The Decisions of the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party of Israel
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Israel (CPI) warns against the worsening threats against the democratic space in Israel, and against the processes of Fascisation, and calls for a broad front in defense of democracy.
The recent attacks against journalists and against the press, and the blatant attempt to curtail the freedom of speech; preventing the publication of the affair and the arrest; charging a journalist with “espionage” for leaking documents about the involvement of IDF officers in illegal operations for killing Palestinians in the Occupied Territories; threatening the journalist who published the documents (approved by the censorship) with arrest, while taking no steps whatsoever against the IDF officers who authorized the murders; inciting against “Haaretz” daily newspaper, who published the article – all of these are expressions of the grave deterioration in light of the efforts of the government to crush democracy.
This latest affair is but another part of the recent attacks on democracy: the political charges of “assaulting policemen” pressed against Member of Knesset, Muhammad Barakeh, member of the Political Bureau of the CPI and the Chairperson of the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality; the incitement against the New Israel Fund (NIF) and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI); the tide of racist and anti-democratic legislation in the Knesset; the banning of popular protests against the Seperation Wall in Bil’in and Ni’lin; the police harassment of protestors in Sheikh Jarrah; and the gunfire attacks on the CPI club in Umm El-Fahem.
Against our very eyes our warnings turn into reality: the systematic policy of curtailing the freedoms of the Arab citizens, after not being stopped, is now aimed against all the citizens of Israel, Jews and Arabs alike. The persecution of Communists is followed by the persecution of other democrats and of liberals.
In light of the urgent need for a struggle to defend human and civil rights, the CPI calls for an increased public effort to form a Jewish-Arab front for the defense of democracy. This front should include all those who treasure democracy, regardless of ideological differences.
Forming a front to defend democracy, in the national arena and in the local arenas – its our responsibility and our duty towards the workers and the youth, towards both peoples of this country.
For a Middle East free of nuclear weapons
The USA-Russia agreement on the reduction of nuclear weapons arsenal is a step in the right direction. The resolution of the Arab Summit on a Middle East free of nuclear weapons – is also a step in the right direction.
The CPI reiterates the importance of the struggle for dismantling such weapons, for a future in which Israel as well as the neighboring countries, and the Middle East as a whole, will all be free of nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass destruction.
Disagreements did not brake the ‘Strategic Alliance’
According to reports, the Obama administration is demanding from the Netanyahu government to freeze construction in the Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, and throughout the West Bank, and reach a comprehensive agreement with the Palestinian Authority in two years time.
We regard all steps that limit the expansion of settlements, and the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes and their lands, as important steps. Yet the declarations of the Obama administration regarding these matters, are yet to be tested in their implementation.
The tactical disagreements between Obama and Netanyahu did not affect the strategic alliance between Israel and the US. On the contrary, recently the Obama administration authorized the transfer of 3 billion dollars to Israel, for the purchase of 25 F-35 planes and cargo planes, as part of the preparations for a possible assault on Iran. Meanwhile, the US continues to store advanced military equipment in Israel, and to give 3 billion dollars worth of military aid every year.
Poverty among workers
Recently, the Bank of Israel joined the ranks of those who have warned for years – the CPI included – against the policy that pushes more and more working families to life of poverty and despair. The findings of the Bank of Israel show yet again that the policy of privatization, tax cuts for the rich, lowering unemployment fees and national security fees, as well as fighting against organized labor – only deepen the gap between capital and labor, increase the wealth of the very rich, and increase the number of people below the poverty line.
The CPI, opposed to this policy, is standing on the side of those workers who struggle to form unions in their workplaces, to improve their wages and their working conditions.
The 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPI
On April 9th the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Israel was convened in Haifa.
The Secretary General Muhammad Naffah reviewed the recent social and political developments, and charted the roles of the CPI at this time. Naffah congratulated the members of the CPI and the Young Communist League of Israel (YCLI), who contributed to the success of the Land Day activities.
Mansour Dahamshe, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, presented the annual budget for the Party.
Majid Abu-Yunis, the Coordinator of the Secretariat, presented a report on the work of the Secretariat.
A discussion was held, summed up by Muhammad Naffa, and political and organizational decisions were taken.
The Central Committee decided to hold a National Party Conference on June 12th 2010, participated by members of Branch and District Committees, YCLI Secretariat, and comrades from other fields of responsibility.
The Central Committee calls on all Party organizations and members, and all YCLI activists, to contribute to the success of the Mayday demonstrations in Tel-Aviv, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer-Sheva and Kufr Yassif (in the Western Galilee).
The Central Committee calls for a broad participation in the Victory over Nazism celebration, to be held on Saturday, May 8th, in the Red Army Forest in the mountains of Jerusalem, which was planted 60 years ago.
The plenum was chaired by Majid Abu Yunis, Coordinator of the Secreteriat.
