This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.

Maoist Internationalist Movement

U.$./Israeli oppression and Nazism

It is trendy in some areas to inflame activism against U.$./Israeli oppression by equating Israel with Nazi Germany, in some cases even showing the Israel flag and a swastika joined by an equal sign. This kind of superficial analysis is designed to shock more than analyze or lead, and it misleads the masses. It lets imperialism off the hook. This is similar to the tendency to call imperialism "fascism" when it is *really* bad. That also lets imperialism off the hook. Imperialism is the worst system the world has ever known. Fascism and Nazism were/are kinds of imperialism, not separate from imperialism. When an imperialist country (and/or its client states) colonize another nation, steal their land, kill many of them, and exploit those who remain, all the while denying them national self-determination, this is imperialism practicing colonialism. It may or may not have fascist elements, but Nazi Germany does not have a monopoly on this behavior historically. If we can't blame imperialism for its own crimes -- of if the word "imperialism" seems too weak for the situation in Palestine then that's our fault -- we need to work harder to explain to the masses and ourselves just what imperialism is. Calling Israel "Nazi" is an anti-scientific shortcut.

The same activists who would use a swastika to describe Israel have usually not done the same thing in South Africa, East Timor, Iraq, or other places where imperialism and its clients have used genocidal practices against oppressed nations. The use of the swastika in this case is attempting to undermine Israel's claim to special status as a result of the Holocaust. Israel does not deserve to escape criticism for its crimes against humanity because Nazis killed so many Jews. But Israel also should not be lifted out of history and scientific analysis and placed on a par with Nazi Germany because Israel-supporters play the Holocaust card.

So, MIM will not use a swastika or call Israel "Nazi" in a casual way. This does not rule out that we might find reason to do that, justified by a good scientific argument.

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