What is the endgame of Israel and its allies?

The horrible war between Hamas and Israel has continued now over four months. At least 28,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 67,000 Palestinians have been injured since the war started on the 7th of October, last year. According to the United Nations, 30% of Gaza’s buildings and 60% of Gaza’s infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed. 85% of Gaza’s population is internally displaced. Israel has now announced that it is going to start ground offensive in Rafah, Southern Gaza, where half of Gaza’s population – over 1.4 million people – is located, at the moment. (1, 2) At the beginning of January, Israel estimated that the war is expected to continue throughout 2024 (3). So, what is the endgame of Israel and its allies? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that Israel will continue the war until Hamas is destroyed and Israel will gain “absolute victory” (4). However, it seems increasingly likely that the Zionist regime is using the war as an opportunity to try to get rid of Palestinians way or the other and to continue building Greater Israel.

Here are some important aspects of this disastrous war:

Claims of Israel’s war crimes and intent to commit genocide:
Legal cases against Israel have been coming thick and fast. At the end of January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its interim ruling in South Africa’s case against Israel regarding Israel’s alleged genocidal acts in Gaza. The ICJ ruling didn’t call for a ceasefire. However, judge Joan Donoghue, the president of the ICJ, said that “some of the acts and omissions by Israel and its officials seem to fall within the scope of the Genocide Convention”. The ICJ warned that Israel should “take all measures in its power to prevent” acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention. (5) Professors Raz Segal and Penny Green wrote earlier last month that it is not difficult to prove Israel’s genocidal intent – there are plenty of examples of that. Human rights organization Law for Palestine has compiled a database of over 500 statements that show Israel’s intention to commit genocide and incitement to genocide since this war started. (6, 7)

Last year, Palestinian human rights groups and individual Palestinians brought a legal case against President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in California, USA. The federal court in California ruled a while ago that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza “plausibly” amounts to genocide. However, the court stated that the legal case aimed at stopping US military support for Israel was outside the court’s jurisdiction. (8)

At the end of December, international rights organization Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (Euro-Med) submitted its report regarding the Israeli genocidal acts in Gaza to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to United Nations rapporteurs. Euro-Med urged the UN special rapporteurs and the ICC Prosecutor to launch a swift investigation into human rights violations and other war crimes that Israel has committed against civilians on the Gaza Strip. (9) Also at the end of December, hundred lawyers in Chile filed a complaint before the ICC against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They accused him of committing crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes in Gaza. (10) Last month, Mexico and Chile asked the ICC to probe possible war crimes committed by Israel against Palestinians during this war in Gaza (11).

Israel has reacted furiously to the accusations against it. After the ICJ ruling, Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant said, “Israel does not need to be lectured on morality.” Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the ICJ’s consideration of Israel committing a genocide against the Palestinians was “a disgrace that will not be erased for generations”. (12, 13) Not surprisingly, Israel’s key allies USA and Britain have dismissed the legal cases against Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said before the ICJ ruling that the genocide case against Israel is “meritless” and “galling”. After the ruling, US national security spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that the Biden administration still believes that South Africa’s genocide case against Israel is “meritless, counterproductive and completely without any basis and fact whatsoever”. Kirby continued by saying that “it has not been found that they (i.e. Israel) are committing genocide, we have no indication that that is going on, that they are deliberately exterminating the people of Gaza.” (14, 15) Before the ICJ ruling, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that Israel has no case to answer at the ICJ and that the claim that Israel has intent to commit genocide is “nonsense” (16). At the beginning of January, Keir Starmer, leader of the British Labour Party, said in a radio interview that Israel has a right to carry out siege and cut off power and water from the Gaza Strip (17).

One surprisingly eager ally of Israel has been Germany. By the beginning of November 2023, Germany’s military exports to Israel had increased nearly 10-fold compared to year 2022 (18). Before the ICJ ruling, Germany wanted to intervene in the court case. Steffen Hebestreit, spokesman for the German government, said, “The German government firmly and explicitly rejects the accusation of genocide that has now been made against Israel before the International Court of Justice. This accusation has no basis whatsoever.” Hebestreit also said that “Germany bears special responsibility for Israel due to the Nazi genocide of Jews during World War II” and that the German government would “continue to support Israel to defend itself against Hamas”. (19) So, basically Germany seemed to want to compensate Holocaust by facilitating another potential genocide. However, after the ICJ ruling Germany stated that Israel must comply with the ruling (20).

Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians:
Several Israeli politicians and officials have supported the idea of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Michael Ben-Ari, who is a far-right extremist and former member of Israeli parliament Knesset, said that the population of Gaza must be expelled and forcibly relocated around the world “to ensure Israel’s safety and survival” (21). Ram Ben Barak, ex-deputy director of Mossad, also suggested that Gaza’s entire population should be resettled globally (22). In December, it was reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu was pushing for plans to implement “voluntary migration” of the Palestinians in Gaza to other countries (23). Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Palestinian residents of leave Gaza, so that Israelis could move there and “make the desert bloom” (24). According to media reports, Israel has been in secret talks with several African countries in order to get Palestinians to leave Gaza “voluntarily” to those countries (25, 26).

One particularly interesting idea has been a plan that Palestinian residents of Gaza should be moved to Sinai Peninsula that belongs of Egypt. After the war started in October, last year, it was revealed that Israel’s Intelligence Ministry had drafted a wartime proposal, “a concept paper”, to transfer the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million people to Sinai. According to the document, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates might support the plan financially or those countries and also Canada could take in displaced residents of Gaza. (27) Around the same time when the proposal was revealed, Israeli diplomat Danny Ayalon said that there is “endless space” for Gaza’s residents in Sinai and that they should all be moved there (28).

Israel and USA have apparently had plans to relocate Palestinians to Sinai for years. The idea was first suggested to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2014. Over the years, the idea has been discussed occasionally with Egypt and some other Middle Eastern countries, also during Trump’s presidency. (29) So, maybe it was no coincidence when former vice president Mike Pence said in October, last year, that if he were president, he would tell Egypt to accept Palestinian refugees. He continued, “Send us the bill. We’ll set up the refugee camps.” (30) Also in October, last year, the Biden administration asked Congress to fund the “potential needs of Gazans fleeing to neighboring countries” (31).

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has strongly rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians to Sinai. He warned that such a move would cause a war between Egypt and Israel. He also predicted that the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt would be followed by the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan. At the meeting of the Arab League in November, last year, foreign ministers of Arab countries categorically rejected the displacement of Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan. (32, 33)

Occupying the Palestinian territories and building Greater Israel:
While the rest of the world has wanted to revive negotiations for the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, many Israeli politicians have vehemently opposed any possibility of a Palestinian state. Israeli President Herzog said couple of months ago that this is not the time to talk about establishing an independent state (34). Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the end of January that after the war ends, Israel wants to keep security control of “all land west of the River Jordan” and that Israel’s “security needs” will leave no space for a sovereign Palestinian state. Netanyahu’s party Likud has stated its objection to the Palestinian state on its platform. The platform states, “The right of the Jewish people to the land of Israel is eternal and indisputable… therefore, Judea and Samaria will not be handed to any foreign administration; between the Sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty.” (35, 36)

