contested terrain

Judith Butler: “Hamas, Hezbollah are part of a global Left”

From Radical Archives:

Judith Butler:

I think: Yes, understanding Hamas, Hezbollah as social movements that are progressive, that are on the Left, that are part of a global Left, is extremely important. That does not stop us from being critical of certain dimensions of both movements. It doesn’t stop those of us who are interested in non-violent politics from raising the question of whether there are other options besides violence. So again, a critical, important engagement. I mean, I certainly think it should be entered into the conversation on the Left. I similarly think boycotts and divestment procedures are, again, an essential component of any resistance movement.

7 comments

If you don’t like it, just ignore it…

In a New York Times interview Hamas leader Khaled Meshal gives advice on how the groups’ political program and ideology should be treated:

[Meshal] urged outsiders to ignore the Hamas charter, which calls for the obliteration of Israel through jihad and cites as fact the infamous anti-Semitic forgery, “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” Mr. Meshal did not offer to revoke the charter, but said it was 20 years old, adding, “We are shaped by our experiences.”

READ: Antisemitism is for internal Palestinian consumption; Hamas will continue to deploy ethno-cultural-religious hatred as a political mobilizing tool. Externally, however, it is a liability and fellow-travelers are encouraged to “ignore” it.

Leave a comment