Israel's attack on Syria, which has continued despite universal demand for ceasefire and assurance by Israeli leaders that they intend to advance no further, should be condemned as aggression. In this policy, Israel has proceeded with the unstated approval of Western governments which desire the overthrow of the Syrian regime because it challenges their customary exploitation of the resources of the Arab world. It is dishonourable for Western governments to call publicly for ceasefire but to remain silent about Israel's continuing attacks. Israeli spokesmen have indicated that Israel will not automatically relinguish its newly captured territory, which is three times the size of Israel itself. This, too, is aggression in the Israeli pattern of earlier years: it seizes what it can and holds on until this becomes the "status quo". Israel should respect eeasefire arrangements, cooperate with any. agency which supervises them and recall all its troops within its borders. The demands of the governments of the United States and of Britain for the unfettered flow of oil from Arab land are demands that the exploitation of these lands continue unhindered. The Arab world must be permitted to own and develop its own natural resources. Those who rightly sympathize with Jewish victims of Hitler's aggression in Burope should not equate Israel's survival with its policy of territorial conquest. Aggression is unjustifiable, the more so when perpetrated by those who know its full meaning. * Statement issued by Bertrand Russell on June 12,
The Left and the Middle East Crisis contd.... on to the right because issues are not crucial. However, when it comes to the crunch, weaknesses which are not important under normal circumstances become decisive. Such moments as the outbreak of war (the debacle of the 2nd International in 1914 is the outstanding example) bring these weakmesses to the fore. We may note that many of the people who have taken a bad position of the Middle East crisis have been those who have resisted - and even fought against - a solidarity position on Vietnam. Other factors operating include the association of the oppression of the Jews by Hitler with the Arabs' anti-Zionism. On meny sections of the left - particularly those who went through the experience of fighting Mosley - to be critical of Jewish people or institutions (includ- . ing reactionary ones) is equated with Fascism.
For the left, the ability to stand firm in such situations is vital: any vacillation, or weakening on principle starts a process which inevitably leads one along the path of Wilson and Greenwood. The steeling one gets in standing up to such pressures is part of the essential training of a socialist. Moreover, when the situation becomes clearer, as it is now on the origins of the Middle Hast war, one's standing and prestige on the movement is enhanced. Political clarity comes from the vigorous discussions at such crisis points. Those on the left who correctly appraised the nature of events in the Middle East last week will be in a better position to fight for marxism and a broad, principled left alternative to Wilson,