JSG Resolutions 2005

RESOLUTIONS
of the Jewish Socialists' Group
NATIONAL CONFERENCE, MAY 15, 2005

JEWISH WORLD

This JSG conference views with concern the way many Jewish organisations and publications increasingly identify with the state and government of Israel, aligning the community with policies which many Jewish people would not support, and distorting perspectives on our interests as a minority in confronting racism and joining with others to seek a just, diverse and harmonious society.

We are further concerned at the tendency of some US-based Jewish organisations to not only serve as part of the Zionist Lobby in the United States, but pursue aggressive international campaigns with disregard for other Jewish communities' views, skewed to reflect US foreign policy.

The JSG condemns the support some Diaspora Jews are giving to right-wing settler movements and repression against the Palestinians. We re-affirm our solidarity with the Israeli peace camp, the Refuseniks, Gush Shalom and women's peace campaigns, with Arab-Jewish unity initiatives like Ta'ayush, and with those fighting for workers rights, civil liberties, cultural equality and social justice.

We strongly reject attempts from any quarter to identify Jews with right-wing warmongers and "neo-cons" in Washington. We condemn Conservative leader Michael Howard's convenient discovery of his immigrant and Jewish background to legitimise attacks on other immigrants and minorities.

The JSG sends our warmest greetings to all those Jews in the United States and elsewhere standing up for peace, anti-racism and social justice. We salute the work of UJFP in France, uniting Jews and Arabs for Middle East peace and against racism. We welcome the growing expression of Jewish dissent and social concern in Britain, over issues from Israel-Palestine peace to rights within the community, and opposing all forms of racialism.

We pledge to strengthen the JSG's international links, and to seek wide cooperation with other organisations and individuals, here and abroad, in raising discussion and awareness, challenging the Jewish Establishments and Right, in politics, education and the media, and creating a progressive alternative.

NO ONE IS ILLEGAL

This conference deplores the way in which immigrants and asylum seekers have been subject to a constant torrent of abuse from a number of tabloid newspapers and mainstream politicians as well as fascist parties. This has been particularly marked in the recent election where the parties vied to show how tough they were on immigration.

This puts pressure on forces of the left and even those campaigning to defend migrants and asylum seekers to make concessions to the concepts of fair immigration control, managed migration and the notion of 'illegal immigrants'.

Noting the centennial anniversary of the Aliens Act, conference reiterates the Jewish Socialists' Group's opposition to immigration controls and believes that it is vital to resist this pressure by promoting the principle that No One is Illegal. We further note that others have recognised the importance of this: In April the JCLH Unison Branch and Manchester Unison Health Branch agreed to affiliate to the No One is Illegal Manifesto Group, adopted its programme, and urged the union to do so.

Conference therefore resolves that the Jewish Socialists' Group:

1) Affiliates to the No One is Illegal Manifesto Group and give that group Ł20

2) Support and build the No One is Illegal Conference in Manchester on June 25.

3) Adopt and promote the action programme:

• To build the widest possible alliance in all struggles against immigration controls amongst those of differing political views.
• To raise the demand for no immigration controls within all actions and campaigns in support of migrants and refugees.
• No Deportations - support every single campaign against deportation.
• To support and build every campaign against detention/removal centres.
• To fight against all forms of collusion with immigration controls.
• Defiance not compliance - campaign in our unions to encourage, support and organise workers within the welfare system to refuse to comply with the denial of benefits or provision based on immigration status
• A massive trade union campaign of recruitment of migrant workers, regardless of their immigration status.

ANTISEMITISM

The Jewish Socialists' Group has always clearly challenged fascists and other right ving antisemites who attempt to use Israeli oppression of the Palestinians as a stick to )eat all Jews. The JSG also has a long history of challenging the Jewish leadership's conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, which we see as, in part, a device to silence debate about or criticism of Zionism or Israel both within and beyond the Jewish community.

