Doubts about "the left" supporting Hamas

Feb. 12, 2009

Response to a post from a Belgian activist about how the “left” should support Hamas as an expression of Palestinian resistance to imperialism.

The point is not whether anti-imperialists are religious or not, the question is their class politics.
In this case Hamas, based on their charter, is an expressly anti-communist organization which openly supports the capitalist mode of production. So, what does that say about the nature of their anti-imperialism?

Or, do we support all anti-imperialists regardless of their class position and type of society they would establish upon their anti-imperialist victory. And, what about their history of support from wealthy aristocrats and business interests in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as the Mossad in the 1980s?

But, let me push the question further. What is meant by the author's terms "the left", especially when the class politics of Hamas are not discussed or evaluated?

Plus, what of the role of the Israeli working class? Depending on the polls, between 5 -10 percent of the Israeli public opposed the Gaza War, and other polls indicate majority support for a two state solution. While obviously a weak solution, it could establish Hamas as the ruling party of Gaza, and possibly the West Bank, after the elimination of the Israeli occupation of those two areas. Furthermore, most Israelis, especially Israeli workers, are victimized by the Israeli state through economic exploitation, a reduced standard of living because of high military expenditures, and being conscripted for the military. How do they fit into the author's or Hamas's anti-imperialism?

And, where does one draw the line with all those who subjectively or objectively present themselves as anti-imperialists? After all, in WWII fascist Japan took up arms against British and American imperialism. They even made appeals to other countries in Asia to join their military efforts to force these Europeans and Euro-Americans out of Asia, so it could be controlled by Asians and not by foreigners. For that matter, Nazi Germany was militantly opposed to British, French, and US imperialism, and actually had some success in places like Lithuania and the Ukraine in generating support from local religious nationalists.

Red Eye