Delegation from CPI Visits Cuba

A Communist Party of Israel (CPI) delegation recently visited Cuba after having received an official invitation from the Communist Party of the island nation. Adel Amer, Secretary General of the CPI, MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash – Joint List) and Salam Bilal, secretary of the Nazareth branch of the party, participated in the delegation.

The CPI delegation in Cuba; from left to right: Aida Touma-Sliman, Adel Amer and Salam Bilal.

The CPI delegation in Cuba; from left to right: Aida Touma-Sliman, Adel Amer and Salam Bilal. (Photo: Yaimí Ravelo / Granma)

In a lengthy interview with the delegation published by the newspaper Granma, the official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, the editors noted that what differentiates the CPI from other Israeli political parties is its support for the establishment of the Palestinian State within the 4 June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the return of refugees and the end of Zionist settlements in the Palestinian territories occupied during the 1967 war. “The Communist Party is neither a hawk nor a dove; rather it is the authentic peace camp,” said Amer to Granma.

Another member of the delegation, Salam Bilal, described why the CPI condemns the Israeli occupation: “The occupation violates in principle the statutes of the United Nations which prohibit the demographic and geographic modification of areas based on armed conflict,” he stated.

In addition Bilal, a member of the CPI’s Central Committee, noted that Israel aims to control the area with fascist practices against the Palestinian people. “Israel’s extreme right maintains that this is a religious conflict so as to bias public opinion in its favor, disguising a clearly political and economic conflict of geographical supremacy as being the will of God,” he stressed.

Touma-Sliman, a member of the CPI’s Political Bureau, stated that the party strongly criticizes both the social and legislative discrimination and abuse experienced by Arabs within Israel itself, in addition to that maintained by military rule in the occupied territories. “There is internal competition within the Israeli government to see who hates Arabs most, while they sponsor campaigns based on fear and terror,” she said to Granma. The representatives of the CPI agreed that the recent visit of US President Donald Trump to Israel and Palestine bodes a coming disaster.

Amer emphasized: “We have a deep affection for the revolution, the party and the people of Cuba, and the solidarity of the island with progressive movements around the world.” Amer noted that this visit had provided the perfect opportunity to exchange views on Latin American and Middle Eastern realities, stating, “We are very aware of Cuba’s views.” The members of the delegation condemned the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States. “Cuba is the main Latin American bastion against US imperialist hegemony. It is a source of inspiration and an example of resistance. Cuba is hope,” he concluded the long interview with Granma.