by: Phil Jacobson

Recently (October 5, 2024), I attended a protest rally at Moore Square in Raleigh NC, held in recognition of the fact that one year had passed since the events which initiated the current state of conflict between the State of Israel and Hamas, which quickly thereafter engulfed the entire civilian population of Gaza.  Attendance at the protest was estimated at around 4,800 persons. 

The main themes of the rally were a call for a ceasefire and an end to the unrestricted military aid from US taxpayers to Israel.  While not endorsing the initiating actions of Hamas, the protesters strongly condemned the highly disproportionate responses against civilian targets by the Israeli military.  Sympathy was with the plight of Palestinian civilians and against the blanket support given to the current Israeli regime by the current regime of the USA.  Sponsors of this protest included a wide variety of groups, from Palestinians and other Arab-Americans to Muslim, Jewish, Christian and secular Americans, as well as adherents of a variety of political persuasions.  The most advertised political grouping being left leaning, from the Green Party to open advocates of socialism.  Many of the attendees there, especially those with a direct connection to Palestine, were not affiliated to specific political parties.  However, in general, Arab and Muslim Americans have natural leanings towards libertarian philosophy, especially regarding the ideas of free enterprise and non-violence in global affairs (be it proxy wars or otherwise).

As a Libertarian, I was a rare attendee.  In addition to my personal desire to show support for the human rights of all concerned, I distributed copies of the Position Paper on this subject which was issued this year by the LPNC.  (https://www.lpnc.org/position_paper_funding_foreign_wars_and_the_situation_in_israel_and_palestine)  I was also able to convey verbally that the same sentiment has been expressed by our candidate for US President, Chase Oliver. Few of the attendees seemed aware of the Libertarian position on this topic.  But I had to balance my efforts between my personal sentiments and the policies of the LP. 

The LP likes to be seen as opposing conscription in all its forms.  We praise the adoption of voluntary cooperation as a means of addressing community concerns. We question the value of relying on conscripted funds used by professional government bureaucrats. This virtue is often seen at its best when communities react to natural disasters.  Governments with large budgets can provide critical aid, to be sure. But the voluntary contributions of individuals are often more effective, more essential - especially as a first response - than the work of professional government bureaucrats.  

The topic can be a little tricky, however, regarding the topic of armed self-defense, especially with regard to foreign affairs.   The people of Gaza have been living in a concentration camp created in 1967.  They are not at war with the State of Israel.  Their land, in which they have lived for centuries, has been occupied by force by the State of Israel.  As such, any resistance to occupation is not a declaration of war against the occupier, but a legitimate right of any oppressed people.  Israel cannot claim that their response to this resistance is a matter of self-defense - not morally, nor according to international law.

 (as noted by Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur here: https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/francesca-albanese-says-israels-right-to-selfdefence-non-existent-and-is-committing-war-crimes/news-story/99514e7f7928ec92fd68e9a470a5cf27.

And in a more formal and detailed document by Anna Qiang, of Columbia University:
https://www.culawreview.org/journal/the-self-defense-principle-re-examined-the-israel-palestine-conflict-in-international-law

While there were not armed forces patrolling Gaza, as was the case in the West Bank, Israeli military forces patrolled and controlled all access in and out of Gaza, land, sea, and air, which is just another form of occupation.

The LP explicitly, passionately, and unconditionally opposes the use by our government of conscripted soldiers or conscripted dollars to take sides in conflicts between foreign belligerents.  But many individual Libertarians would and do gladly volunteer their own private resources to aid foreign peoples whose lands have been invaded.  Sometimes the most important private resource a Libertarian might give is vocal moral support.  And yet, as a Libertarian, one would not want to mistakenly argue, while expressing sympathy for an oppressed foreign community, that one’s own government should actively join the conflict.  

I felt that I did not cross that delicate line at this event.  But I wish to remind my fellow libertarians that we do believe in the right of self defense - to include armed resistance to initiated force, as do many of the those who attended the rally.  While all pacifists are, by definition following the libertarian doctrine of refusing to initiate force, libertarianism as a philosophy also recognizes the right to retaliate.  Thus, when considering this issue, as a libertarian and as an individual, I heartily endorse one of the most important slogans which was repeated many times at this rally:  

“Resistance is justified when people are occupied.”  

Each situation must be judged by each individual on its own merits. But as for myself, as a libertarian but not as a Libertarian, I have to say at this time, on this issue, as I did at the rally, I do take a side.  I stand with the people of Palestine.