63 Israeli teens refuse military service: “We won't take part in the oppression of the Palestinian people”

“We won’t take part in the arm of the occupation” —
headline from the Israeli daily newspaper Yediot Ahronot

Source: maki.org.il.

Sixty-three draft age youngsters from around Israel sent a letter on Thursday, December 28, to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, Education Minister Naftali Bennet and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, declaring their refusal to be conscripted into the Israeli military because it oppresses the Palestinian people.

“We have decided not to take part in the occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people,” they wrote in their letter. “The ‘temporary’ situation has dragged on for 50 years, and we will not continue lending it a hand.”

Dimitris Koutsoumbas: We draw conclusions, we become stronger - ДИМИТРИС КУЦУМБАС (КПГ): ИЗВЛЕКАЕМ УРОКИ, СТАНОВИМСЯ СИЛЬНЕЕ

ARTICLE OF THE GS OF THE CC OF THE KKE DIMITRIS KOUTSOUMBAS IN THE RUSSIAN NEWSPAPER “SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA”.

It is with particular joy that I address via the pages of the historical newspaper "Sovetskaya Rossiya" the workers of Russia, of the country where the "ice broke", as Lenin said, where "the way has been shown" as regards the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism and the construction of the new socialist-communist society. 

The consequences of the counterrevolution and the overthrow of socialism did not cloud the eyes, mind and judgment of the communists of Greece, the KKE. Indeed on the 28th of December 1991, a few hours after the red flag was taken down from the Kremlin, Rizospastis, the journalistic organ of the CC of the KKE, wrote on its historic front page: "Comrades, hold the flag high! Hope is to be found in the struggles of the peoples"! 

59th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution: Message of the CC of the KKE to the Communist Party of Cuba

On the occasion of the 59th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) send to the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) the following message:

Athens, 29 December 2017.

Dear comrades,

we are delivering to you our comradely regards for the 59th anniversary of the victory of the Revolution in Cuba which created the first free territory in the american continent, liberated from imperialist repression and capitalist exploitation.

Comment by the KKE on Macedonia name dispute: "An end must be put to the irredentist propaganda"

Commenting on the recent revival of the public discussion* concerning the name dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece said the following:

"The revival of the nomenclature for the Skopje issue and the political-point aspirations developed by all sides, must not hide that a basic common pursuit, both of the SYRIZA-ANEL government and the other parties, is that the solution (whatever it is) must be linked to the accession of the neighboring country to NATO and the EU, which were and continue being the basic factors of instability, wars and border-changing in the Balkans and the broader region. 

Behind Hollywood's glamour: Shocking images of poverty and homelessness in downtown Los Angeles

Tents of homeless people in
downtown Los Angeles, California.

Capitalism Exposed in L.A.

What lies behind the glamorous showcase of the United States' second largest city? 

Rubbish bags piled up by the pavements and littered across streets. Tents erected in clusters where people have camped down for the night. Dozens of directionless residents congregating by the roadside and wandering into the road. 

This is what Christmas Day looked like for thousands of homeless people in the dark and dingy underbelly of Downtown Los Angeles this year.  

Party of Labour of Austria: The new goverment of the capital! - Die neue Regierung des Kapitals!

Statement by the Party of Labour of Austria (PdA) on the formation of the new coalition government of Austria. 

The new government is fixed. The last weeks of coalition negotiations between ÖVP (Austrian People's Party) and FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) already rudimentarily showed what awaits the working class and the Austrian people. The implementation of the decided measures and reforms would lead to an immediate deterioration of the working and living conditions of the wide majority of the population. The primary goal is to strengthen capital's position in the country. 

Venezuela: Libertad para el joven comunista Alí Jiménez - Solidarity with Venezuelan communists!

Through a statement, the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) has strongly denounced the arrest and detention by police authorities at San Juan de los Morros, of Alí Jiménez, member of the National Directorate of the Communist Youth of Venezuela (Juventud Comunista de Venezuela). 

PCV demands from the government of Nicolas Maduro the immediate release of the young communist, as long as Jiménez's guilt has not been proved and points out that behind the detention of JCV's cadre are reasons related to political retaliation. 

Jiménez was arrested on December 21st in the city of San Juan de los Morros, at the state of Guarico, when he was trying to intercede for local residents who were protesting. 

Murderous attack against young communists by Neo-Nazi gangsters in Ukraine

Source: kpu.ua.

In Ukraine a group of young fascists affiliated to one of the neo-Nazi parties of the country “National Corps” attacked the premises, where the youth wing of Communist Party of Ukraine gathered for plenums in Kiev. 