Nevertheless, there are elements among progressive campaigners vho, knowingly or not, draw on traditional antisemitic imagery to support the Palestinians case. This may mean references to Jewish power in the media, Jewish nanoeuvring behind the scenes to persuade governments to back Israel, Jewish wealth and so on. As well as being wrong in themselves, to allow these assumptions to become common currency will not only make it more difficult for us to work with others challenging racism and fascism, here, in Israel/Palestine or anywhere else in he world, it will also devalue the clear validity of the Palestinian demand for self-determination and an immediate end to the Occupation.

The JSG distinguishes between antisemitism which comes from the right, which is entirely consistent with the right's divisive, anti-egalitarian philosophy, and that from the left, which exists in spite of the contradiction between and incompatibility of antisemitism and socialism.

Any manifestation of racism within progressive circles mdermines the struggle for justice and equality. But this does not means that all socialists and anti-racists are untouched by a racist ideology which has such a long and complex history, particularly in European culture.
This conference resolves to challenge antisemitism, along with any other form of racism, wherever it arises.

The JSG also resolves to raise antisemitism as a subject for debate whenever we encounter it on the left and in progressive campaigns, in order to restate its ncompatibility with and the damage it inflicts on the struggle for peace, justice and luman rights, and to establish alliances on a sound basis.

The JSG resolves to continue its consistent challenge to the Zionist and religious eadership of the Jewish community, which attempts to characterise all Jews as Zionists and automatic supporters of Israel. At the same time we will confront the use of antisemitic ideas and imagery by socialists and other progressive people, which undercuts our struggle to dissent from this characterisation.

We warn against "conspiracy theories" which divert attention from rational criticism of economic and political systems towards supposed plots, often spanning centuries, by mysterious groups, or even entire peoples and ethnic or religious communities.

We urge Palestinians, Israelis and supporters of a just peace to be on their guard against antisemites and agent provocateurs who will exploit any confusion between anti-Zionism and antisemitism to foster suspicion, fear and hostility between peoples and prevent us coming together for liberation.

The Jewish Socialists' group will unite with genuinely progressive forces, regardless of differences, but we will also help in any way we can to expose antisemitic or other reactionary elements and ideas, and oppose any tolerance towards them.

BOYCOTTS AND EDUCATION

This JSG conference salutes the efforts of Palestinian communities, students and educators to maintain and develop their education and cultural life under occupation, in defiance of frequent harassment, vandalism and repression. We support those Israelis in academic and other walks of life who strive for a just peace, solidarity, equality and enlightenment. We reaffirm our belief that the best way to assist Palestinian communities and institutions is through positive forms of help. But we know that political campaigning is also necessary, an< accept tactics such as boycotts may be a legitimate form of solidarity, providing they are targeted and distinguish fairly between friend and foe. We oppose generalised "cultural" boycotts which are both counter-productive and unjust.
We recognise that the recent resolution by the Association of University Teachers(AUT), to boycott two Israeli institutions, Haifa and Bar Ilan, marks an honest attempt to confront specific links between academic institutions and repressive or discriminatory policies. For this reason, we condemn the Zionist-led campaign to present the AUT resolution as not just "anti-Israel" but "anti-Jewish", and to incite hatred against its proposer. We especially oppose attempts anywhere to intimidate or witch-hunt people, and suppress legitimate debate
To move forward, we resolve that the JSG:-
• Fosters links with progressive Israeli and Palestinian academics, assists them in raising awareness of their struggles, and works with groups from "Windows" to Faculty for Israel-Palestinian Peace in developing ways of overcoming barriers between peoples, and creating solidarity, co-operation and cultural exchange.
• Encourages all members, but particularly those in education, to exchange ideas, experiences and knowledge through the JSG Bulletin, e-mails, meetings etc. so we can keep ourselves informed, take account of each others' view, and develop a coordinated JSG approach in the colleges, unions, and media.
• Discuss with Jews for Justice for Palestinians and others how to counter the negative effect of the Zionist-run UJS in maintaining the "campus war", and create alternative foci for Jewish students and academics to protect their rights, oppose racism and antisemitism, and pursue dialogue and common ground with Arabs and others on campus.

