Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st Century
 
Revolutionary
Socialism in the
21st Century

Articles >

BDS

From protest to resistance

As student camps in support of Gaza and divestment from Israel continue to spring up on campuses, Tempest Collective member Joe Allen explains the impact they are having on American politics. 

How to divest from Israel

Boycott, divestment and sanctions have long been key demands for the Palestine solidarity movement. Kate Deer explains why they are so important, and outlines some key steps that people can take. 

Palestine solidarity, the anti-BDS bill and the security state

Legal attacks on Palestine solidarity are part of a wider clampdown on protests and strikes.

Crowd with Palestinian flags

Palestine solidarity and the future of the DSA – on the Bowman crisis

Arguments over Palestine solidarity have swept through the DSA in recent months – two American socialists explain the background.

Manchester protest in solidarity with Elbit protesters and against the use of British-made weapons in the occupation of Palestine

Palestine campaigning escalates in Greater Manchester

Kate Bradley reports on recent Palestine campaigning in Greater Manchester, where campaigners defeated the University of Manchester over censorship and occupied the Elbit arms factory in Oldham.

Palestine: never give up the struggle

What is happening to the Palestinians right now is not new, not some anomaly, not some break with the past.

Photo from an action against Elbit Systems showing two protesters sitting in a doorway in front of the weapons factory's graffitied door, which reads 'Shut Elbit Down'. Fake blood is poured across the steps in front of them, as well as a sign that reads 'Ouch'.

‘That’s the power of direct action’: an interview with Palestine Action

On Feb 1 2021, Palestine Action and XR North shut down the Elbit Systems factory in Oldham. rs21 spoke with Huda and Richard from Palestine Action about Elbit, Palestine and direct action tactics.

Pro-Palestine protesters in London.

Open letter: Palestinians in Britain demand freedom of speech

The Labour Party’s willingness to censor criticism of Israel gives license to a broader crackdown on anti-racist, anti-Zionist speech across society.

Four protesters stand on top of Elbit's building with a banner reading "Shut down Elbit" and Palestine flags.

Palestine activists shut down Elbit arms factory

Activists are taking courageous direct action to shut down a factory owned by Elbit, Israel’s largest private arms firm, which is also involved in policing migrants arriving to Britain.

Palestinian school

Education in Palestine

Education is a key battlefield in the Palestinian struggle in the wake of Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’. #ExistResistReturn

A large brown and grey banner hanging on a concrete building, with the hand-painted text 'State Sanctioned Terrorism'

Report – Stop the DSEI Arms Fair

A Tshisekedi, an activist of the migrant solidarity organisation Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants, reports on the week-long series of direct action to resist the DSEI Arms Fair in east London.

EIS members in a combative mood

Teachers and lecturers in Scotland met at the EIS conference recently to review recent successes over pay and recruitment and to plan a strategy around the underfunding and overwork that still characterises the sector. Nick Cimini reports.

Interview: Annie Cohen, Union of Jewish Students presidential candidate

Annie Cohen has been called the ‘anti-Zionist candidate’ for leadership of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS). rs21 interviewed her about why she’s standing. Annie Cohen, tell us a bit about why you decided to stand for UJS President. I’m very involved in Jewish left wing activism with Jewdas*, which has grown incredibly over the […]

Dyke march accused of antisemitism

Solidarity with Chicago Dyke March: it’s not antisemitic to oppose Israel

In the last few weeks, controversy has erupted about events on the Chicago Dyke March, held on 24 June. Colin Wilson argues that we should stand in solidarity with the march’s organisers. The Dyke March has taken place annually for over twenty years as an alternative to a Pride Parade as its founders believed was […]

The Political Power of Music: in conversation with Dave Randall

Colin Revolting speaks to musician and activist Dave Randall about his experience of ‘mixing pop and politics’ and the journey which led him to write Sound System –  The Political Power of Music. Interview transcribed by William Cleary. What was the journey that led you to write Sound System? I felt, when I was a young musician, that […]

