“I am pessimistic about Israel's future as a liberal democratic state. At the moment, Israel is in survival mode, responding to immediate threats with blatant disregard for international humanitarian law, notwithstanding its repeated assertions that it operates the 'most moral armed forces' in the world. Even during a relatively optimistic period, with the Israeli economy strong after the COVID pandemic and relations between Israel and some Arab states warming, Israel chose not to seek a political settlement to its conflict with Palestine and, by extension, help heal the rift with the UN. To the contrary, the brutal colonisation of the Occupied Territories continued unabated, with Netanyahu pledging to prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state. While there may be broad opposition to Netanyahu among Israelis, by and large Israelis tolerate, if not support, the occupation. Who are the members of the Knesset who have been elected on a platform to end the occupation? The only hope may be if Israel's allies work earnestly towards establishing a Palestinian state and use their leverage … to pressure Israel to alter its behaviour. Otherwise I fear the future will bring more deracination, more ethnic cleansing, more violence.”
25 Oct 2024
(approx)
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