SECULARISM

Preamble

Many issues of rights and social justice with which the JSG continues to be actively engaged are coming under increasing pressure from those who wish to place them within a religious rather than a political framework.

In the climate of the "war against terror" where "Islam" is regarded as a threat to "Western" societies and "western" values, anti-Islamic rhetoric from the media and politicians is gaining credibility and spreading to wider sections of society.

Racist attacks are continuing against a range of minorities including Muslims and on those presumed to be Muslims. These must be combated vigorously. But many anti-racists are concentrating on "islamophobia" as the central feature of racism today, and marginalising other forms of racism and oppression against, and within, minority groups.

The desire among some prominent left-wing activists to unite with "Muslims" as "an oppressed community", has led them to compromise on several issues. These include support for equality for gays and lesbians and for a women's right to choose on abortion. Their call for unity with Muslims as "the oppressed" shows little regard for progressive and reactionary forces within this "community", and fails to acknowledge that Islam embraces a socially,economically and culturally diverse range of communities in Britain.

Significant elements within the left and the anti-racist movement seem to be taking more notice of reactionary religious leaders than progressives within Muslim communities in devising strategies for combating oppression
The rights of dissenters within ethnic/religious minority groups are under attack from acreasineiy confident conservative religious leaders of these communities. Some of these dissenters are secular, others are religious progressives at odds with reactionary communal leaders. These leaders are winning government support: the government has prooosed a law against "religious hatred", which will protect religions against legitimate criticism - both internal and external - as well as hostile attack from racists and fascists.

The Israel/Palestine conflict which is rooted in issues of ethnic cleansing, social inequality and discrimination, and continued occupation, is being redefined in terms of the West versus Islam. Islamicist forces such as Hamas are competing against longstanding secularist forces for control of Palestinian political life.

In Britain, solidarity campaigns on Palestinian rights are increasingly making alliances with religious (Islamicist) organisations. At the same time, conservative Jewish leaders, aware of increasing disillusionment with Israel within the Jewish community, continue to conflate criticism of Israeli government policy with criticism if Zionist ideology and increasinalv characterise both as assaults on Jews and Judaism, and thereby. "antisemitism" or "new antisemitism"

Conference reaffirms the JSG's commitment to equality in society at large and equality within minority communities. This includes a commitment to the fight for equality and pluralism within Jewish life. The JSG demands that secular Jews are fully and equally recognised within and beyond the Jewish community. and suffer no exclusion or marginalisation in Jewish life and Jewish institutions.

Conference reaffirms the desire of the JSG to work with progressive forces in other communities on a secular political basis to combat the oppression they suffer in society at large and from conservative and fundamentalist elements in their own communities, for example on free speech.

While defending Jews and other minorities from racist and fascist attacks on Judaism and lewish practices, and similar attacks on other minority groups and their religions, the JSG supports dissenters within minority groups arguing for equality for women, for gays and lesbians and for secularists who question and criticise religious ideas and practices.
Conference commits itself to challenge racism in society at large and to challenge oppressive power relations within minority groups.
The JSG will campaign within the anti-racist movement to defend all victims of racism, whatever their personal beliefs, without giving support to religious ideology.

The JSG opposes the demand for law on religious hatred. Attacks which are cloaked in religious hatred but inspired by racism, are already covered by existing laws on racial incitement to some extent. While recognising that these laws are currently discriminatory, the JSG will support struggles to strengthen the laws on incitement to racial hatred and to make them fair and non-discriminatory. Religion as a set of ideas does not need laws to protect it, but can defend itself through argument and debate.

The JSG will continue to fight within the left for a culturally diverse movement which focuses on rights and social justice for victims of oppression including victims of oppression within minority communities;

The JSG will continue to fight for a socialist movement that maintains a solid commitment to rational and secular principles and support these principles when they clash with religious demands e.g. state money for faith schools, limits on free speech, discrimination by gender or sexuality.

