Defend Palestine! Defend Iran!

APRIL 15—As we go to press, the conflict between Israel and Iran is rapidly escalating. On April 1, Israel flattened part of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, killing two Iranian generals. Iran retaliated by launching 300 drones and missiles toward Israel, most of which were shot down with the help of the U.S., France and Britain.

At the moment, it is not clear where all this will lead. What is clear is that the situation was provoked by Israel to further rope the U.S. and its other imperialist allies into the genocide in Gaza. A war right now between Israel and Iran would be an extension of Israel's national war of oppression against the Palestinians. Liberal cries for "de-escalation" and respect of international law are pacifist dead ends. It is urgent for the working class in the U.S. and beyond to oppose all imperialist maneuvers and block military aid to Israel. Defend Palestine and Iran against the imperialist-backed Zionist onslaught!

It is also a dead end to look to Hamas and the Islamic Republic of Iran to defeat Israel and the imperialists. Hamas's strategy of provoking the Israeli slaughter to compel the Arab regimes to do something on behalf of the Palestinians has led to the utter devastation of Gaza. As for the Iranian regime, it is balancing between superficial support to Palestine and conciliation of the U.S.-dominated world order. Only a revolutionary working-class strategy can lead to the liberation of Palestine and to the final defeat of imperialism.