A statement by the One Democratic State Initiative
June 26, 2025
The US-zionist aggression on Iran ended abruptly, without the colony reaching any of its stated objectives of effecting regime change and ending the nuclear program. The Iranian regime suffered losses but was far from destabilized; and although it is unclear how much damage the nuclear facilities suffered, they are still there, along with the enriched uranium and scientific expertise required to go ahead with the program. The colony's quest for unrivaled domination has so far failed, but its thirst for it hasn't. This is why it is crucial for Palestinians and Arabs, as well as for Israelis and the rest of the world, to learn from what happened and turn this knowledge into concrete political action.
Palestinians and Arabs, particularly in the Al-Sham region, must recognize the need for a political program of their own. We need to understand that neither the Islamic Republic of Iran nor anyone else will rush to save us. The Islamic Republic, which did not move to stop the genocide, moved to protect its own interests, and then kept Gaza out of the ceasefire agreement. This is what states do: They seek their own interests, not others'. The colony, Iran, Turkey and other states have political programs. Where is ours?
We ought to revive our program and return to the historical vision for one democratic Palestinian state. This does not mean waiting for existing leaderships to do so, but rather to establish and join liberatory and democratic political organizations that challenge existing leaderships. In Gaza, these organizations would play a role in the "day after". In the West Bank, they would work to anticipate the upcoming ethnic razing, perhaps in line with the "Palestinians, anticipate the threat of an upcoming Nakba!" document. In 1948 Palestine, they would find ways to play a role outside the zionist structure.
In the diaspora, these organizations would build the political, media and organizational capacity to challenge the zionist cultural hegemony and take part in local decolonial movements. And in neighboring non-states like Lebanon, Syria or Jordan, there is a need for joining movements with a political program for the establishment of states that break with current identitarian models and coordinate efforts against normalization.
Israelis must understand that zionism has failed. Its claim that only by leaving their original societies and creating a new, "ethnically pure" one under a state exclusive to them can Jews be safe have proven to be false. Not only did the colony's occupation army fail to subdue the Palestinian resistance in a small, besieged area, but it has also failed to keep it safe from Iranian missiles and to inflict any lasting damage on Iran.
What other reaction did you expect to settler colonization, apartheid and genocide in Palestine and the region? Are destroyed buildings throughout the colony the safety that zionism has promised? Is total dependence on the support of the United States "Jewish self-determination"? What will happen when, for any reason, a US administration chooses not to support the colony anymore?
It is time for Israelis to drop zionism. Some are choosing to leave Palestine at the moment, while others are choosing to work with Palestinians to dismantle the settler state and establish its antithesis: A democratic Palestinian state where residents of all identities can live together like they did before zionism. The more of you do so and the sooner you do, the closer we will all be to true security—security based on decolonization, justice and dignity rather than oppression.
The rest of the world must grasp that the colony is a threat to the whole world. It is not only committing genocide in Palestine and destroying neighboring countries. It initiated a bombing campaign of Iran that is 1500 km away, unprovoked. It has even targeted allies, cutting gas supply to Jordan, and Zionist voices recently speaking in favor of military actions against Egypt, Pakistan, Qatar and Turkey.
What will prevent the colony from attacking Cyprus, Greece or other countries if it feels they pose a threat to it, maybe even widening its scope of aggression if it grows stronger in the coming years? What will happen if it uses its "Samson option" and uses its nuclear weapons preemptively in case it feels under conventional military threat? Can the world afford to tolerate the existence of such a rogue state?
The past weeks, years and decades have shown that the colony is a threat to everyone in Palestine, the Al-Sham region and the world. The One Democratic State Initiative calls on all to move beyond the means of protest we have used to so far and to join political organizations that rally around a vision that is the antithesis to the zionist project: A vision for one democratic state, from the river to the sea, and for true democracy beyond the river and the sea.
