From Algeria to France, Berbers have always supported Palestinian liberation

Many Kabyle Algerians expressed outrage when the so-called president of the Provisional Government of Kabylia, Ferhat Mehenni, took part in a gathering in support of the state of Israel in Paris, following the 7 October operation by Hamas.

This comes after two decades of Mehenni claiming to be a spokesperson for the largest Berber (Amazigh) ethnic group in Algeria, as founder and leader of the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK). During these years he not only platformed himself president of a state that most Kabyles don't seek, but he has also used this to preach anti-Arab views.

Given Algerians’ staunch pro-Palestine history, both in the homeland and amongst the diaspora, Mehenni’s stunt was a deeply contradictory and, to some, an embarrassing move. Whilst many don’t expect differently from him given his political history of entertaining right-wing and Israel supporters, it’s his claim as leader of Algerian Berbers as he flies the pro-Israel flag, that many take issue with.

''When Algerians eventually launched the uprising that would liberate Algeria from 132 years of colonisation, money and jewellery were donated by people throughout the Arab world, including in Palestinian refugee camps, to support these efforts.''

Far from following in the footsteps of his father, who was martyred during the war of liberation against the French colonisation, Mehenni ticks all the boxes of the “native informant” and has entertained the most reactionary and racist currents of the French political spectrum.

His anti-Islam views have even been a reference used by far-right figure and former presidential candidate, Eric Zemmour, in his attempt to denigrate Islam.

Mehenni’s involvement with Israel supporters is nothing new, however. In 2012, for example, he took part in a visit to Israel organised by French-Israeli Zionist activist Jacques Kupfer.

Even though he didn’t meet with any members of the Israeli government, he did meet with the Likud hardliners. This included his host, former leader of the violent far-right Zionist youth movement Betar in France. Kupfer was famous for having stated: "There are no Palestinians, because there isn't a Palestinian people".

Mehenni also met with Israeli politician and member of the Likud part, Dany Danon, who asserted that there’s no place for anyone in the Likud party if they support a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

For Israel, such a partnership with a separatist like Mehenni makes sense. After all, it is consistent with Israel’s “periphery doctrine” which seeks at find regional partners against the “Arab core”. In other words, it helps to divide and conquer. It’s why Israel has reached out to various ethnic and religious minority leaders within the Arab countries, including Maronites in Lebanon, Kurds in Iraq and Turkey, and Amazigh (Berber) people in North Africa.

However, the “president” does not represent the Berbers in general, nor the Kabyles in particular. Especially when he spews his anti-Arab views.

As a Kabyle myself, I reiterate what many within and outside of the region believe, which is that our attachment to the mountains, villages, language, traditions and everything that constitutes the basis of our identity is not founded on a hatred for Arabs and even less for Muslims. After all, the considerable majority of us are Muslims.

Many of us, as was seen on social media during his pro-Israel stunt recently, consider him an imposter. Whether he’s in denial about this reality, or consciously states otherwise for personal interests, the fact remains that Kabylia, just like its history and culture, will remain forever in the centre of the Algerian coast. The blood of its inhabitants is intertwined with that of Algerians from all regions of the country who fought with their lives to liberate the entire territory.

After all, Amazigh means ‘free man’ and Kabyles have testified throughout their history that they have a deep attachment to freedom and have never wavered from paying a heavy price for it. And it is in the name of this same freedom and especially because of our painful experience of colonial oppression at the hands of the French, that we support the struggle of the Palestinian people, and have done so for 75 years.

In reality, our histories are more intertwined than providing solidarity.

The mountains of Kabylia were historically instrumental in the fight against France’s colonial army and its inhabitants consequently experienced much repression. The famous El Mokrani uprising of 1871, for example, saw a merciless crushing of the resistance by French colonial authorities, a dark chapter that was carried in the collective memory of the survivors for decades.

This forced some from the region into exile in various Arab countries, including Palestine where they were welcomed with hospitality and were able to preserve their language and customs. Though they too were later uprooted from the land, this time by another colonial force, and dispersed across refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza with Palestinians during the Nakba.

When Algerians eventually launched the uprising that would liberate Algeria from 132 years of colonisation, money and jewellery were donated by people throughout the Arab world, including in Palestinian refugee camps, to support these efforts.

Indeed, Arab and Palestinian brothers and sisters carried our struggle with their financial, diplomatic, military, and even spiritual support throughout the many decades it took to reach the final victory on 5 July 1962.

Palestinians should rest assured of our unconditional support, solidarity and comradely love until their homeland is also liberated. Just as ululations were heard across Palestinian refugee camps the day we regained our freedom from France’s colonial grip, there is no doubt they will hear the same across Algeria, including every Kabyle village, on the day they regain theirs.

Khaled Sid Mohand is an Algerian journalist who has worked with Radio France and Le Monde. He is also teacher at the Paris Superior School of Journalism and is a human rights activist.

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