Let Israel take it all. What I propose here, is, I guess…
By: Faisal Khan
Tags: Israel, History, Middle East, Palestine, Bds Movement

What I propose here, is, I guess, controversial and provocative. My intention is not to offend but simply to challenge and provide some ‘ food for thought’. I do this fully conscious of the fact that I am someone who has no ‘skin in the game’ and who has not been personally impacted by the issue.

However, I feel that on balance, the argument is strong enough to be voiced. In essence, what I am advocating is quite simple; to let Israel annex all of historic Palestine along with its inhabitants.

Why? well as the illustration below shows Israel has virtually annexed most of historic Palestine anyway. That which it does not control directly, it controls in effect. Take Gaza as an example, it is to all intents and purposes an open-air prison, with Israel tightly controlling its border and sea and Egypt-in part due to Israeli pressure-keeping the Rafah gate shut. Israel controls virtually everything that enters and leaves Gaza (except that which is brought in via hidden underground channels).

Israel is a colonial project, one fuelled by the ideology of Zionism. From its inception in 1948, it has ethnically cleansed Palestine. In 1948 it uprooted 800,000 Palestinians with brutal force and ended up taking approximately 78% of Palestine (even though the UN recommended 55% of Palestine for a Jewish state). In 1967 it uprooted a further 300,000; in total there are now over 5 million Palestinian refugees. Of the circa two million inhabitants of Gaza 1.2 million are refugees from other parts of Palestine.

With the influx of Jews from different parts of the World and particularly the former Soviet Union, Israel has continued to encroach upon Palestinian territory through the building of illegal settlements. As it stands, there are approximately 150 illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem with over half a million settlers. Yet despite all this Netanyahu ran his recent campaign on the promise of annexing the West Bank (!).

This has all but killed the two-state solution. No serious analysts talk about the two-state solution anymore; it simply does not reflect the ground realities. Increasingly, there is only one viable solution: one state with equal rights and equal representation (two states moreover reinforces apartheid and division). This is the outcome that the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement implies and that the most leading commentators support: think Edward Said, Gideon Levy, Ali Abunimah and more.

So what will happen if Israel annexes all of historic Palestine with its inhabitants? Well, the World is watching and will ask questions. Influential people the World over and especially in power centres such as the West and the US will ask why when Israel is a putative democracy, does it have a two-tier legal and political system? Why does it not treat all of the inhabitants with equality? Why does it practice supremacy?

International pressure and boycotts were ultimately what brought apartheid South Africa to its knees. The apartheid government of South Africa like Israel, was conscious of its International standing and sought International legitimacy. This put it in a position where it could find no argument in favour of apartheid (as there isn’t) and it eventually had to relent.

History also appears to be working working against Israel. There are currents in America society that suggest that Israel’s greatest benefactor and protector will not be able to support it unconditionally forever. There are, for example, a whole generation of younger American Jews who refuse to support Israel unquestionably, some are even actively anti-Zionist. As a democracy, if popular opinion in the US turns against Israel, its leaders will have little choice but to review the relationship.

Moreover, there are high-profile American politicians with large followings such as Ilhan Omar and Rashida Talib who vocally criticise Israel and question American support for it. Bernie Sanders, a high profile Jewish politician, promised to hold Israel accountable for its actions were he to be elected President.

Even in Israel, there are a some-the Haredi community for instance, or revisionist Israeli historians-who are either anti-Zionist or question official narratives of Israel’s founding. On top of all this the BDS movement is gaining traction on a near-daily basis.

The tide appears to be turning, gradually and inexorably against Israel and Israel’s apartheid is almost certain to come to an end at some point. However, the more Israel continues to annex of Palestine, the sooner this is likely to happen. Ultimately, Israel’s greed will be its undoing.