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine highligted in the press release on the issue that these criminal groups are controlled and supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It was added that during the attack, the police came to the scene and as always did not interfere in the situation.

Russia: The candidates of the Communist Parties for the 2018 presidential elections

According to the Russian News Agency TASS, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominated at Saturday’s congress the head of the Lenin State Farm, Pavel Grudinin, as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2018 election. 

Grudinin's nomination, which had the support of the Party's General Secretary Gennady Zyuganov, was approved by 303 votes, while 11 (delegates) voted against. 

From its side, the Russian Communist Workers Party (RCWP) has nominated trade unionist, worker at the Kirovsky Zavod factory, Natalia Lisitsyna as its candidate for the presidential elections. 

J.V.Stalin- The International Character of the October Revolution (Speech on the 10th Anniversary of the October Revolution)

Speech by Joseph Stalin on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution; Pravda, November 6-7, 1927. 

Source: J.V.Stalin, Works, Foreign Languages Publishing House, 

Moscow, 1954, Vol.10, pp. 244-55.

The October Revolution cannot be regarded merely as a revolution "within national bounds." It is, primarily, a revolution of an international, world order, for it signifies a radical turn in the world history of mankind, a turn from the old, capitalist world to the new, socialist world.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS regarding the current political situation in Greece

Odigitis International Edition
(October 2017) Front Page.

The following article is republished from the International Edition (October 2017) of "Odigitis" monthly, Organ of the CC of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE).

It is reasonable for a youngster following international developments to wonder about the situation in Greece and to express interest precisely for the last two years that the government of Greece has been assigned to a “left” party. That party (SYRIZA) added 2 new memorandums and additional barbaric measures crashing the rights and conquests of the people. Finally, after so many measures voted, they declare that “we are approaching growth, from which all of us are going to benefit”. However, is it like this? In this article we are trying to give answers about the real situation in Greece, about the way out in favor of the people, the one that KKE proposes, through three questions that often people make. 

United Nations: Major diplomatic defeat for the U.S. government - 128 countries rejected Trump's decision on Jerusalem

Cartoon: Carlos Latuff.

More than 120 countries defied President Donald Trump on Thursday and voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. More specifically, in favor of the UNGA resolution voted 128 countries, 9 countries voted against and 35 countries abstained. 

"[The resolution] Affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void," the document said. The document also calls upon UN members to "refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem".

PCPE-Comunistes Catalans: Declaració sobre les eleccions del 21 de desembre (Català)

With a statement, the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE)-Catalan Communists, under the leadership of Secretary General Astor Garcia explains the reasons for not participating in the elections of December 21st in Catalonia and underlines that both the two sides of bourgeois nationalism express the same antipeople-antiworkers policy. 

"No confidence in those who on both sides of the nationalist struggle have attacked our conditions and dignity! All the confidence in our class, in the world of work and the working people" writes, among other things, the statement of the PCPE-Catalan Communists and calls the people to vote "Null" on the elections thus rejecting the bourgeois parties and organize the action of the working class. 

Below you can read the statement in catalan language:

Comunistes Catalans- Partit Comunista dels Pobles d'Espanya

Greek state budget: Tsipras' government is doing the "dirty job" on behalf of the capitalists

Speaking yesterday in the Parliament during the discussion on state budget, Prime Minister Tsipras developed the narrative of "post-memorandums Greece", while presenting his government as the most capable to guarantee the recovery of the capitalists' profitability. 

PM Tsipras, bypassing the class content and character of the 2018 state budget- which, like the previous ones consists a tool for the implementation of the strategy of the capital, by attacking people's rights, cutting social spending, providing even more tax exemptions to large business groups, etc- said with certainly that "this is the last memorandum budget, we are now doing different things with different results". 

Statement of the KKE on International Migrants Day - بمناسبة اليوم العالمي للمهاجر

On the occasion of International Migrants Day, the KKE expresses its solidarity and support for the refugees and economic migrants living in our country, as well as Greek immigrants living and working abroad. It calls upon them to organize and struggle in the ranks of the class-oriented labour movement to join with the KKE:

- Defending and expanding their labour, social and democratic rights

PAME: Intervention at the Euro Mediterranean Trade Union Meeting in Marseille (English / Français)

All-Workers Militant Front (PAME-Greece).

Intervention at the Euro Mediterranean Trade Union Meeting held in Marseille, France 14-15/12/2017.