The JSG opposes the Blasphemy Laws. As stated above, religion as a set of ideas does not leed laws to protect it. These laws are also discriminatory, privileging Christianity for special protection against criticism.

WAR CRIMES AND GENOCIDE

This JSG conference deeply regrets that 60 years after the defeat of Hitler and liberation of the concentration camps, war and mass murder continue to challenge belief that humanity has earned anything. Jewish Socialists reject any narrow interpretation of the Holocaust. For us, 'Never Again" means "Never Again to anyone!"

Recalling our response to the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia ten years ago, the JSG will join Bosnians and others commemorating the dead and demanding justice for the living. Viewing with horror the mass killing in Sudan we will also support Africans and others protesting. We call on other socialists, anti-racists, trade union and peace organizations to do likewise.

IRAQ, AND IRAQI JEWS

This conference reaffirms the JSG's opposition to war, occupation and corporate plunder of Iraq, our warnings against ethnic and sectarian strife, and our support for working class,women's, secular and democratic movements in that country.

We back those within the anti-war movement who have upheld these aims, and congratulate Iraq Occupation Focus(IOF) on its work of solidarity and education. Conference endorses the National Committee's decision to affiliate with IOF.

In furtherance of previous JSG resolutions about raising awareness on Iraq, its culture and history, which is interlinked with ours, we propose that the incoming JSG national committee should organise at least one event on the Iraqi Jewish heritage and history in the coming year.


	JSG Resolutions 2005



	National Conference Our annual conference, usually held in Spring, decides JSG policies and priorities for the year. All members can submit motions, attend, and take part in discussion. Conference also elects a national committee to implement policy, arrange activities, and respond to events. We take our politics seriously but, as the pic suggests, conference has its lighter moments.

