The Rot at the Heart of Israeli Occupation

In the occupied West Bank, Palestinians cower indoors as Israeli settlers, armed and emboldened by the government, terrorize them. The standoff in Qusra village is a manifestation of a long-standing pattern: Israel’s refusal to rein in settler violence against Palestinians.

For decades, successive Israeli governments have enabled and encouraged the growth of settlements in the West Bank, which now house over 500,000 Jewish settlers. These colonies are not isolated communities but fully-fledged suburbs with shopping malls, parks, and industrial zones, a testament to the normalization of Israel’s occupation.

Israel views the West Bank as an integral part of its biblical and historical homeland, erasing Palestinian existence in the process. This is not merely a matter of differing perspectives but a fundamental rejection of the two-state solution. The world, including major human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, has repeatedly condemned settlements as illegal under international law.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, downplays the significance of settlements, claiming that settlers are mere “boys on the hills” rather than the tip of the spear for a movement aimed at cementing Israeli control over the territory. The United States has been criticized for its muted response to settler violence, despite issuing sanctions against certain Israeli organizations and individuals accused of inciting extremist violence.

These measures have had little impact, partly because they’ve often been undermined by the Trump administration’s reversal of previous policies. What this says about US priorities in the region is puzzling, given its own long history of colonization. Washington continues to provide billions of dollars in military aid to Israel while tolerating, if not actively enabling, the latter’s occupation of Palestinian territory.

This is particularly galling given the Biden administration’s stated commitment to human rights and the rule of law. The real tragedy lies not just in the violence itself but in how it reflects a deeper rot at the heart of Israeli society. Settler violence has become entrenched, with investigations often ending without indictments or convictions, speaking volumes about the extent to which Israel’s security apparatus has compromised its values.

The situation in Qusra village may be one symptom of a broader disease, but it serves as a stark reminder that Israel’s occupation remains a major obstacle to regional stability. Until we address this reality head-on, we’ll only perpetuate a cycle of violence and resistance that will continue to ravage the West Bank – and beyond.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to maintain his grip on power in the face of growing opposition, which means he won’t be able to do so without maintaining good relations with hard-line settler leaders like Itamar Ben Gvir. This requires a nuanced understanding of Israel’s internal politics and a willingness to confront its own apartheid-like system.

For Palestinians in Qusra village, however, there’s little time for nuance or politics – they’re simply fighting for their right to live without fear of settler violence, a basic human dignity that every decent society should guarantee but which remains sadly elusive under Israeli occupation.