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of PAME (All Workers Militant Front), the class oriented trade unions movement of Greece, I salute today’s, big meeting of the trade unions of South Europe and the Mediterranean. It’s our great pleasure to be here with you, our class brothers the same moment that in Greece the banners of PAME and WFTU are flooding the streets, today December 14, day of big General Strike.

Pafilis (KKE): The government of SYRIZA whitewashes the capitalist system

Thanasis Pafilis.

Speaking in the Parliament about the 2018 state budget, the Communist Party of Greece MP Thanasis Pafilis denounced both SYRIZA and the opposition party of New Democracy for their efforts to disorientate the people about the real enemy- capitalism. As Pafilis said, behind their disputes, SYRIZA and New Democracy try to relieve popular dissatisfaction within the same system, the power of the monopolies and the capital which exploits the wealth produced by the people. 

For that reason, the KKE MP underlined, the EU, the representatives of capitalism, the industrialists congratulate the SYRIZA-ANEL government. 

Pafilis also said that the government lies when it argues that by August 2018 the austerity memorandums will end, as long as none of the 600 laws will be abolished, while the implementation of antipeople measures has been scheduled to continue in 2019, 2020, even by 2060.

Homeless in Dublin: The Communist Party of Ireland says "we need homes, not prison cells"

Dublin City Council is considering using a section of the Mountjoy prison campus to help deal with the capital's homeless problem. The Department of Justice has offered the training unit of Dublin's largest prison to the local authority, which is now considering it to house homeless people. The training unit is separated from the main section of the jail and was closed earlier this year.

At the time of its closure the unit had a capacity of 96 beds. Independent councillor Mannix Flynn said the council was considering using the facility to alleviate the city's current homelessness crisis. [...] The latest figures show there are 8,500 people without a home, 3,500 of whom are children, but there are fears the number could increase as the country heads into Christmas week, as the figures were compiled in October.

United States of America: The World Champion of Extreme Inequality (UN Special Report)

Source: Telesur / UNHCR Report.

"Today's United States has proved itself exceptional in ways shockingly at odds with its immense wealth and its founding commitment to human rights," the United Nations reports.

The United States – one of the world's richest and most powerful countries – is being transformed by President Donald Trump and his Republican Congress into the "world champion of inequality," according to a scathing new report by the United Nations' monitor on extreme poverty and human rights.

Berlin: Politisches Ereignis der Kommunistischen Partei Griechenlands (KKE) am 17. Dezember

The events organised by the Party Organisations of the KKE in Germany, in honor of the 100 years since the Great October Socialist Revolution, conclude with a political event that will take place on Sunday 17 of December, in Berlin. The major speaker will be the member of the Party's Political Bureau Giorgos Marinos, while the event will include the projection of a documentary and a historical exhibition. 

Palestinian People’s Party - Communist Party of Israel: Joint Call against Trump's policy on Jerusalem

The Palestinian People’s Party (PPP) and the Communist Party of Israel (CPI) severely condemn US President Donald Trump’s December 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a decision which is both a blatant attack on the rights of the Palestinian people and a significant blow to the requirements for a just peace based on UN resolutions adopted by most countries and the overwhelming majority of peoples worldwide.

The US policy supporting Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories since 1967 can only lead to a resurgence of chaos and instability throughout the region and the world. The newly announced American policy regarding Jerusalem assures that the United States will continue to remain part of the problem, rather than serve as a positive factor in achieving a solution. There is no solution to the conflict other than ending the Israeli occupation and fulfilling the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination by establishing an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital and resolving the refugee issue in accord with UN General Assembly resolution 194.

"Message for the struggle's escalation" - Militant strike mobilization in Greece against antiworkers policies

A message for the escalation of struggle against the antipeople-antiworkers policies of the SYRIZA coalition government was today's militant strike mobilizations across Greece. 

In Athens, the organised by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), demonstration began at Omonoia Square and through the city center passed towards the U.S. embassy, as a symbolic action against the recent Trump's decision on Jerusalem. 

EU Parliament awards the 2017 Sakharov Prize to the reactionary right-wing Venezuelan opposition

The reactionary, pro-U.S. opposition of Venezuela has been awarded by the EU Parliament with the Sahkarov Prize 2017. On the occasion of this shameful and outrageous act, the Communist Party of Greece group in the Europarliament made the following comments:

The European Parliament group of the KKE condemns the provocative act of the European Parliament to award the so-called Sakharov Prize to the reactionary opposition of Venezuela, the antigovernmental protests of which express sections of the capital with powerful relations with the USA and the EU, thus promoting the imperialist plans to this country and the broader region.

Greece: Everyone in the strike of December 14th - Le 14 décembre tous à la grève partout!

PAME: Everyone in the strike of December 14th.

