It is the world’s perpetual problem and it is in the news again.
To look at this problem, it is helpful to separate facts from opinion.
To look at this problem, it is helpful to separate facts from opinion.
Facts
- In the 1967 war Israel conquered the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights
- Israel continues to occupy Palestinian lands
- Israel continues to expand its holdings in Palestinian lands with increased settlements
- Israeli settlers regularly harass Palestinians
- At times there are sporadic Palestinian reactions to the Israeli occupation
- The expanding Israeli settlements go on during peaceful periods (during the Oslo Accord period Israeli settlements doubled) and during times of hostilities (during the two Palestinian intifada resistances settlements continued)
Opinion/Analysis
- It is easy to conclude that the long range plan of Israel is to take complete control of the West Bank
- International law states that an occupied people have the right to resist occupation. It appears that Israel benefits from violent resistance. It gives them a reason to counteract with increased projects of control. Therefore, two intifadas have in fact aided Israel’s plan of occupation. There is even evidence to suggest that Israel has provoked violent resistance when a peaceful solution was at hand. At the very least they have benefited from the violent resistance of the occupied Palestinians.
The solution? Though most of the world sees the problem as one of prolonged occupation, Israel with strong US support continues its program of occupational control. It would then appear that only outside pressure (UN, governmental, BDS) will alter the course of Israeli encroachment on Palestinian lands.
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