeting. A systematic ethnic cleansing of Palestine began and within seven months the Zionists managed to expel one half of all the Palestinian people from their villages and towns. "The New York Times followed Israeli troops and reported the truth of the expulsion and separation of men and women, and of the many massacres. The world was well informed in 1948, but a year later not a trace was reported in the USA press or books. It was as if nothing ever happened. "From March to October 1948 the USA State Department stated what was happening was a CRIME against humanity and ethnic cleansing. When ever one ethnic group expels another group they should be treated as War Criminals and the victims should be allowed to return. This is never mentioned in the USA about Palestine. "Israel is so successful in their ethnic cleansing because the world doesn't care! The ethnic cleansing continues via the apartheid policies of the Israeli government and because of the denial of the truth by the USA media. "To claim Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East is bullshit!”[2] Both Israel and Hamas should be investigated for war crimes perpetuated during the 22 days of assault on Gaza which began two days after Christmas day 2008, when the Israeli military launched Operation Cast Lead, that killed 1,400 Palestinian and 13 Israelis. Over 5,000 Palestinians were injured, 400,000 were left without running water, 4,000 homes were destroyed, rendering tens of thousands who are still homeless because of Israel's targeted attacks upon them, their schools, hospitals, streets, water wells, sewage system, farms, police stations and UN buildings. The 22 days of Israel's attack on the people of Gaza was enabled by US-supplied weapons and we the people of the US who pay taxes provide over $3 billion annually to Israel although Israel has consistently misused U.S. weapons in violation of America's Arms Export Control and Foreign Assistance Acts. Just before Christmas 2009, President Obama, signed into law the biggest aid pledge of the year. NOT for we the people or for struggling countries on the World Bank's list, but for another $30 billion to Israel over the next decade. During the 22 days of Israeli assault on Gaza, "Washington provided F-16 fighter planes, Apache helicopters, tactical missiles, and a wide array of munitions, including white phosphorus and DIME. The weapons required for the Israeli assault was decided upon in June 2008, and the transfer of 1,000 bunker-buster GPS-guided Small Diameter Guided Bomb Units 39 (GBU-39) were approved by Congress in September. The GBU 39 bombs were delivered to Israel in November (prior to any claims of Hamas cease fire violation!) for use in the initial air raids on Gaza. [3] In a 71-page report released March 25, 2009, by Human Rights Watch, Israel’s repeated firing of US-made white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas of Gaza was indiscriminate and is evidence of war crimes. "Rain of Fire: Israel’s Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza," provides eye witness accounts of the devastating effects that white phosphorus munitions had on civilians and civilian property in Gaza. "Human Rights Watch researchers found spent shells, canister liners, and dozens of burnt felt wedges containing white phosphorus on city streets, apartment roofs, residential courtyards, and at a United Nations school in Gaza immediately after hostilities ended in January. "Militaries officially use white phosphorus to obscure their operations on the ground by creating thick smoke. It has also been used as an incendiary weapon, though such use constitutes a war crime. "In Gaza, the Israeli military didn’t just use white phosphorus in open areas as a screen for its troops," said Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch and co-author of the report. "It fired white phosphorus repeatedly over densely populated areas, even when its troops weren't in the area and safer smoke shells were available. As a result, civilians needlessly suffered and died." [Ibid] During the 22 days of attack on Gaza, the UN Security Council, Amnesty International, International Red Cross, and global voices of protest rose up and demanded a ceasefire, but both houses of Congress overwhelmingly endorsed resolutions to support a continuation of Israel’s so called "self defense." As President Lincoln said, "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side." Porter Speakman, Jr., the Director and Executive Producer of “With God on Our Side” wrote: "Good intentions can still have devastating effects. Some of the most tragic events in history have occurred from a bad interpretation of biblical texts and understanding of who God is. Any approach to the Middle East must be one that sees the needs of all people, not just one, because at the heart of who God is, is a God of love who commands us to love one another, whether that be our neighbor or someone we consider our enemy." [4] Coming to America is his film, "With God on Our Side" which illuminates a biblical alternative for Christians who love and want to support the people of Israel and to promote peace and reconciliation for both Jews and Palestinians. With God on Our Side (2010) Jewish Zionism began with the hope that all Jewish people would have a safe and peaceful dwelling place, but it has become an ideology of superiority, which has corrupted the faith of Judaism! In 1948, American Mark Braverman was born into a devoutly religious and Zionist home, but the scales fell from his eyes when he experienced life in the West Bank. In FATAL EMBRACE he speaks as a Jewish prophet and also explains Walter Brueggemann’s analysis of ‘the land’ as a metaphor: "On the ninth of Av, when I stood on the outskirts of Jerusalem, a Jerusalem I now saw marching to its own destruction. I felt like the prophet Jeremiah and like Jesus eight centuries later, overcome with grief…[Jeremiah mourns] for the brokenness and imminent disaster awaiting the people. But the mourning is not about victimhood: it is about the self-inflicted nature of disaster to come." [5] For Brueggemann, the land is a "core metaphor for the drama of God’s people struggling to come to terms with the divine imperative to live justly…it is at once the promise and the problem…Possession of the land is totally conditional on obedience to God’s plan as expressed in the covenant…The land…is a powerful force for well-being characterized by social coherence…security and freedom…the land is a vast metaphor about home, homelessness, loss, transgressions, forgiveness and redemption…God’s promise of land to Israel…is at the heart of the covenant…Christians cannot speak seriously to Jews unless we acknowledge land to be the central agenda. [It is] the locus of meaning [and] the issue of identity…there is an entitlement that must be acknowledged…What would the prophets say?" [6 "From Moses to Jeremiah and Isaiah, the Prophets taught...that the Jewish claim on the land of Israel was totally contingent on the moral and spiritual life of the Jews who lived there, and that the land would, as the Torah tells us, 'vomit you out' if people did not live according to the highest moral vision of Torah. Over and over again, the Torah repeated its most frequently stated mitzvah [command]: "When you enter your land, do not oppress the stranger; the other, the one who is an outsider of your society, the powerless one and then not only 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself' but also 'you shall love the other.'" [7] Christians are called to be peacemakers, to forgive and love their enemies and to try to reconcile with all people. And the cross is also a metaphor! 2,000 years ago the cross had no religious symbolic meaning and was not a piece of jewelry. When Jesus said: "Pick up your cross and follow me" everyone back then understood he was issuing a POLITICAL statement, for the main roads into Jerusalem were lined with crucified agitators, rebels, dissidents and any who disturbed the status quo of the Roman Empire and Military Occupying Forces. Christians could indeed change the world; if they would only pick up that cross! My Ninth of Av experiences: "We all need a psychiatrist, but we cannot afford one, so we do activism.” http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=581&Itemid=169 Crossing Paths With Vanunu for the Fifth Time...... http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=585&Itemid=169 1. WRMEA, March 2010, page 35 2. http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=763&Itemid=184 3. http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/9-us-arms-used-for-war-crimes-in-gaza/ 4. http://www.withgodonourside.com/letter.htm 5. Mark Braverman, FATAL EMBRACE, pages 155-156 6. Braverman, pages 157-159 7. Rabbi Lerner, TIKKUN Magazine, page 35, Sept./Oct. 2007