All in the strike rallies in all cities! We fight back!

Let’s give a militant response to the new measures of impoverishment of the working people!

The positive climate that the government of SYRIZA - ANEL is trying to cultivate all along this time through the tale of the “just development” does not contain anything positive for the working people, since a new wave of anti-popular measures is being planned. The "just development" that the government promotes and defends, means further assault on the life of the working-people family with further abolition of rights and advances.

Common Appeal of Communist and Workers’ Parties in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against the unacceptable position of President Trump

The Communist and Workers’ parties that sign this common appeal:

1. Strongly condemn the unacceptable position of the President of the USA, D. Trump, through which the USA recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

2. This decision strongly undermines the just struggle of the Palestinian people against Israeli occupation, for the creation and recognition of a Palestine State at the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Moreover, this decision, which constitutes a dangerous provocation against the peoples of the Middle East, is moving towards the direction of a more general conflagration in the region in order to satisfy the US imperialist plans. 

When Donald Trump Falsifies History

A response to U.S. President Trump's blatant falsification of historical events.

By Nikos Mottas.

Donald Trump seems to have his own version of history. A version that falsifies completely the real historical events. The tycoon- turned President of the USA- decided to demonstrate his ignorance (or, perhaps, ability to distort history) during a Republican Party's rally in Pensacola, Florida on December 8th. 

What did Trump say? Among others, the U.S. President said the following: “We are the nation that dug out the Panama Canal, won two world wars, put a man on the moon and brought communism to its knees".

Communist Party of Israel (CPI) and Hadash strongly condemn Trump's decision on Jerusalem

The Communist Party of Israel and Hadash - the Democratic Front for Peace & Equality- strongly condemn the US president's, Donald Trump, statement concerning Jerusalem; a statement which denies the rights the Palestinian people have in the city. 

This statement is  the outcome of the alliance between the US administration, the Israeli government and the reactionary Arab regimes and their escalating conspiracies against the just rights of the Arab Palestinian people- and mainly against his right to self determination: an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital according to the UN resolutions. This alliance's stand had never been more clear and obvious in context of, both, the Palestinian case and the overall developments in the region. 

Tsipras and Erdogan, both enemies of the working class in Greece and Turkey

By Nikos Mottas. 

The visit of the Turkish President Erdogan in Greece has concluded. A lot of things were said in front of cameras and, certainly, even more behind closed doors. We could write about several conclusions regarding the undisputable upgrade of Ankara's assertions against Greece's sovereign rights, the unacceptable demand for the revision of the Treaty of Lausanne, the pretexts of President Erdogan regarding minorities, etc.

However, if we would like to summarize the very essense of Erdogan's visit, we must briefly- and clearly- point out the following:

• Both President Erdogan, as well as the Greek leadership, repeated in their public statements the (trite) wishes about “good neighborly relations”, “mutual respect”, “friendship” and “peace” between the two countries. All these are empty words, taking into account that within the framework of imperialism, within the framework of the NATO alliance – members of which are both countries – actual friendship and peace cannot exist. This is a given and multiple times proven in the passage of history truth. Therefore, with these words, Tsipras and Erdogan do not deceive each other, but they deceive together the Greek and Turkish people.

Condemn U.S. decision on Jerusalem: Statements by Communist and Workers Parties across the world

The recent decision of the U.S. Trump administration to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of the state of Israel has sparked outrage across the world. Israeli and Palestinian communist and left parties have denounced Trump's decision, while the Communist Party of Greece stated that the decision "adds fuel to the fire" to "burn" the perspective of a Palestinian state. Below, you can read announcements by various Communist and Workers Parties:

Communist Youth: Mass demonstration in Athens in solidarity with the Palestinian people

A strong message of solidarity with the Palestinian people and against the recent decision of the U.S. to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital was given by thousands of young people, members and friends of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) who demonstrated in downtown Athens on Friday afternoon. 

The protesters gathered at Propylaia and marched towards the U.S. Embassy, shouting slogans such as "Freedom to Palestine" and "Americans, murderers of the peoples". 

Statement by the KKE on the visit of Turkish President Erdogan in Greece: "People in both countries must be vigilant"

On the occasion of the official visit of the President of Turkey Rejep Tayyip Erdogan in Greece (7-8 December), the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece issued the following statement:

"The visit of the President of Turkey T.Erdogan in our country did not confirm whatsoever the environment that the SYRIZA-ANEL government was uncourteously cultivating during the previous days by naming the visit as "historical". After all, it wouldn't be different, when only within 2017 the violations of the Greek airspace and maritime waters are thousands, while just before his visit, during an interview, the President of Turkey restored all the new provocations and assertions against the country, with the peak being the demand for the revise of the Treaty of Lausanne. 