	RESOLUTIONS of the Jewish Socialists' Group NATIONAL CONFERENCE, MAY 15, 2005 JEWISH WORLD This JSG conference views with concern the way many Jewish organisations and publications increasingly identify with the state and government of Israel, aligning the community with policies which many Jewish people would not support, and distorting perspectives on our interests as a minority in confronting racism and joining with others to seek a just, diverse and harmonious society. We are further concerned at the tendency of some US-based Jewish organisations to not only serve as part of the Zionist Lobby in the United States, but pursue aggressive international campaigns with disregard for other Jewish communities' views, skewed to reflect US foreign policy. The JSG condemns the support some Diaspora Jews are giving to right-wing settler movements and repression against the Palestinians. We re-affirm our solidarity with the Israeli peace camp, the Refuseniks, Gush Shalom and women's peace campaigns, with Arab-Jewish unity initiatives like Ta'ayush, and with those fighting for workers rights, civil liberties, cultural equality and social justice. We strongly reject attempts from any quarter to identify Jews with right-wing warmongers and "neo-cons" in Washington. We condemn Conservative leader Michael Howard's convenient discovery of his immigrant and Jewish background to legitimise attacks on other immigrants and minorities. The JSG sends our warmest greetings to all those Jews in the United States and elsewhere standing up for peace, anti-racism and social justice. We salute the work of UJFP in France, uniting Jews and Arabs for Middle East peace and against racism. We welcome the growing expression of Jewish dissent and social concern in Britain, over issues from Israel-Palestine peace to rights within the community, and opposing all forms of racialism. We pledge to strengthen the JSG's international links, and to seek wide cooperation with other organisations and individuals, here and abroad, in raising discussion and awareness, challenging the Jewish Establishments and Right, in politics, education and the media, and creating a progressive alternative. NO ONE IS ILLEGAL This conference deplores the way in which immigrants and asylum seekers have been subject to a constant torrent of abuse from a number of tabloid newspapers and mainstream politicians as well as fascist parties. This has been particularly marked in the recent election where the parties vied to show how tough they were on immigration. This puts pressure on forces of the left and even those campaigning to defend migrants and asylum seekers to make concessions to the concepts of fair immigration control, managed migration and the notion of 'illegal immigrants'. Noting the centennial anniversary of the Aliens Act, conference reiterates the Jewish Socialists' Group's opposition to immigration controls and believes that it is vital to resist this pressure by promoting the principle that No One is Illegal. We further note that others have recognised the importance of this: In April the JCLH Unison Branch and Manchester Unison Health Branch agreed to affiliate to the No One is Illegal Manifesto Group, adopted its programme, and urged the union to do so. Conference therefore resolves that the Jewish Socialists' Group: 1) Affiliates to the No One is Illegal Manifesto Group and give that group Ł20 2) Support and build the No One is Illegal Conference in Manchester on June 25. 3) Adopt and promote the action programme: • To build the widest possible alliance in all struggles against immigration controls amongst those of differing political views. • To raise the demand for no immigration controls within all actions and campaigns in support of migrants and refugees. • No Deportations - support every single campaign against deportation. • To support and build every campaign against detention/removal centres. • To fight against all forms of collusion with immigration controls. • Defiance not compliance - campaign in our unions to encourage, support and organise workers within the welfare system to refuse to comply with the denial of benefits or provision based on immigration status • A massive trade union campaign of recruitment of migrant workers, regardless of their immigration status. ANTISEMITISM The Jewish Socialists' Group has always clearly challenged fascists and other right ving antisemites who attempt to use Israeli oppression of the Palestinians as a stick to )eat all Jews. The JSG also has a long history of challenging the Jewish leadership's conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, which we see as, in part, a device to silence debate about or criticism of Zionism or Israel both within and beyond the Jewish community. Nevertheless, there are elements among progressive campaigners vho, knowingly or not, draw on traditional antisemitic imagery to support the Palestinians case. This may mean references to Jewish power in the media, Jewish nanoeuvring behind the scenes to persuade governments to back Israel, Jewish wealth and so on. As well as being wrong in themselves, to allow these assumptions to become common currency will not only make it more difficult for us to work with others challenging racism and fascism, here, in Israel/Palestine or anywhere else in he world, it will also devalue the clear validity of the Palestinian demand for self-determination and an immediate end to the Occupation. The JSG distinguishes between antisemitism which comes from the right, which is entirely consistent with the right's divisive, anti-egalitarian philosophy, and that from the left, which exists in spite of the contradiction between and incompatibility of antisemitism and socialism. Any manifestation of racism within progressive circles mdermines the struggle for justice and equality. But this does not means that all socialists and anti-racists are untouched by a racist ideology which has