At the end of January, dozens of ministers from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition government, including 12 ministers from Netanyahu’s party Likud, took part to a far-right conference “Settlement Brings Security and Victory”. The conference called for new settlements to be built in the Palestinian territories and encouraged displacement of Palestinians who live in Gaza. The conference presented a map of new settlements that should be build to Gaza. (37) Israeli rights group Peace Now reported in January, that there has been “unprecedented surge in settlement activities, including the construction of outposts, roads, fences, and roadblocks initiated by settlers” in the West Bank since the start of the war. The rights group added, “The permissive military and political environment allow the reckless construction and land seizure almost unchecked, with minimal adherence to the law. The result is not only physical harm to Palestinians and their lands but also a significant political shift in the West Bank.” (38)

The Zionist expansionism is not a threat only to Palestinians and their land but also to some other areas and countries. According to media reports, the governments of Türkiye and Northern Cyprus are increasingly concerned about the growing Israeli presence in Cyprus island. Jewish individuals from Israel and other countries as well as Jewish companies that are registered in Northern Cyprus “have been involved in significant land acquisitions and construction projects, especially in areas facing Israel”. The Cyprus Foundation has issued “a public warning regarding the threat posed by Israeli expansion in the region”. Cyprus has had a special meaning for the Zionist movement – the island has been considered to be another “sacred homeland” for them. (39)

Some possible financial interests:
The war between Hamas and Israel has been profitable for Israeli and many other arms manufacturers. Independent journalist and filmmaker Antony Loewenstein pointed out in November, last year, that Israel dropped in a month more than 25,000 tons of explosives to Gaza – the equivalent of two nuclear bombs. He also wrote that Israel has used conflicts with Palestinians as an opportunity to test its new weapons. (40) American Friends Service Committee has listed the companies that have provided Israel with weapons and other military equipment used in its attacks on Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria between October 2023 and January 2024 (41). Canadian government authorized at least $28.5 million of new permits for military exports to Israel during the first two months of war against Hamas in Gaza – the amount of permits exceeded the 30-year annual record high of $26 million in Canadian military exports to Israel in 2021 (42). In addition to Germany, Italy and particularly Britain have supplied Israeli army with weapons and equipment that are now being used in the war against Hamas. (43)

There may be some other financial interests that are linked to this war. Political expert Seyed Hossein Mousavian wrote in November, last year, that “significant reservoirs of oil and natural gas” have been found off the Gaza Strip and in some parts of the occupied West Bank. He believed that the objective of Israel is “not only to demolish Hamas and/or exclude Palestinians from their homeland, but to confiscate Gaza’s multi-billion-dollar gas resources”. (44)

Israel’s announcement to start the ground offensive in Rafah has alarmed other countries. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting because of the situation. Saudi Arabia and many other countries as well as the EU and the UN have strongly condemned the planned ground offensive and rejected any possible attempts to force Palestinians to leave Gaza. President Biden reportedly told Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday that Israel should not launch a military operation in Rafah “without a credible plan” to ensure the safety of the people who are sheltering there. (1, 45, 46) As the situation seems to be coming to a head, it remains to be seen, if Israel will be genuinely willing to ensure the safety of the civilians in Rafah. If not and if the war escalates further, how far Israel’s allies are willing to go to support Israel?

References:

(1) “Saudi Arabia calls for ‘urgent’ UN Security Council meeting to prevent Israeli invasion toward Rafah” Middle East Monitor 10.2.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240210-saudi-arabia-calls-for-urgent-un-security-council-meeting-to-prevent-israeli-invasion-toward-rafah

(2) “Satellite images show 30% of Gaza destroyed, UN centre says” Middle East Monitor 2.2.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240202-satellite-images-show-30-of-gaza-destroyed-un-centre-says

(3) “Israel says war in Gaza expected to continue throughout 2024” BBC 1.1.2024

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67855117

(4) “Netanyahu rejects Gaza ceasefire deal and says victory is ‘within reach’” The Guardian 7.2.2024

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/07/netanyahu-rejects-gaza-ceasefire-deal-and-says-victory-is-within-reach-israel

(5) “ICJ rules Israel must prevent acts of genocide in Gaza: Key takeaways” Al Jazeera 26.1.2024

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/26/icj-rules-israel-must-prevent-acts-of-genocide-in-gaza-key-takeaways

(6) “Intent in the genocide case against Israel is not hard to prove” Al Jazeera 14.1.2024

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/1/14/intent-in-the-genocide-case-against-israel-is-not-hard-to-prove

(7) “Law for Palestine Releases Database with 500+ Instances of Israeli Incitement to Genocide – Continuously Updated” Law For Palestine 4.1.2024

https://law4palestine.org/law-for-palestine-releases-database-with-500-instances-of-israeli-incitement-to-genocide-continuously-updated/

(8) “Israel’s campaign in Gaza ‘plausibly’ amounts to genocide, US court finds” The Guardian 1.2.2024

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/01/genocide-gaza-israel-california-court

(9) “Euro-Med submits findings on Israeli army executions in Gaza to ICC, UN, calling them ‘genocide'” Middle East Monitor 26.12.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231226-euro-med-submits-findings-on-israeli-army-executions-in-gaza-to-icc-un-calling-them-genocide/

(10) “100 lawyers in Chile call on ICC to probe Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza” Middle East Monitor 9.1.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240109-100-lawyers-in-chile-call-on-icc-to-probe-netanyahu-for-war-crimes-in-gaza

(11) “War on Gaza: Mexico and Chile request ICC probe over possible Israeli war crimes in Gaza” Middle East Eye 19.1.2024

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/mexico-chile-request-icc-investigation-over-israeli-war-crimes-gaza

(12) “Gallant responds to ICJ: ‘Israel does not need lecture on morality’” Middle East Monitor 27.1.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240127-gallant-responds-to-icj-israel-does-not-need-lecture-on-morality

(13) “Netanyahu says Israel will continue war in Gaza despite ICJ ruling” Middle East Monitor 26.1.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240126-netanyahu-says-israel-will-continue-war-in-gaza-despite-icj-ruling

(14) “US says genocide case against Israel ‘meritless’, ‘galling'” Middle East Monitor 9.1.2021

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240109-us-says-genocide-case-against-israel-meritless-galling

(15) “US doubles down on dismissing genocide claim despite ICJ ruling” Middle East Eye 26.1.2024

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-doubles-down-dismissing-genocide-claims-despite-icj-ruling

(16) “David Cameron Says It Is ‘Nonsense’ To Claim Israel Is Committing Genocide In Gaza” Yahoo News 14.1.2024

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/david-cameron-says-nonsense-claim-114701587.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmZpLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANrbdYfkvzzV8g0t-T5IcyZ56Oo0quML_UXm813t7TIQB48j7rzKiEjLwnz0oC5gx_P_QBvOygr43-4blyhr2opP-axcc5-fS_cAQxEfl8Om-EYHO7H6wMaZAJ5zzemLK4ow_j2_v2RTzvovpWZtTsCJKr9G25W37cm6TOgrlDaL

(17) “Keir Starmer says Israel has right to carry out siege on Gaza” Middle East Monitor 4.1.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240104-keir-starmer-says-israel-has-right-to-carry-out-siege-on-gaza

(18) “German military exports to Israel up nearly 10-fold as Berlin fast-tracks permits” Reuters 8.11.2023

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-military-exports-israel-up-nearly-10-fold-berlin-fast-tracks-permits-2023-11-08/

(19 )”Germany to intervene in genocide case against Israel: Official” Middle East Monitor 12.1.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240112-germany-to-intervene-in-genocide-case-against-israel-official

(20) “Germany says Israel must comply with UN court’s Gaza ruling” Anadolu Ajansi 26.1.2024

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germany-says-israel-must-comply-with-un-court-s-gaza-ruling/3120108#