Israeli and Palestinian communists denounce Trump's decision on Jerusalem

Israeli and Palestinian Communist Parties have reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump's provocative decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Below you can read statements by parties such as Hadash, the CP of Israel, the Palestinian CP and the Palestinian Peoples' Party.

Hadash / Communist Party of Israel (CPI)

According the official website of the Communist Party of Israel (CPI), the intention to transfer the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem "provoked reactions of outrage" among the ranks of the CPI, including the members from the Joint List of the Democracy Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) in the parliamentary assembly of Israel, Knesset.

The KKE condemns Trump government's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital city

Regarding the announcement of U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital city, the Press Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece issued the following statement of condemnation:

"The decision of the USA to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital shows the cynicism with which american imperialism actively participates in the crime that is being committed against the people of Palestine by Israel and its allies, primarily the USA, as well as the EU. The later, not only deepens constantly her relations with Israel, but also indentifies the perpetrator and the victim, proclaiming as "terrorism" the righteous struggle of the people of Palestine.

General Strike on December 14th in Greece - Workers to give a powerful response to SYRIZA government

Source: All-Workers Militant Front.

Last week in Greece, the working class witnessed a series of incidents that showed a strong escalation of state oppression and employers' intimidations against workers

The workers of supermarkets in Ioannina, the students and the workers of the Universities, outside the Ministry of Education, but also the protesters in the courts against the banks auctioning off peoples’ homes, were not the first to suffer persecutions, arrests, violent repression and tear gas.

The over 18 months unpaid workers of the super markets of Ioannina who struggle for their right to work and their salaries, the students who in the year 2017 literally demand a decent meal and the workers who protect their homes, were within a few hours targeted by the SYRIZA-ANEL government.

Paris: Evénement de la section française du KKE en l'honneur de la Révolution d'Octobre le 9 novembre

La section française du KKE (Parti Communiste de Grèce) vous invite a une commemoration du Centenaire de la Grande Socialiste Révolution d'Octobre 1917. L'événement sera assisté et adressé par le député de Thessalonique du KKE Yannis Delis.

Le Samedi 9 Novembre, 19h00,

 à Espace Ageca, 177 rue de Charonne, Paris 11.

KKE sends powerful message to Tsipras' government: "The right to strike is non-negotiable, don't dare to touch it!"

Regarding the SYRIZA-ANEL government's amendment about the right to strike- which provoked the militant response of Trade Unions and workers - the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece issued the following statement:

"The SYRIZA-ANEL government broke any record of political impudence and nastiness, bringing, like a thief in the Parliament - and within an irrelevant law proposal in order to vote it quickly- an amendment in order to begin the rupture of the working class' biggest conquest, which is the right to strike. 

SYRIZA government withdraws anti-strike amendment after Trade Unions' militant reaction

Workers-Trade Unionists invade the Ministry
of Labour in Athens.

The SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government was forced after militant mobilization by PAME and Trade Unions to withdraw a shameful amendment on workers’ strike and other labour issues only hours after they were tabled in parliament. Earlier today (Tuesday), demonstrators supported by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) invaded the Ministry of Labor in central Athens, as an act of protest against the antiworker-antipeople measures of the government.

The government's amendment proposes that for a union to go on strike, at least 50% plus one of active union members must agree. In fact, this measure is a step towards the restriction of the workers' right to strike and consists an escalation of the government-EU's attack against the labour movement.

Britain: 19 million people living below the line of poverty

Source: The New Worker.

Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this year claimed she was reaching out to families that were “just about managing” to get by. But there are millions more families now who are not managing at all, thanks to her policies.

According to a report released last week by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) there are now 3.4 million more households in Britain struggling to live on their income than there were in the year 2008—2009.

There are now just under 19 million people in Britain living below the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ (MIS), 11 million of whom are not managing but are sinking fast into a bottomless pit of debt and desperation.

European Communist Initiative: On the intensification of the militarization and aggressiveness of the EU

Statement by the Parties of the European Communist Initiative:

The EU, the NATO and the bourgeois governments of their member-states are engaged in an escalating arms race and in the development of military plans and preparations, which pose a serious danger for the peoples.

These developments reflect the contradictions among the governments within the EU and NATO as well as their contradictions with other imperialist centers and rival powers which are focused on the control of hydrocarbons and energy pipelines in the Middle East, in Northern Africa, in Eastern Mediterranean and other regions.