such a long and complex history, particularly in European culture. This conference resolves to challenge antisemitism, along with any other form of racism, wherever it arises. The JSG also resolves to raise antisemitism as a subject for debate whenever we encounter it on the left and in progressive campaigns, in order to restate its ncompatibility with and the damage it inflicts on the struggle for peace, justice and luman rights, and to establish alliances on a sound basis. The JSG resolves to continue its consistent challenge to the Zionist and religious eadership of the Jewish community, which attempts to characterise all Jews as Zionists and automatic supporters of Israel. At the same time we will confront the use of antisemitic ideas and imagery by socialists and other progressive people, which undercuts our struggle to dissent from this characterisation. We warn against "conspiracy theories" which divert attention from rational criticism of economic and political systems towards supposed plots, often spanning centuries, by mysterious groups, or even entire peoples and ethnic or religious communities. We urge Palestinians, Israelis and supporters of a just peace to be on their guard against antisemites and agent provocateurs who will exploit any confusion between anti-Zionism and antisemitism to foster suspicion, fear and hostility between peoples and prevent us coming together for liberation. The Jewish Socialists' group will unite with genuinely progressive forces, regardless of differences, but we will also help in any way we can to expose antisemitic or other reactionary elements and ideas, and oppose any tolerance towards them. BOYCOTTS AND EDUCATION This JSG conference salutes the efforts of Palestinian communities, students and educators to maintain and develop their education and cultural life under occupation, in defiance of frequent harassment, vandalism and repression. We support those Israelis in academic and other walks of life who strive for a just peace, solidarity, equality and enlightenment. We reaffirm our belief that the best way to assist Palestinian communities and institutions is through positive forms of help. But we know that political campaigning is also necessary, an< accept tactics such as boycotts may be a legitimate form of solidarity, providing they are targeted and distinguish fairly between friend and foe. We oppose generalised "cultural" boycotts which are both counter-productive and unjust. We recognise that the recent resolution by the Association of University Teachers(AUT), to boycott two Israeli institutions, Haifa and Bar Ilan, marks an honest attempt to confront specific links between academic institutions and repressive or discriminatory policies. For this reason, we condemn the Zionist-led campaign to present the AUT resolution as not just "anti-Israel" but "anti-Jewish", and to incite hatred against its proposer. We especially oppose attempts anywhere to intimidate or witch-hunt people, and suppress legitimate debate To move forward, we resolve that the JSG:- • Fosters links with progressive Israeli and Palestinian academics, assists them in raising awareness of their struggles, and works with groups from "Windows" to Faculty for Israel-Palestinian Peace in developing ways of overcoming barriers between peoples, and creating solidarity, co-operation and cultural exchange. • Encourages all members, but particularly those in education, to exchange ideas, experiences and knowledge through the JSG Bulletin, e-mails, meetings etc. so we can keep ourselves informed, take account of each others' view, and develop a coordinated JSG approach in the colleges, unions, and media. • Discuss with Jews for Justice for Palestinians and others how to counter the negative effect of the Zionist-run UJS in maintaining the "campus war", and create alternative foci for Jewish students and academics to protect their rights, oppose racism and antisemitism, and pursue dialogue and common ground with Arabs and others on campus. SECULARISM Preamble Many issues of rights and social justice with which the JSG continues to be actively engaged are coming under increasing pressure from those who wish to place them within a religious rather than a political framework. In the climate of the "war against terror" where "Islam" is regarded as a threat to "Western" societies and "western" values, anti-Islamic rhetoric from the media and politicians is gaining credibility and spreading to wider sections of society. Racist attacks are continuing against a range of minorities including Muslims and on those presumed to be Muslims. These must be combated vigorously. But many anti-racists are concentrating on "islamophobia" as the central feature of racism today, and marginalising other forms of racism and oppression against, and within, minority groups. The desire among some prominent left-wing activists to unite with "Muslims" as "an oppressed community", has led them to compromise on several issues. These include support for equality for gays and lesbians and for a women's right to choose on abortion. Their call for unity with Muslims as "the oppressed" shows little regard for progressive and reactionary forces within this "community", and fails to acknowledge that Islam embraces a socially,economically and culturally diverse range of communities in Britain. Significant elements within the left and the anti-racist movement seem to be taking more notice of reactionary religious leaders than progressives within Muslim communities in devising strategies for combating oppression The rights of dissenters within ethnic/religious minority groups are under attack from acreasineiy confident conservative religious leaders of these communities. Some of these dissenters are secular, others are religious progressives at odds with reactionary communal leaders. These leaders are winning government support: the government has prooosed a law against "religious