(21) “Former Knesset member says Gazans must be forced out of Gaza for Israel’s survival” Middle East Monitor 29.12.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231229-former-knesset-member-says-gazans-must-be-forced-out-of-gaza-for-israels-survival

(22) “Ex-Mossad deputy director proposes resettling Gaza’s entire population globally” Middle East Monitor 4.11.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231104-former-mossad-deputy-director-proposes-resettling-gazas-entire-population-globally

(23) “Netanyahu pushes for ‘voluntary migration’ for Palestinians in Gaza: Israeli media” Middle East Monitor 26.12.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231226-netanyahu-pushes-for-voluntary-migration-for-palestinians-in-gaza-israeli-media

(24) “Israeli minister reiterates calls for Palestinians to leave Gaza” Al Jazeera 31.12.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/31/israeli-minister-reiterates-calls-for-palestinians-to-leave-gaza

(25) “Israel in talks with Congo and other countries on Gaza ‘voluntary migration’ plan” The Times of Israel 3.1.2024

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-in-talks-with-congo-and-other-countries-on-gaza-voluntary-migration-plan/

(26) “War on Gaza: Israel ‘negotiating with African states’ to receive exiled Palestinians” Middle East Eye 3.1.2024

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-negotiating-african-countries-expel-palestinians-gaza-report

(27) “Intelligence Ministry ‘concept paper’ proposes transferring Gazans to Egypt’s Sinai” The Times of Israel 31.10.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/intelligence-ministry-concept-paper-proposes-transferring-gazans-to-egypts-sinai/

(28) “Israeli diplomat: There’s endless space in Egypt’s Sinai Desert for Gaza’s civilians” Middle East Monitor 14.10.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231014-israeli-diplomat-theres-endless-space-in-egypts-sinai-desert-for-gazas-civilians

(29) “ANALYSIS – ‘Deal of Century’ and the plan to relocate Palestinians” Anadolu Ajansi 28.1.2020

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis/analysis-deal-of-century-and-the-plan-to-relocate-palestinians/1716084#

(30) “What Republican presidential candidates are saying about the Israel-Hamas war” NPR 18.10.2023

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/18/1206565510/republican-president-election-israel-hamas-trump-haley-biden

(31) “Israel-Palestine war: White House accused of endorsing Palestinian displacement in budget request” Middle East Eye 27.10.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-war-white-house-accused-endorsing-displacement

(32) “Egypt’s Sisi: Displacing Palestinians to Sinai could ignite a war with Israel” Middle East Monitor 19.10.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231019-egypts-sisi-displacing-palestinians-to-sinai-could-ignite-a-war-with-israel

(33) “Arab FMs reject displacement of Palestinians to Egypt, Jordan” Middle East Monitor 10.11.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231110-arab-fms-reject-displacement-of-palestinians-to-egypt-jordan

(34) “Herzog joins top Israeli officials to reject two-state deal in snub to US” TRT World December 2023

https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/herzog-joins-top-israeli-officials-to-reject-two-state-deal-in-snub-to-us-16243584

(35) “Netanyahu defies Biden, insisting there’s ‘no space’ for Palestinian state” The Guardian 20.1.2024

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/20/netanyahu-defies-biden-insisting-theres-no-space-for-palestinian-state

(36) “Netanyahu: Only greater Israel will exist from ‘river to the sea’” Middle East Monitor 19.1.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240119-netanyahu-only-greater-israel-will-exist-from-river-to-the-sea

(37) “Israeli ministers join gathering calling for resettlement of Gaza” Al Jazeera 29.1.2024

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/29/israeli-ministers-join-gathering-calling-for-rebuilding-settlements-in-gaza

(38) “‘Unprecedented surge’ in settlement activity in West Bank since war on Gaza” Middle East Monitor 10.1.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240110-unprecedented-surge-in-settlement-activity-in-west-bank-since-war-on-gaza

(39) “Silent occupation: Are Zionists attempting to expand into Cyprus island?” TRT World January 2024

https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/silent-occupation-are-zionists-attempting-to-expand-into-cyprus-island-15999042

(40) “When it comes to the Israeli-led ‘war on terror’, follow the money” Al Jazeera 19.11.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/11/19/when-it-comes-to-the-israeli-led-war-on-terror-follow-the-money

(41) “The Companies Profiting from Israel’s 2023-2024 Attacks on Gaza” American Friends Service Committee AFSC January 2024

https://afsc.org/companies-2023-attack-gaza

(42) “Trudeau Government Authorized $28.5 Million Of New Military Exports To Israel Since October” The Maple 10.2.2024

https://www.readthemaple.com/trudeau-government-authorized-28-million-of-new-military-exports-to-israel-since-october/

(43) “Europe ‘aiding and assisting’ Israel’s war in Gaza with key weapons” Euronews 3.11.2023

https://www.euronews.com/2023/11/03/europe-aiding-and-assisting-israels-war-in-gaza-with-vital-weapons

(44) “Israel-Palestine war: Israel wants to seize Gaza’s multibillion dollar gas field” Middle East Eye 15.11.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/israel-palestine-war-geopolitics-gaza-multibillion-dollar-gas-field

(45) “Biden joins international calls for Israel to halt planned Rafah offensive” The Guardian 12.2.2024

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/12/foreign-secretaries-and-diplomats-try-to-persuade-netanyahu-to-call-off-rafah-offensive

(46) “UN: We will not be party to the forced evacuation of Palestinians from Rafah” Middle East Monitor 13.2.2024

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240213-un-we-will-not-be-party-to-the-forced-evacuation-of-palestinians-from-rafah

History is watching

The horrible war between Hamas and Israel has now continued over two months. During Israel’s siege and carpet bombing of Gaza over 18,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 49,000 have been injured. 85 percent of the population in Gaza is internally displaced. Around 1,200 have died on the Israeli side. (1) Since the start of the war, settler attacks against Palestinians have more than doubled in the West Bank and at least 275 Palestinians have been killed there (2).

Last month, over 800 scholars and other experts warned about the possibility of the crime of genocide being perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip (3). Independent experts of the United Nations warned that “grave violations” committed by Israel against Palestinians since the 7th of October “point to a genocide in the making.” The experts also said that they are “deeply disturbed by the failure of (world) governments to heed our call and to achieve an immediate ceasefire.” They continued, “We are also profoundly concerned about the support of certain governments for Israel’s strategy of warfare against the besieged population of Gaza, and the failure of the international system to mobilize to prevent genocide.” (4)

The war between Hamas and Israel has once again revealed the Western bias and double standards. At the beginning of the war, Western politicians queued up to show their support for Israel (5) and the Western mainstream media has been predominantly pro-Israel. The editorial in The New Humanitarian summed the situation up in a great way (6):

“We are preconditioned not to see Palestinian humanity because colonialism, white supremacy, and Islamophobia are still the dominant lens through which states, institutions, people, and media in the West view the world (although geopolitical interests are, of course, also at play).”

The bias of the Western politicians has been in full view ever since the Hamas-Israel war started. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said in April that Israel had made “the desert bloom”, was accused of “unacceptable bias” toward Israel when she said that Israel has the right to defend itself but didn’t criticize the humanitarian consequences of Israel’s retaliatory attacks in Gaza (7, 8). Foreign policy chief of the EU Josep Borrell caused controversy last year by saying that “Europe is a garden” and that “most of the rest of the world is a jungle, and the jungle could invade the garden.” (9) During a recent interview, Mr. Borrell said that Hamas’ attack on Israel on the 7th of October was a war crime. However, when he was asked if Israel’s attacks on Gaza are war crimes, he responded, “I’m not a lawyer.” (10) In France, prominent politicians – including members of President Macron’s party as well as leaders of the two far-right parties National Rally and Reconquest – marched against antisemitism but not against Islamophobia. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, did not take part to the march – he said that it was the meeting of “friends of unconditional support for the massacre” in Gaza. (11, 12) Dutch pro-Israel far-right politician and notorious Islamophobe Geert Wilders, whose party won the elections in the Netherlands last month, declared that Palestinians should be relocated to Jordan (13).

