ENVIRONMENTALISTS AGAINST ISRAEL

Many of my friends have been overjoyed that the Teabaggers are ripping apart the Republican party - and not because they are all opposed to the Republicans. Their reasoning is that if the loonies all leave to start their own movement, common sense may yet return to the GOP. And at least it will be easier to figure out how many conservatives are stark raving.

That, actually, is a process that has also been happening on the left.
It's called the Green Party.

Which, as it turns out, is a magnet for the anti-Israel side.

Including some people who are certifiably insane, and many who are just old-fashioned leftwing anti-Semites.

[Here in San Francisco, supervisor Ross Mirkarimi (district 5) represented the Green Party in city government - he was a co-founder of the California Green Party (1990). He has since rejoined the Democratic Party (March 2010).
Personally I am rather glad that Mirkarimi has left the Greens - even though I do not agree with many of his ideas, he has been very good for San Francisco, and is one of the more interesting (by reason of intelligence) political voices in Baghdad-by-the-Bay.]


According to the Green Party website:
"The San Francisco Green Party is one of the largest and strongest local Green groups in the US with almost 9,000 registered Greens, about 2% of the total number of registered voters. We have a Green on the Board of Supervisors and CA Coastal Commission, Ross Mirkirimi, and a Green on the Golden Gate Bridge Commission, Dave Snyder."

On June 1, the San Francisco Green Party resolved to boycott Israel.



ISRAEL BOYCOTT

Quote:
"The San Francisco Green Party calls upon all of its members, and all San Francisco residents, businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and political parties to join in the worldwide boycott and divestment of Israel.
The San Francisco Green Party calls upon the City and County of San Francisco, by action of its Board of Supervisors and Mayor, to likewise engage in a full boycott and divestment of Israel. "
End quote.

Source:
http://www.sfgreenparty.org/news/newsitem-start.psp?idx=1762


Lest you now think that this is typical of San Francisco, I hasten to point out that that is just not so.
It is typical of several municipalities in the great state of California.

Quote:
California is a stonghold for the Green Party as well, with over 111,000 registered Greens! The mayors of Richmond, Sebastopol and Fairfax are Green Party members and the Green Party has had a majority of elected officials in several towns throughout the state. In November 2009, Fairfax, California gained a Green majority in city council, winning three out of five seats. As of June 2007, 55 Green Party of California members hold elected office.
End quote.

Source:
http://www.sfgreenparty.org/aboutthegreenparty/aboutthegreenparty.html



NATIONAL

The Green Party is not just a California phenomenon - there are Israel-hating greens all over the country.
Their recent presidential candidate, Cynthia McKinney, hails from Georgia. A more active Israel hater in national politics might be hard to find.
[Wikipedia cites her "her controversial profile, which included support for Arab causes and a suggestion that Bush knew in advance of the September 11 attacks."]


What's really interesting is the sheer number of anti-Israel resolutions and proclamations issued by the Green Party over the last several years.



GREEN ANTI-ISRAEL AGIT-PROP

"The Green Party condemns Israel's murderous attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla, urges immediate aid cutoff and end to impunity for Israel" (Monday, May 31, 2010)
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=321

"Greens: President Obama must press Israel to end East Jerusalem settlements" (Thursday, April 8, 2010)
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=307

"Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely to resume" (Monday, January 19, 2009)
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=169

"Green Party condemns Israel's massive air attack on Gaza, calls on US to rein in Israel and seek a ceasefire" ( Tuesday, December 30, 2008)
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=162

"Greens call the 60th anniversary of Israel an occasion to affirm international law, enact human rights, and end the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories" (May 19, 2008)
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=61

"Greens blast Clinton, Obama, and McCain for uncritical support of Israel" (Monday, March 3, 2008)
www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=35

"Greens, Calling for Palestinian Rights, Urge Divestment from Israel" (Monday, November 28, 2005)
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2005_11_28.shtml

"Israel's 'Disengagement Plan' Will Not Bring Peace" (Tuesday, August 16, 2005)
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2005_08_16.shtml

"Kerry is Indistinguishable from Bush on Israel and Palestine" (Thursday, April 22, 2004)
www.gp.org/press/pr_04_22_04.html

"Israeli Forces are Targeting Nonviolent Palestinian, Israeli, and International Peace Workers" (Wednesday, August 14, 2002)
www.gp.org/press/pr_08_14_02.html



Like a broken Fascist record, the Green Party in many locales keeps echoing the resolution they passed nationally urging divestment from Israel in 2005.

As the Teabaggers represent the Moose-humping fringe on the right, the Green Party embodies the Jew-hating moonbeams on the left.


Remarkably, the spiteful bigot who introduced an anti-Israel resolution at a San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting recently was, as far as I can tell, not a current or past member of the Green Party.
He may be a firm supporter of the ISM, though. Judging by a previous engagement.