Orientation to Forces

We began the process today of mapping the politics and power of the forces we will find ourselves in partnership and relationship with and/or in opposition to. A question for this weekend is: How will we (or will we) relate to and engage with the following forces as they exist in different regions?

Major forces we have begun the mapping process of:

Please note that we recognize this is an oversimplification, we use the catagories to the extent that they are helpful as a basic strategy development tool.

• Existing AZ J efforts/formations
• Jewish “grassroots” – politically unaffiliated or undecided
• Liberal Zionist organization or collaborations
• Arab and Palestinian anti-Zionist organizations
• Palestine solidarity organizations
• Domestic grassroots/mass based groups
• Anti-imperialist/anti-war/peace orgs
• labor and churches/temples/mosques
• General public

Jewish Locations to Zionism

Today we worked on how to articulate the diversity of Jewish locations in relationship to the contradictions and mechanisms upon which Zionism is based. The following is an in-progress lens that will inform our points of unity, charter, principles, etc., and help build our political unity in relationship first and foremost to the Palestinian liberation struggle, but also to anti-zionist and anti-colonialist Mizrahi organizing.

Our opposition to Zionism is first and foremost its impact on the people of Palestine.

We recognize and repudiate our positions of power in relation to the Palestinian people and other Arab/Muslim people.

Therefore, our commitment is to reject and dismantle these relations of power to struggle collectively against Zionism.

Because we recognize and oppose the exploitation and oppression of Mizrahim and Sephardim by the Israeli state and white supremacy, we see the necessity of supporting joint struggle between Mizrahi and Palestinian people within Palestine.

This requires a decolonization process for Mizrahim and a related but different process for Ashkenazim.

Questions about this lens:

• How/where to recognize and repudiate the hierarchies of power and our positions with them [via Jewish white supremacy] in relation to the Palestinian people and other Arab/Muslim people?
• Is it a “decolonization” process or “deZionization” process?
• How are we articulating the Mizrahi-Ashkenazi binary and/or complicating it?
• How do we speak to the locations of and positions of power held by Jews of other racial and ethnic backgrounds?
• Do we want to explicate more what our accountability to the Palestinian struggle, and the broader process of decolonization, will look like?
• How do we speak this lens in short and accessible language?

Additions and Revisions to the Organizing Principles

Today, after further exploring the outstanding questions posted with the organizing principles yesterday, we revised the below two organizing principles and added two others that follow.

Revised Principles:

Leadership selections
Assignment of formal roles in IJSN will be transparent. The power to select or remove leaders will rest with the members. IJSN will encourage and develop the leadership capabilities of its members.

Orient toward the Strategic Goals of the Network
This is a network of activists committed to strategic action for the purpose of affecting change. It is in this context that we pursue the important work of challenging the grip of Zionism on Jewish identity.

First new principle
IJSN supports the struggle for liberation of the Palestinian people. It certainly does not presume to lead or determine the course of that struggle but will work with Palestinian forces seeking to end the colonial system in their homeland.

Second new principle
IJSN will welcome new members who support its goals and principles and will welcome their contributions and provide opportunities for them to deepen and develop their political understanding and activist capacity.

Further development of our Strategic Role

Today we further developed our understanding of the three core strategic roles we will play as anti-imperialists organizing as Jews. These evolved roles are to:

1. Be an Anti-Zionist point of reference in the following contexts:

• Anti-imperialist, anti-racist movements
• Palestine Solidarity Movement organizing
• Jewish communities

2. Broaden support for Palestinian Liberation:

• Cross-movement building
• Popular education
• Mobilizing our base and key allies

3. Advance Palestine solidarity work and broader anti-colonial work:

• Participate in BDS campaigns
• Support joint Mizrahi-Palestinian struggle
  

First day of the IJSN International Meeting comes to an end...

We had a great day of building the relationships and the common language we will need to move forward our work together over the rest of the meeting. We began a process of finding the new name of the network, revised and developed the organizing principles of the network, and continued conversations about the strategic role will play. Please continue reading to participate with us in this process!