The European Union has failed to call for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The EU leaders have only agreed to call for “pauses for humanitarian needs” to allow aid into Gaza (14). Many European countries either voted against the United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for humanitarian truce or they abstained from the vote in October. However, majority of European countries supported the new UNGA resolution calling for ceasefire, yesterday. (15, 16) Some European politicians have been more openly critical about the situation. French president Macron as well as prime ministers of Spain and Belgium have called for a ceasefire and criticized the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that the international community and Israel should recognize the state of Palestine. (17, 18) Spanish deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz called for sanctions and arms embargo against Israel (19). European Council President Charles Michel warned Israel that it risks becoming isolated from the international community if it does not stop violating international law in the Gaza Strip (20).

After Brexit, Britain has become part of the US-Israel alliance and pro-Israel bias has become even more visible in Conservative Party and Labour Party. Conservative Friends of Israel CFI has claimed that 80 percent of Conservative MPs are members of their lobby group (21). Only six percent of Conservative MPs and members of the House of Lords are members of Conservative Friends of Palestine (22). During his visit to Israel, Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed solidary with Israel and he said to Prime Minister Netanyahu, “We want you to win.” (23) Al Jazeera revealed in its documentary series “The Lobby” in 2017 how Israel is trying to increase its influence in the British Labour Party (24). After pro-Palestine Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has also been condemned for calling Hamas “a friend”, was suspended from the Labour Party during antisemitism row in the party in 2020, Labour elected new leader Keir Starmer who is a Zionist and who apparently believes that anti-Zionism is antisemitism. (25, 26, 27) Also in 2020, the Labour Party hired Assaf Kaplan to be a social listening and organizing manager. Kaplan is a former intelligence officer from Unit 8200 in Israel Defense Forces. (28) Britain has supported only “humanitarian pauses” in the Hamas-Israel war. Several MPs from the Conservative Party and particularly from the Labour Party have been sacked or have resigned from their position in their party because they have supported a ceasefire. 56 Labour MPs defied the order of Starmer and voted for a motion that called for a ceasefire. (29, 30, 31) Labour leader Starmer’s endorsement of the destructive Israeli war in Gaza has caused massive 66 percent drop in Muslim community’s support for the Labour Party (32).

In the USA, Republicans have supported Israel enthusiastically. Soon after the Hamas-Israel war started, hawkish Republican senator Lindsey Graham claimed that Israel is “in a religious war” and he encouraged Israel to destroy Gaza by saying, “Do whatever you need to do to defend yourself. Level the place.” (33) Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said to Prime Minister Netanyahu, “Finish them. Finish them. Hamas did this. You know Iran is behind it. Finish them.” (34) Another Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said that Israel should use “overwhelming force” so that “Hamas terrorist infrastructure and networks are eradicated from the Earth.” He would also refuse Palestinian refugees entry to the USA. He said, “If you look at how they (i.e. Palestinians) behave — not all of them are Hamas, but they are all antisemitic.” Former vice president and presidential candidate Mike Pence said that Egypt should accept Palestinian refugees. He continued, “Send us the bill. We’ll set up the refugee camps.” (35)

The actions and words of President Biden and his administration during the Hamas-Israel war have also revealed glaring bias. At the end of October, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the endgame in Gaza is “ultimately” up to Israel (36). However, President Biden sent a request to the Congress that Israel should be given 14 billion dollars extra defense funding to supplement the 3.8 billion dollars the USA gives Israel annually (37). According to media reports, the Biden administration has also requested the ability “to conduct arms deals with Israel in complete secrecy without Congressional or public oversight.” This has been seen as “a preventative measure to reduce complicity” if the International Criminal Court ICC decides to indict Israel for genocide. (38) The Biden administration sent ammunition to Israel without Congress’s approval, last week (39). In spite of growing criticism, President Biden still promised to continue supplying arms to Israel, on Monday (40).

The Biden administration said for weeks that there are “no red lines” regarding Israeli actions in Gaza (41). In his op-ed in The Washington Post on the 18th of November, President Biden demanded some limitations to the Israeli operation in Gaza but he resisted a ceasefire. He wrote, “As Hamas clings to its ideology of destruction, a ceasefire is not peace.” (42) The USA has also voted against any calls for a ceasefire at the United Nations. The UN Security Council was able to pass resolution calling for “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza after the USA abstained from the vote. (15, 16, 43, 44, 45) President Biden called the attack by Hamas on the 7th of October “the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.” (46) However, he questioned the number of Palestinian casualties when he said, “I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s a price of waging war.” (47) President Biden’s unequivocal backing of Israel and his refusal to call for a more permanent ceasefire have caused a significant drop in his support among young adults and American Arabs and Muslims. According to a recent poll, 70 percent of Democratic voters ages 18 to 34 disapproved and only 51 percent of all Democratic voters approved the way Biden has handled the Hamas-Israel war. Only 34 percent of all voters approved of how Biden has handled the conflict (48). According to some recent surveys, Biden’s support among American Arabs and Muslims has fallen to 16-17 percent (49).

President Biden and his administration have now been talking about the importance of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. However, before the Hamas-Israel war started, when the USA was negotiating about the normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Palestinians and the two-state solution were not that significant. What President Biden and his administration really seemed to care about was to secure the normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia and the defense deal between the USA and Saudi Arabia. Those agreements would have been a diplomatic victory for President Biden and a way to weaken Chinese influence in the Middle East. (50) When it comes to the two-state solution between the Palestinians and Israel, the USA is not seen as an honest broker. Noura Erakat, associate professor at Rutgers University, said (51):

“The US presents itself as an honest broker. And yet what we’ve seen again and again, especially since 1967, is the US talking out of both sides of its mouth. Out of one side of its mouth, it insists that it wants to see a two-state solution, but on the other side it provides Israel with the unequivocal military, diplomatic and financial support to expand its settler colonial ambitions and to entrench its projects.”

One other recent example of the pro-Israel bias of the USA has been President Trump’s decision to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights in 2019. President Biden has not reversed that decision. (52)

Israel estimated on Monday that the war against Hamas may continue for months. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that what comes to the duration and the conduct of the fighting, “these are decisions for Israel to make.” (53) Many politicians, political experts and journalists have warned about the risk of a wider war in the Middle East. Nicolas J. S. Davies and Medea Benjamin wrote (54):

“America’s unconditional support for Israel and an endless supply of weapons have succeeded only in turning Israel into an out-of-control, genocidal, destabilising force at the heart of a fragile region already shattered and traumatised by decades of US war-making.

The result is a country that refuses to recognise its own borders or those of its neighbours, and rejects any and all limits on its territorial ambitions and war crimes.

If Israel’s actions lead to a wider war, the US will find itself with few allies ready to jump into the fray.”

