Apartheid Israel: An interview with Uri Davis

[The Crystal Method]

I dug the following up inspired by a conversation fellow members had with regard to non-violence vs. violence. This I think is very interesting reading and has well thought out perspective on it.

Apartheid Israel: An interview with Uri Davis
URI DAVIS and JON ELMER
FromOccupiedPalestine.org, 17 September 2004

Jon Elmer: Your autobiography subtitle describes you as an "anti-Zionist Palestinian Jew." By way of introduction, can you explain that designation?

Uri Davis: Well, that particular designation is informed by a commitment to a rather conventional principle: the separation of religion from the state. I very much adhere to this principle, which I think is a hugely important contribution of the American and French revolutions, and a great advance toward humanism worldwide.

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In this context, the idea of a Jewish state is not, to my mind, such a brilliant or positive idea; rather than separating religion, ethnicity, nationality or tribal affiliation from the state, Israel weds all of these to the state.

Elmer: Can you describe the meaning of citizenship in this context?

Davis: In a democratic context, citizenship is a legal relationship between the individual and the state whereby the state recognizes the fundamental rights of the citizen and undertakes to guarantee him/her equal access to the civil, political, economic and welfare resources. Citizens in a democratic state would have equal standing in the course of law, equal access to the political process - such as the right to vote and be elected – they would have equal access to land and water resources, and so on.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

Read more FromOccupiedPalestine

Edited to place violence vs. non-violence perspective in red.

[The Crystal Method]

1. I see my post has been edited.

The part that stood out was the violence vs. non-violence perspective that Uri Davis seemed to have. I would like to hear others comment on that.