Naming the Network

By the end of the next few days, IJSN will adopt a new name (and begin a brainstorm of ideas for a logo to be completed in the coming months – there will be more on this in future blog posts).

Today we started the process towards developing a new name by thinking about the different types of names an organization can adopt for itself, and brainstorming considerations and goals for the name of this network.

Types of Names:

Descriptive
Examples: National Organizers Alliance, International Jewish Solidarity Network, Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. United Farm Workers, The Liberation Front of Mozambique - Frelimo, African National Congress.

Literal
Examples: Grassroots Leadership, Islamic Jihad

Historic
Examples: Sandinista Front for National Liberation, Tupamaros, Zapatista, Ella Baker Center, July 26 Movement

Acronym
Examples: AIM (American Indian Movement), WARN (Women of All Red Nations), WITCH (Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell), GASP (General Assembly to Stop the Powerline)

Symbolic
Examples: Red Stockings, Winter Solider, Black Panther Party, Spears of the Nation, Macheteros

Possible Considerations and Goals for Name:

Note that some of these points are contradictory and/or controversial, and that it will not be possible to convey al of these in the new name.

Memorable, expresses partnership, easily translated, not alienating to potential partners, clearly conveys politics, two names – to be used for different audiences and purposes, temper proof – not easily ridiculed, subversive, conveys confidence, express our style, seriouness, lend us sense of legitimacy, is a “speech act” – to even speak the name is a political act, reflects structure, reflects struggle and vision, autonomous nature of network conveyed, international of network nature conveyed, Jewish nature of network conveyed, anti-zionist politic explicit, anti-imperialist politic explicit, understanding of our position in the struggle conveyed – joint struggle, collective liberation, solidarity?, flexibility, catchy, non-annoying.

Brainstorm of Names: All descriptive so far
International Anti-Zionist Network for Jews and Allies
Forum for Anti-Zionist Jews and Allies
Jewish Anti-Zionist Forum
International Forum for Anti-Zionist Jews
Jews for the Liberation of Palestine
Jewish Forum for the Liberation of Palestine
Jews for Palestinian Equality
Jews for Palestinian Rights
Forum for Jews for Palestinian Rights
The World/Global Anti-Zionist Jewish Movement
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Forum
World Anti-Zionist Jewish Forum

We will continue this brainstorm over the next few days. What ideas do you have for an new name? Do you like any of the above? Are there symbolic, literal, historic names or acronyms you want to put out there, in addition to more descriptive names?

Adopting Organizing Principles

One accomplishment of the day was the revision and further development of the Organizing Principles that will guide our internal work together. Below is the updated version of these principles followed by outstanding questions raised during our discussion (to see the past version of these principles, please visit http://www.ijsn.net/en/ijsn/principles/M12.)

Organizing Principles:

Work collaboratively
IJSN seeks to work in a collaborative and accountable way that emphasizes cooperation with and support for other anti-Zionist organizing efforts that don’t contradict our Points of Unity.

Building effective unity
Our Points of Unity mark the principles and politic that all members of the IJSN have agreed to in choosing to affiliate with this network. We invite participation in the network from all who share our political Charter and Points of Unity. Within this basic framework, our network will encompass people of many different ideologies, political affiliations and religious and spiritual beliefs. We intend to value these differences through the mutual respect expressed by utilizing those differences to learn from each other the various political processes, language and terminology they represent.

Building alliances
We recognize that we are one part of larger movements in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle and against racism and imperialism. Our Points of Unity mark the forces with which we are hoping to build. We have a commitment to not antagonizing organizations that are engaged in Palestine solidarity work that does not align with our politics, yet may serve as tactical allies. We will build strategic alliances and work in broader coalitions with forces that align politically. We will create tactical alliances with forces that don’t align politically if there is political ground to be gained that does not compromise our long-term goals.

Make Decisions Democratically
Decision making will follow democratic practices, welcome input from other organizational bodies in the network, and be effectively harmonized with other decision making processes in the network. Decision-making should be transparent, well documented and available to share with any member of the network. If conditions should require decision-making shortcuts, that choice should be processed and evaluated as soon as conditions allow. Leadership development is a necessary and ongoing aspect of our democratic process and shall be deliberately fostered.