Yesterday, President Biden warned Israel that it may start to lose international support because of the “indiscriminate bombing” of civilians in Gaza. However, as the latest UNGA voting results showed, also the USA is becoming more isolated. A total of 153 countries voted in favour of the resolution calling for a ceasefire, 23 countries abstained from the vote. The USA, Israel and only eight other countries voted against the resolution. (16, 55) It is also worth thinking that if there will be a wider war in the Middle East, that may take place at the same time when the situation inside the USA is becoming more volatile. Former president Trump, who is currently leading the polls to become the Republican presidential candidate next year, has talked openly about his autocratic plans. Trump and his far-right supporters are considered to be a serious threat to democracy and political stability in the USA. (56, 57)

In October, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said about the war between Israel and the Palestinians (58):

“History is watching to see if the consequences of this war are going to be generationally bad or if there are going to be ways in which swiftly that can be rebuilt, some kind of comity or neighbourliness between those two tragic peoples.”

At the moment the situation is disastrous and dangerous.

References:

(1) “UN envoys say ‘enough’ to Israel-Hamas war on trip to Gaza border” Al Jazeera 11.12.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/11/un-envoys-say-enough-to-israel-hamas-war-on-trip-to-gaza-border

(2) “EU mulls sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in occupied West Bank” Al Jazeera 11.12.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/11/eu-mulls-sanctions-on-violent-israeli-settlers-in-occupied-west-bank

(3) “800 scholars warn of potential genocide in Gaza” Middle East Monitor 1.11.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231101-800-scholars-warn-of-potential-genocide-in-gaza/

(4) “Israel’s ‘grave violations’ against Palestinians ‘point to a genocide in making’: UN experts” Middle East Monitor 16.11.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231116-israels-grave-violations-against-palestinians-point-to-a-genocide-in-making-un-experts/

(5) “The Dignitaries Who Have Visited Israel So Far” Wall Street Journal 25.10.2023

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestinians/card/dignitaries-visits-to-israel-JbqAIbSX8QTXQppPewlV

(6) “Media coverage of Israel and Gaza is rife with deadly double standards” The New Humanitarian 23.10.2023

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/editorial/2023/10/23/media-coverage-israel-and-gaza-double-standards

(7) “Palestinians hit out at EU leader for claiming Israel made ‘desert bloom'” Middle East Eye 27.4.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinians-hit-out-eu-claim-israel-desert-bloom

(8) “Von der Leyen accused of ‘unacceptable bias’ toward Israel” Politico 14.10.2023

https://www.politico.eu/article/von-der-leyen-visit-israel-gaza-hamas-conflict-bias/

(9) “UAE furious over EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s ‘jungle’ remarks” Politico 18.10.2022

https://www.politico.eu/article/uae-eu-josep-borrell-jungle-remark-foreign-policy/

(10) “‘I am Not a Lawyer’, Yes, I am – Gaza, and the Moral Inconsistencies of EU Foreign Policy Chief” The Palestine Chronicle 20.11.2023

https://www.palestinechronicle.com/i-am-not-a-lawyer-i-am-a-lawyer-the-inconsistencies-of-eu-foreign-policy-chief/#

(11) “More than 180,000 join marches against anti-Semitism in France” Al Jazeera 13.11.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/13/more-than-180000-join-marches-against-anti-semitism-in-france

(12) “Israel-Palestine war: Anti-Muslim racism in France surges with ‘full impunity'” Middle East Eye 19.11.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-war-france-anti-muslim-racism-surge-impunity

(13) “Arab states condemn Geert Wilders for push to relocate Palestinians to Jordan” Politico 25.11.2023

https://www.politico.eu/article/geert-wilders-netherlands-palestinians-jordan-arab-states-condemn/

(14) “EU leaders call for humanitarian ‘pauses’ in Israel-Hamas war” Politico 26.10.2023

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-call-for-humanitarian-pauses-in-middle-east-war/

(15) “UNGA calls for humanitarian truce in Israel-Gaza war: How countries voted” Al Jazeera 27.10.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/27/unga-calls-for-humanitarian-truce-in-israel-hamas-war-how-countries-voted

(16) “UNGA demands ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza: How your country voted” Al Jazeera 12.12.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/13/unga-decisively-backs-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-how-your-country-voted

(17) “France’s Macron urges Israel to stop bombing and killing civilians in Gaza” Al Jazeera 11.11.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/11/frances-macron-urges-israel-to-stop-bombing-and-killing-civilians-in-gaza

(18) “Spain and Belgium deplore Israel’s killing of thousands in Gaza” Euronews 24.11.2023

https://www.euronews.com/2023/11/24/spain-and-belgium-deplore-israels-killing-of-thousands-in-gaza

(19) “Spanish deputy PM calls for sanctions and arms embargo against Israel” Middle East Monitor 16.11.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231116-spanish-deputy-pm-calls-for-sanctions-and-arms-embargo-against-israel/

(20) “EU warns Israel it will be isolated” Middle East Monitor 10.11.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231110-eu-warns-israel-it-will-be-isolated/

(21) “Conservative Friends of Israel” Powerbase

https://powerbase.info/index.php/Conservative_Friends_of_Israel

(22) “The Tories can never be true friends of Palestine” Al Jazeera 2.6.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/6/2/the-tories-can-never-be-true-friends-of-palestine

(23) “Rishi Sunak tells Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu: ‘We want you to win’” Politico 18.10.2023

https://www.politico.eu/article/rishi-sunak-uk-to-visit-israel-amidst-increasing-conflict/

(24) “The Lobby” documentary series by Al Jazeera Investigations 2017

https://www.ajiunit.com/investigation/the-lobby/

(25) “What did Jeremy Corbyn say about Israel, Hamas, and Palestine? Is he at the Labour Party conference?” Yahoo News 8.10.2023

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/did-jeremy-corbyn-israel-hamas-152226108.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmZpLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEMvY0CwIZ_ewtoRrx7Xaqie-g5U_NRXhJRpo97x7zycxhJMHxxjTyToYQWvnUhMlvjvq9w3ZsDnJmcKrxRN5AE03g1gbnrO12oUv-qZ_fUk5dRC5bpYQ8Ljav6-sVfv1anmny1jzJXHOugw3-coTQ431MGJPWP7Y-JLXYtHvEqI

(26) “After Corbyn, UK Labour elects Keir Starmer, Zionist with Jewish wife, as leader” The Times of Israel 4.4.2020

https://www.timesofisrael.com/keir-starmer-elected-uk-labour-chief-apologizes-to-jews-for-party-anti-semitism/

(27) “Keir Starmer believes anti-Zionism is antisemitism, Israeli politician reveals” The Jewish Chronicle 25.9.2022

https://www.thejc.com/news/keir-starmer-believes-anti-zionism-is-antisemitism-israeli-politician-reveals-b3s6880b

(28) “UK Labour Party hires former Israeli spy” The Electronic Intifada 19.1.2021

https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/uk-labour-party-hires-former-israeli-spy

(29) “UK MP Paul Bristow sacked as aide after call for Israel-Gaza ceasefire” Al Jazeera 31.10.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/31/uk-mp-paul-bristow-sacked-as-aide-after-call-for-israel-gaza-ceasefire

(30) “Eight members of UK Labour shadow cabinet dismissed after calling for ceasefire in Gaza” Le Monde 16.11.2023

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/11/16/eight-members-of-uk-labour-shadow-cabinet-dismissed-after-calling-for-ceasefire-in-gaza_6261268_4.html

(31) “Keir Starmer hit by major rebellion as 10 of his frontbenchers back Gaza cease-fire” Politico 15.11.2023

https://www.politico.eu/article/keir-starmer-hit-by-major-rebellion-as-10-of-his-frontbenchers-back-gaza-cease-fire/