hatred", which will protect religions against legitimate criticism - both internal and external - as well as hostile attack from racists and fascists. The Israel/Palestine conflict which is rooted in issues of ethnic cleansing, social inequality and discrimination, and continued occupation, is being redefined in terms of the West versus Islam. Islamicist forces such as Hamas are competing against longstanding secularist forces for control of Palestinian political life. In Britain, solidarity campaigns on Palestinian rights are increasingly making alliances with religious (Islamicist) organisations. At the same time, conservative Jewish leaders, aware of increasing disillusionment with Israel within the Jewish community, continue to conflate criticism of Israeli government policy with criticism if Zionist ideology and increasinalv characterise both as assaults on Jews and Judaism, and thereby. "antisemitism" or "new antisemitism" Conference reaffirms the JSG's commitment to equality in society at large and equality within minority communities. This includes a commitment to the fight for equality and pluralism within Jewish life. The JSG demands that secular Jews are fully and equally recognised within and beyond the Jewish community. and suffer no exclusion or marginalisation in Jewish life and Jewish institutions. Conference reaffirms the desire of the JSG to work with progressive forces in other communities on a secular political basis to combat the oppression they suffer in society at large and from conservative and fundamentalist elements in their own communities, for example on free speech. While defending Jews and other minorities from racist and fascist attacks on Judaism and lewish practices, and similar attacks on other minority groups and their religions, the JSG supports dissenters within minority groups arguing for equality for women, for gays and lesbians and for secularists who question and criticise religious ideas and practices. Conference commits itself to challenge racism in society at large and to challenge oppressive power relations within minority groups. The JSG will campaign within the anti-racist movement to defend all victims of racism, whatever their personal beliefs, without giving support to religious ideology. The JSG opposes the demand for law on religious hatred. Attacks which are cloaked in religious hatred but inspired by racism, are already covered by existing laws on racial incitement to some extent. While recognising that these laws are currently discriminatory, the JSG will support struggles to strengthen the laws on incitement to racial hatred and to make them fair and non-discriminatory. Religion as a set of ideas does not need laws to protect it, but can defend itself through argument and debate. The JSG will continue to fight within the left for a culturally diverse movement which focuses on rights and social justice for victims of oppression including victims of oppression within minority communities; The JSG will continue to fight for a socialist movement that maintains a solid commitment to rational and secular principles and support these principles when they clash with religious demands e.g. state money for faith schools, limits on free speech, discrimination by gender or sexuality. The JSG opposes the Blasphemy Laws. As stated above, religion as a set of ideas does not leed laws to protect it. These laws are also discriminatory, privileging Christianity for special protection against criticism. WAR CRIMES AND GENOCIDE This JSG conference deeply regrets that 60 years after the defeat of Hitler and liberation of the concentration camps, war and mass murder continue to challenge belief that humanity has earned anything. Jewish Socialists reject any narrow interpretation of the Holocaust. For us, 'Never Again" means "Never Again to anyone!" Recalling our response to the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia ten years ago, the JSG will join Bosnians and others commemorating the dead and demanding justice for the living. Viewing with horror the mass killing in Sudan we will also support Africans and others protesting. We call on other socialists, anti-racists, trade union and peace organizations to do likewise. IRAQ, AND IRAQI JEWS This conference reaffirms the JSG's opposition to war, occupation and corporate plunder of Iraq, our warnings against ethnic and sectarian strife, and our support for working class,women's, secular and democratic movements in that country. We back those within the anti-war movement who have upheld these aims, and congratulate Iraq Occupation Focus(IOF) on its work of solidarity and education. Conference endorses the National Committee's decision to affiliate with IOF. In furtherance of previous JSG resolutions about raising awareness on Iraq, its culture and history, which is interlinked with ours, we propose that the incoming JSG national committee should organise at least one event on the Iraqi Jewish heritage and history in the coming year.

	Jewish Socialist publications JEWISH SOCIALIST magazine is now in its 20th year. The current issue, no.50, has articles by Uri Avnery on Israel misuse of Holocaust memory, Madge Dresser on how Britain faces the history of Slavery, Charlie Pottins on the 1905 Russian Revolution, Dave Rosenberg on the 1905 Aliens Act, Tony Kushner on British attitudes to refugees, and Margaret Valance on Fermin Rocker and East End Anarchists. Plus interviews with South African singer Vuhsi Mahlasela and Guardian journalist and writer Jonathan Freedland. JS magazine is Ł1.50 a copy or Ł7.50 sub per four issues (cheques payable to 'Jewish Socialist'. Other JSG publications include "Revolution in Jewish Life, the History of the Jewish Workers' Bund" by Clive Gilbert. A publication celebrating Jewish diversity is being prepared in honour of our late member Shalom Charikar. JSG, BM3725, London WC1N 3XX

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