Consider Politic, Strategy and Tactic
Organizational, strategic and tactical decisions should be made in line with our overall vision, strategic purpose, goals, strategy, and democratic principles.

Uphold a Basic Principle of Respect
Members are committed to embody a high degree of respect in our internal interactions and in those with other organizations and individuals. Respect may at times be expressed as courtesy and at other times require a commitment to struggle with each other as we build relationship and work toward political change.

Challenge Oppression
In line with the politics that bind the network, respectful attention will be paid to dynamics of race, caste, nationality, class, ability, gender, sexuality and age and other matrices of oppression. We support leadership of oppressed national and ethnic groups, economically marginalized people, people of color in western societies, women, and queer and gender-queer people and other excluded or oppressed groups. We support intergenerational learning of both elders and youth. By our actions and internal culture we strive to express our alliance with other movements that challenge imperialism and colonialism and the institutionalized, systemic mechanisms of oppression which maintain them.

Leadership selections
A creative democratic practice is required to involve and incorporate voices from various parts of the world and various socio-economic locations in an international network. The filling of leadership positions will be based on criteria for both individuals and the organizational bodies in which they will participate. Criteria for individuals include political capacity, political relationships, relevant skills and the ability to work which match the role they will fill. Criteria for the composition of organizational bodies include gender, ethnic, age and regional representation.

Integrate lessons
IJSN is committed to consciously learning from our experiences, challenges, and successes as we build a new organization with new organizing approaches. Through assessment, evaluation and redirection, we seek to continually refine our politics, practice and strategy and increase our effectiveness.

Address internal conflict
If concerns or conflict arises between individual members, members of the network are committed to address it directly. It should be raised to the person involved if possible and with the help of others if appropriate. If the situation cannot be resolved through discussion, it should be raised with network leadership.

Refrain from Self-Promotion
People are expected to not use the meetings and activities of the network for gratuitous self-promotion.

Be Open and Transparent about Organizational Affiliations
Members participate in IJSN as individuals and not as representatives of other organizations or to further the organizational agendas of other groups. IJSN supports members’ participation in other activist groups and forums.

All members of the network are committed to being open and honest about their organizational affiliations. IJSN, in turn, also has a commitment to transparency with its allies and potential allies regarding its process and politics. IJSN does not infiltrate or employ other unethical methods to influence other organizations.

Be Open and Transparent About Relationships to the State
All members of the network are expected to be open and honest about contacts with government agencies that can affect our work.

Orient toward the Strategic Goals of the Network
This is a network of activists committed to strategic action for the purpose of effecting change. Its purpose is not to express ideas or an ideology, explore Jewish culture and/or identity or serve a humanitarian function although these all may legitimately arise in the pursuit of our organization’s goals.

Evolve these Organizing Principles as the Need Emerges
Our Organizing Principles may evolve over time to reflect our collective experience, developing needs or changing conditions. Our guiding agreements should neither be altered lightly nor clung to rigidly.

Guard security
We will have each other's backs: we will protect the security and personal safety of IJSN and its members.

Outstanding questions:

• How do we articulate our policies and attitudes regarding leadership and leadership development in light of both our stated commitment to democracy and the diversity of conditions and traditions represented in our network?
• How do we (Or do we) address the likelihood that we will attract members who agree with all our stated principles intellectually but may not have integrated genuinely anti-racist or anti-oppression understanding into their practice and worldviews?
• What is the nature of our relationship to the struggle for liberation in Palestine? How do we build relationships of support and mutual accountability with it, while: not being an auxiliary to any one organization that would direct us; understanding that it is not our place to determine the strategies of people on the ground; and recognizing that solidarity work has an impact on the struggle? And what organizing principles do we need to develop around that understanding?
• How do we recognize our role in extricating Jewish history, politics, community and culture from Zionism while keeping issues of identity in perspective as part of an action-based strategy for change? Is there a need to address this question in the Organizing Principles?
  

How would you answer these questions? What further questions, comments and input do you have on these principles?