(32) “Israel-Palestine: Labour Party sees massive drop in Muslim support” Middle East Eye 26.10.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/labour-party-muslim-support-massive-drop

(33) “US Republican Senator slammed for claiming Israel is waging a ‘religious war’” Middle East Monitor 13.10.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231013-us-republican-senator-slammed-for-claiming-israel-is-waging-a-religious-war/

(34) “Nikki Haley to Netanyahu: Finish Hamas; they should have hell to pay” The Jerusalem Post 9.10.2023

https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-765301

(35) “What Republican presidential candidates are saying about the Israel-Hamas war” NPR 18.10.2023

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/18/1206565510/republican-president-election-israel-hamas-trump-haley-biden

(36) “US: End game in Gaza ‘ultimately’ up to Israel” The Hill 29.10.2023

https://thehill.com/homenews/4282024-us-end-game-in-gaza-ultimately-up-to-israel/

(37) “‘War Is Expensive’: How the Israel Aid Package Went From Big to Bigger” TIME 9.11.2023

https://time.com/6333253/aid-israel-price-us-14-billion/

(38) “Accused of ‘genocide’ in Gaza and fearing ICC prosecution: US seeks to hide arms deal with Israel” Middle East Monitor 3.11.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231103-accused-of-genocide-in-gaza-and-fearing-icc-prosecution-us-seeks-to-hide-arms-deal-with-israel/

(39) “US sent tank shells without Congress approval to bolster Israel’s Gaza war” TRT World 9.12.2023

https://www.trtworld.com/us-and-canada/us-sent-tank-shells-without-congress-approval-to-bolster-israels-gaza-war-16168932

(40) “US President Joe Biden pledges to continue supplying arms to Israel” Middle East Monitor 12.12.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231212-us-president-joe-biden-pledges-to-continue-supplying-arms-to-israel/

(41) “White House says still no red lines for Israel” Mideast Discourse 7.11.2023

https://www.mideastdiscourse.com/2023/11/07/white-house-says-still-no-red-lines-for-israel/

(42) “Biden calls for ‘revitalized PA’ control of Gaza after war” Jewish News Syndicate 19.11.2023

https://www.jns.org/biden-calls-for-revitalized-pa-control-of-gaza-after-war/

(43) “US resists ceasefire call in UN Security Council debate on Israel-Gaza war” Al Jazeera 25.10.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/25/us-resists-ceasefire-call-in-un-security-council-debate-on-israel-gaza-war

(44) “‘Double standards’: World reacts to US veto on Gaza truce resolution at UN” Al Jazeera 9.12.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/9/double-standards-world-reacts-to-us-vetoing-unsc-gaza-resolution

(45) “UN Security Council adopts resolution for ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Gaza” Al Jazeera 15.11.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/15/unsc-adopts-resolution-calling-for-extended-humanitarian-pauses

(46) “Biden calls Hamas attacks the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust as US death toll ticks up” AP 12.10.2023

https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-us-biden-blinken-99eb4063edabc80fa1fa198fb0bb020e

(47) “Biden says civilian deaths ‘price of waging war,’ denies Palestinian death toll” The New Arab 26.10.2023

https://www.newarab.com/news/biden-civilian-death-price-war-denies-gaza-death-toll

(48) “Biden’s support among Democrats erodes on handling of Israel-Hamas war” The Hill 19.11.2023

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4317318-bidens-support-among-democrats-erodes-on-handling-of-israel-hamas-war/

(49) “Biden’s outreach to US Arabs, Muslims ‘falling flat’ amid Israel-Gaza war” Al Jazeera 7.11.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/7/bidens-outreach-to-us-arabs-and-muslims-falling-flat-amid-gaza-war

(50) “Report: Riyadh-Washington defense pact to move forward even without Palestinians” Israel Hayom 29.9.2023

https://www.israelhayom.com/2023/09/29/report-saudi-arabia-keen-on-finalizing-us-defense-alliance-even-without-major-palestinian-breakthrough/

(51) “Have the US and Israel agreed on Gaza’s future?” Al Jazeera 21.11.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/21/have-the-us-and-israel-agreed-on-gazas-future

(52) “Biden Can’t Denounce Russia’s Annexations and Ignore Israel’s” Foreign Policy 6.12.2022

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/06/biden-cant-denounce-russias-annexations-and-ignore-israels/

(53) “Israel continues to pound Gaza as it warns war could continue for ‘months’” Al Jazeera 11.12.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/11/gaza-war-could-stretch-on-months-as-israel-continues-southern-push

(54) “Israel-Palestine war: America’s enemies are multiplying by the day” Middle East Eye 8.12.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/israel-palestine-war-america-enemies-multiplying-day

(55) “Biden warns Israel risks losing support over ‘indiscriminate’ Gaza bombing” Al Jazeera 12.12.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/12/biden-warns-israel-losing-support-over-indiscriminate-gaza-bombing

(56) “Trump Holds Wide Lead in Republican 2024 Nominating Contest – Reuters/Ipsos Poll” U.S. News 11.12.2023

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-12-11/trump-holds-wide-lead-in-republican-2024-nominating-contest-reuters-ipsos-poll

(57) “A second Trump term will be far more autocratic than the first. He’s telling us” The Guardian 4.12.2023

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/04/a-second-trump-term-will-be-far-more-autocratic-than-the-first-hes-telling-us

(58) “Gaza: ‘History is watching’ warns UN relief chief, saying aid access is key priority” UN News 16.10.2023

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1142382

Israel on a collision course – Part 2

The attacks by Hamas to Israel on Saturday may have surprised Israelis but unfortunately it was just a matter of time when this kind of escalation would take place. USA condemned the attacks and said that they were “unprovoked” (1). However, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran pointed out that Israel has only itself to blame for the Hamas attacks. Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia issued a statement where it said, “The Kingdom recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities.” (2)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition government have provoked the situation in many ways in Israel and internationally. The internal political turmoil in Israel has continued ever since Netanyahu’s far-right government came to power. There have been weekly demonstrations against the far-right government and its judicial overhaul and other actions that are seen as threat to democracy. The situation has been worrying many Israelis. According to a poll in July, 28% of the respondents considered leaving Israel because of the judicial overhaul, 54% feared that the judicial overhaul is harming Israel’s security and 56% were worried about civil war (3).

As the Zionist far right has become more emboldened, it has been easier to see the ethno-nationalist, supremacist and expansionist aspects of this political ideology. It is worth remembering that Israeli parliament Knesset passed already in 2018 the controversial “nation-state law” according to which Israel is Jewish state where only Jewish people have “the right to exercise national self-determination” and Hebrew is Israel’s official language. Arab Israelis and their language Arabic were not treated equally in the law. (4) In 2019, Netanyahu referred to that law when he said, “Israel is not a state of all its citizens. According to the basic nationality law we passed, Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people – and only it.” (5) In an annual survey published at the beginning of this year, 49% of Jewish Israelis believed that they “should have more rights than non-Jewish citizens.” (6)

The Zionist supremacism and expansionism has become wider threat. The Palestinians have naturally been the main target of far-right Zionists and the Zionist regime. Attacks by Jewish settlers have risen sharply. In the first eight months of 2023, an average of three settler-related incidents happened every day. That is the highest daily average of settler-related incidents affecting Palestinians since the United Nations started recording this data in 2006. (7) Last week EuroMed Rights, a network of 68 human rights organizations, institutions and individuals based in 30 countries across Europe and the Mediterranean, warned about the “sharp increase” in settlers’ attacks in the occupied Palestinian territories. According to the organization, number of settlers’ attacks in the first half of 2023 reached 1,148 which was nearly the same as during the whole year in 2022 (total of 1,187 attacks). Representative of the organization said that Israeli government ministers’ “provocative rhetoric” is a “major contributor to the significant increase in settler violence, as the government supports settlers in various ways, including protecting them from security or judicial prosecution.” (8)