#M18: Vienna protests against racism and attacks on the right to protest

Report and photos by Nick Evans. “Stop instrumentalising us. Muslim women are fed up with being told what to wear. We want freedom to wear what we want.” The #M18 demonstration in Vienna began with speeches by Muslim women, Afghan and Syrian refugees and socialists, condemning the recent ban on the full-face ban and attacks […]

Antisemitism row – the real target is Jeremy Corbyn

The media is full of claims about antisemitism in the Labour Party. Jewish members of rs21 set out our view.   Naz Shah and Ken Livingstone have been suspended from the Labour Party over accusations of antisemitism. Condemnation of Shah and Livingstone is part of a wider claim – that the Labour Party and the […]

Festive action targets Israeli apartheid

Sherrl Yanowitz reports on the first of a series of festive pickets of the Israeli owned soap shop Sabon in  London’s Covent Garden.

Block the Factory! Shut down the Elbit Systems Factory on 6 July

It is a year since Israel’s war on Gaza that killed thousands of Palestinians. The Israeli owned Elbit Systems factory in Shenstone near Birmingham manufactures the drones used to murder them. On 6 July last year campaigners occupied the factory.

Dancing the Dabke to beat Israeli Apartheid

London Palestine Action organised an all singing, all dancing, bubble blowing Dabke flash-mob to ‘cleanse’ Covent Garden cosmetic shops selling Israeli goods or using stolen Palestinian ingredients.

“I will continue serenading happiness.” Arab revolutions four years on

The conference Arab revolutions four years on: Revolution, repression and resistance was held at the School of Oriental and African Studies on 13 -14 February.

The roots of Israeli apartheid

What does it mean to say that Israel is an apartheid state? Sølvi Goard unpacks a history of vicious segregation and ethnic cleansing

Palestinian refugee camp near Damascus

Village by village, town by town – how Zionists tried to destroy Palestine in 1948

In the sixth and final part of his series on Zionism, imperialism and the Palestinians, Neil Rogall describes the Nakba – the establishment of the Israeli state and catastrophe for Palestine. 1948 was a year of horror. The majority of the Palestinian people were violently evicted from their homes and their communities. Families were broken […]

Soda stream protest

Rooftop protest at Cambridgeshire Sodastream offices

A protest just outside Cambridge highlighted that Sodastream is profiting from generous tax breaks and grants from the Israeli government.

Parliament votes to recognise Palestine: what is going on?

We can use these shifts at the top to strengthen our actions on the ground in support of genuine Palestinian liberation.

No To Nato: joining the dots between Palestine and Western imperialism

The Nato summit due to take place in Newport and Cardiff will be met by a week of demonstrations. rs21 spoke to Adam Johannes, secretary of Cardiff Stop the War Coalition, about the protests. So what exactly is this Nato Newport summit? Who is going to turn up and what will they be getting up […]

Boycott Kedem: how Palestine activists are taking on an Israeli firm in Manchester

Kedem Cosmetics is a franchise based on King Street in Manchester. It exclusively stocks produce from the Dead Sea, an area from which Palestinians are barred and whose resources they cannot access.

Why support an academic boycott of Israel?

The idea that you should boycott Israeli universities has been one of the more difficult arguments within the Palestine movement. Here a member of the University and College Union national executive, Trish McManus, tackles the key questions.  In 2004 a small number of intellectuals and scholars launched the Palestinian Campaign for an academic boycott of Israel […]

Solidarity movement continues to grow – #GazaA9 protest round up

Yesterday once again saw a massive turn out at demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine. In London, Stop the War report that 150,000 people marched in the biggest ever UK protest for Gaza. Shanice McBean took part in the demonstration as it made its way from BBC Broadcasting House to Hyde Park. “The movement is growing, and […]

NUS executive votes to back BDS boycott campaign against Israel

(picture of #nus4bds campaigners by Aaron Kiely, NUS executive member, via Facebook) The NUS national executive committee today voted 23-18 with 1 abstention to adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions policy against Israel. Fantastic that #NUSNEC has passed policy to support #BDS || read more about BDS: http://t.co/KHBcC1WgRm #BoycottIsrael #FreePalestine – rs21 (@revsoc21) August 4, 2014 […]