Deadly violence had also increased significantly before the attacks on Saturday. In August it was reported that 200 Palestinians and 30 Israelis had already been killed in the occupied West Bank and Israel this year – the amount of fatalities was more than last year’s entire death toll and the highest since 2005. (9) Human Rights Watch reported in August that there had been “a huge spike in Israeli killings of Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank.” 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinian children in 15 years, but during the first eight months this year 34 Palestinian children had already been killed – same amount was killed during the first eleven months in 2022. Bill Van Esveld, associate children’s rights director at HRW, said, “Israeli forces are gunning down Palestinian children living under occupation with increasing frequency. — Palestinian children live a reality of apartheid and structural violence, where they could be gunned down at any time without any serious prospect of accountability. Israel’s allies should confront this ugly reality and create real pressure for accountability.” (10)

The Jewish extremists have also attacked Christians and Christian properties. In April this year Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem, told that Jewish extremists have harassed Christian clergy and vandalised religious property at an alarming rate after the inauguration of Netanyahu’s far-right government. Pizzaballa said, “The frequency of these attacks, the aggressions, has become something new. These people feel they are protected… that the cultural and political atmosphere now can justify, or tolerate, actions against Christians.” (11) There have been many incidents where Jewish people have been spitting towards Christians or Christian churches. Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, said last week that the spitting is not a criminal act. He had said earlier that spitting on Christians is “an ancient Jewish custom.” Because of mounting criticism regarding these incidents, Israeli officials and Prime Minister Netanyahu issued statements condemning anti-Christian acts by Israelis and vowed to protect freedom of worship. (12)

The far-right Zionists seem to try to continue to build Greater Israel more aggressively. Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) estimated in December last year that the agreements between Prime Minister Netanyahu and his far-right coalition allies will lead to “accelerated processes of annexation” in the West Bank (13). The manifesto of Netanyahu’s far-right government mentioned that the Jewish people have “exclusive right over the entire Land of Israel.” The coalition agreement between Netanyahu’s party Likud and far-right Religious Zionist Party stated, “The prime minister will work towards the formulation and promotion of a policy whereby sovereignty is applied to the Judea and Samaria (i.e. the West Bank).” According to Israeli lawyer Michael Sfard, the political moves of Netanyahu’s far-right government make it clear that “Israel is in the process of fully annexing the West Bank—de jure.” (14) This year has seen unprecedented amount of new settlement projects. By August, the Israeli far-right government had already approved construction of new housing units in the West Bank more than what was approved during the whole year in 2020. The far-right government has also legalized large amount of settlements that were previously considered to be illegal outposts. (15) Israeli governments, Zionist far-right and settlers have also been working to take over homes owned by Palestinian residents in occupied East Jerusalem and to forcibly displace the Palestinians (16). When the new American Embassy was opened in Jerusalem in 2018, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Jerusalem will always be “eternal, undivided capital of Israel.” (17)

Prime Minister Netanyahu, his far-right coalition partners and other far-right Zionists have revealed their expansionist ideas and goals openly. Before elections in 2019, Netanyahu talked about the possibility to annex the occupied West Bank and to reoccupy Gaza Strip (18). When Netanyahu spoke at the United Nations General Assembly, last month, he used a map where the Palestinian territories – the West Bank and Gaza – as well as Syria’s occupied Golan Heights seemed to be part of Israel (19). During his speech Netanyahu said, “For peace to prevail the Palestinians must stop spewing Jew-hatred and finally reconcile themselves to the Jewish state. By that I mean not only to the existence of the Jewish state but to the right of the Jewish people to have a state of their own in their historic homeland, the Land of Israel.” (20) Netanyahu wrote in social media at the end of last year, “The Jewish people have an exclusive and unquestionable right to all areas of the Land of Israel. The government will promote and develop settlement in all parts of the Land of Israel – in the Galilee, the Negev, the Golan, Judea and Samaria.” (21) When far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich spoke in Paris in March this year, in front of his podium was a map where the West Bank, Jordan and parts of Syria and Lebanon were part of Greater Israel. During his speech Smotrich declared, “There’s no such thing as Palestinians because there’s no such thing as a Palestinian people.” (22) In 2019, Moshe Feiglin, prime minister candidate of far-right party Zehut, said that he wanted to annex the occupied West Bank and Gaza and send hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to other countries (23). Platform of Jewish Power party (Otzma Yehudit), currently a member of the far-right coalition government, has called for “the establishment of sovereignty over all parts of Eretz Israel liberated in the Six-Day War (the West Bank and Gaza) and settlement of the enemies of Israel in the Arab countries that surround our small land.” (16)

One potentially explosive goal of the far-right Zionists is their desire to impose full Jewish Israeli sovereignty over the Noble Sanctuary Mosque complex – also known as the Temple Mount to Jews – in occupied East Jerusalem and to build a Jewish temple there. The Noble Sanctuary Mosque complex is the third holiest site in Islam. (16) Settlers and other far-right Zionists, including far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have repeatedly stormed the Noble Sanctuary Mosque complex – also known as the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex – under police protection. Israeli police started to allow settler incursions to the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in 2003. (24, 25) In June, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories warned of a risk of a religious war “if Israel continues in its aggression against the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City by allowing Jewish extremists to continue to storm it and pray in its yards in violation of the existing historical and legal status quo.” (26) Last week Jordan, custodian of Jerusalem’s holy sites, sent a memo of protest to Israel because of illegal “incursions by hardliners, settlers and Knesset members into the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection.” The memo also protested “the restriction of access for (Muslim) worshipers to the Mosque, the desecration of Islamic graves and the increasing attacks on Christians in Occupied Jerusalem.” (27)

There have been a lot of speculations how the war between Hamas and Israel will develop, what Israel will do and how the war may affect the situation in the Middle East and elsewhere. At an emergency meeting of the Arab League yesterday, foreign ministers of the Arab countries urged Israel to resume negotiations regarding the two-state solution that provides a viable state for Palestine (28). King of Jordan said yesterday, “Our region will never be secure nor stable without achieving just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution.” (29)

References:

(1) “Statement from NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson Condemning Terrorist Attacks Against Israel” The White House – Briefing Room 7.10.2023

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/07/statement-from-nsc-spokesperson-adrienne-watson-condemning-terrorist-attacks-against-israel/

(2) “Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran say Israel has only itself to blame for Hamas attacks” The Hill 7.10.2023

https://thehill.com/policy/international/4243388-saudi-arabia-qatar-iran-blame-israel-hamas-attacks/

(3) “28% of Israelis considering leaving the country amid judicial upheaval – poll” The Times of Israel 26.7.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/28-of-israelis-considering-leaving-the-country-amid-judicial-upheaval-poll/

(4) “Israel’s hugely controversial ‘nation-state’ law, explained” Vox 31.7.2018

https://www.vox.com/world/2018/7/31/17623978/israel-jewish-nation-state-law-bill-explained-apartheid-netanyahu-democracy

(5) “Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is ‘not a state of all its citizens’” The Guardian 10.3.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/10/benjamin-netanyahu-says-israel-is-not-a-state-of-all-its-citizens

(6) “Half of Jewish Israelis believe they should have ‘more rights than non-Jews'” Middle East Eye 16.1.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-jewish-believe-more-rights-non-jews-survey

(7) “Palestinian killed during settler assault on West Bank town” Reuters 6.10.2023

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-killed-during-settler-assault-west-bank-town-palestinian-officials-2023-10-06/

(8) “Rights group warns of ‘sharp rise’ in violence against Palestinians by Israel settlers” Middle East Monitor 5.10.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231005-rights-group-warns-of-sharp-rise-in-violence-against-palestinians-by-israel-settlers/

(9) “More than 200 Palestinians, nearly 30 Israelis killed so far this year: UN” Al Jazeera 22.8.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/22/more-than-200-palestinians-nearly-30-israelis-killed-so-far-this-year-un

(10) “HRW confirm huge spike in Israel killings of Palestinian children” Middle East Monitor 28.8.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230828-hrw-confirm-huge-spike-in-israel-killings-of-palestinian-children/

(11) “Jerusalem: Catholic patriarch decries spike in anti-Christian attacks by Israelis” Middle East Eye 14.4.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-jerusalem-catholic-patriarch-decries-spike-anti-christian-attacks

(12) “Israel: Spitting on Christians in Jerusalem ‘not criminal’, says Ben Gvir” Middle East Eye 4.10.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-spitting-christians-jerusalem-not-criminal-ben-gvir

(13) “Annexation: Transferring the Civil Administration from the Minister of Defense to the Minister of Settlement” The Institute for National Security Studies INSS 13.12.2022

https://www.inss.org.il/publication/cogat/

(14) “Israel Is Officially Annexing the West Bank” Foreign Policy 8.6.2023

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/06/08/israel-palestine-west-bank-annexation-netanyahu-smotrich-far-right/

(15) “2023 sets record for settlement construction and outpost legalization – watchdog” The Times of Israel 8.8.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/2023-sets-record-for-settlement-construction-and-outpost-legalization-watchdog/

(16) “Fact Sheet: The Religious Zionism Coalition” Institute for Middle East Understanding IMEU 16.11.2022

https://imeu.org/article/the-religious-zionism-coalition

(17) “Israeli Prime Minister declares Jerusalem ‘eternal, undivided’ capital as controversial US embassy opens” ITV News 14.5.2018

https://www.itv.com/news/2018-05-14/israeli-prime-minister-declares-jerusalem-eternal-undivided-capital-as-controversial-us-embassy-opens

(18) “Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal would bury the two-state solution” The Guardian 7.4.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/07/benjamin-netanyahus-proposal-would-bury-the-two-state-solution

(19) “Palestinians must not have veto over Arab-Israel deals, Netanyahu tells UN” Al Jazeera 22.9.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/22/palestinians-must-not-have-veto-over-arab-israel-deals-netanyahu-tells-un

(20) “Full text of Netanyahu’s UN address: ‘On the cusp of historic Saudi-Israel peace’” The Times of Israel 22.9.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-netanyahus-un-address-on-the-cusp-of-historic-saudi-israel-peace/

(21) “Jewish supremacy is state policy, says Netanyahu” Middle East Monitor 3.1.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230103-jewish-supremacy-is-state-policy-says-netanyahu/

(22) “Israel’s Smotrich: ‘There’s no such thing as Palestinians'” Middle East Eye 20.3.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-smotrich-palestinians-no-such-thing

(23) “Israel’s far-right PM candidate seeks to annex Gaza, West Bank” Al Jazeera 3.4.2019

https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/2019/4/3/israels-far-right-pm-candidate-seeks-to-annex-gaza-west-bank

(24) “Israeli far-right minister leads incursion of Al-Aqsa compound” Al Jazeera 27.7.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/27/israels-far-right-minister-leads-incursion-of-al-aqsa-compound

(25) “Hundreds of Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa complex on 5th day of Sukkot holiday” Anadolu Agency 5.10.2023

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/hundreds-of-israeli-settlers-storm-al-aqsa-complex-on-5th-day-of-sukkot-holiday/3008427#

(26) “The Grand Mufti warns of a religious war due to escalation in Israeli aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque” WAFA News Agency 8.6.2023

https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/136214

(27) “Jordan sends ‘memo of protest’ to Israel over Al-Aqsa settler incursions” Middle East Monitor 4.10.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231004-jordan-sends-memo-of-protest-to-israel-over-al-aqsa-settler-incursions/

(28) “Arab ministers urge Israel to resume talks on two-state solution” The Guardian 11.10.2023

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/11/arab-ministers-urge-israel-to-resume-talks-on-two-state-solution

(29) “Jordan’s king: There will not be peace in region without sovereign Palestinian state” Al Arabiya 11.10.2023

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/10/11/Jordan-s-king-There-will-not-be-peace-in-region-without-sovereign-Palestinian-state-

“Peace Day Effort” at United Nations General Assembly

Nearly 30 foreign ministers from the European Union, Saudi Arabia, the Arab League, Egypt and Jordan met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday to unveil a new initiative aimed at reviving the long-dormant Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Read the full story on The Times of Israel:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/100-carrots-arab-states-eu-unveil-plan-to-entice-israel-pa-to-sign-peace-deal/

Another good news was that foreign minister of Saudi Arabia once again stated that there will be no solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict without an independent Palestinian state.

Read the full story on Middle East Eye:

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/two-state-solution-must-return-forefront-says-saudi-foreign-minister

Saudi Arabia appointed its first-ever non-resident ambassador to Palestine

During recent months, USA has been trying to push for normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. However, Saudi Arabia has understandably not been very keen to normalize relations with Israel, at least fully, particularly because of the current Israeli far-right coalition government. According to media reports, as part of the potential normalization deal Israel should “take major steps toward creating an independent Palestinian state” – this requirement is likely to be opposed by Israeli far right. (1) Saudi Arabia took a positive step by appointing its first-ever non-resident ambassador to Palestine who will also serve as non-resident consul general to Jerusalem. The non-resident status of the ambassador means that the appointment didn’t have to be approved by Israel – Israel sees the entire Jerusalem as its undivided capital. (2) Quite expectedly, Israel rejected any possibility of a physical diplomatic base in Jerusalem for Saudi Arabia’s envoy to Palestine (3).

References:

1) “Saudis said wary of full normalization with Israel, or a deal with current government” The Times of Israel 9.8.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudis-said-wary-of-full-normalization-with-israel-or-a-deal-with-current-government/

2) “Saudi Arabia appoints its first ever non-resident ambassador to Palestine” The Times of Israel 12.8.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-arabia-appoints-first-envoy-to-palestine-will-also-serve-as-jerusalem-consul/

3) “Israel says no Jerusalem base for Saudi envoy to Palestinian Authority” Al Jazeera 13.8.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/13/israel-says-no-jerusalem-base-for-saudi-envoy-to-palestinian-authority

Important statement in defense of two-state solution

Large group of prominent European politicians published a letter in defense of the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. Read the full letter in today’s The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/14/europe-must-stand-by-the-two-state-solution-for-israel-and-palestine

As American-Israeli alliance is becoming more and more right-wing and the Trump administration is more and more biased, it is up to European and other countries to make sure that we can reach peaceful and fair solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Jordan and France concerned about Palestinian-Israeli conflict

The foreign ministers of Jordan and France said on Sunday that lack of solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict threatens the security of the Middle East. Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi said that Jordan and France would “work together with the international community to create the necessary political environment to move forward towards a two-state solution (to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

Read the full story on Xinhua Net:

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-01/14/c_137741099.htm