Colonisation not occupation

For decades we have been referring to Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories, which it conquered by brute force, as “occupation”. At this point in time, it is becoming crystal clear that Israel’s unwanted presence in the said territories is colonisation.

There is a crucial difference between the two terms, as is well known. The former is something temporary, no matter how long it lasts. The latter is permanent.

The former can be resolved, through negotiations and mutual understanding. The latter cannot — at least not as easily as in the case of occupation.

Israel has always tried to justify its “occupation” of Palestinian lands as a “reaction” to an aggressive action against it taken either by the Arabs or the Palestinians.

It said this in 1947, 1967, 1973 and 1982, as well as in a series of other wanton Israeli wars and attacks against both the “occupied” Palestinians and the “hostile” neighbouring Arabs.

While this fabrication (this pretext for war) could be true in some isolated incidents, it is largely false, as Israel has always been on the offensive since its inception, for one single aim: usurpation and colonisation of Palestine.

Whenever Israel attacks and destroys Gaza and Gazans, it says it is responding to Hamas’ missiles. Again, though this may be true in some isolated incidents, it is generally false as Israel has always been the initiator and instigator of violence.

As a matter of fact, it is literally condemning Gazans to destruction and death through the cruel siege it is imposing on Gaza, even without waging attacks or wars against the strip.

There is the “terrorist” Hamas in Gaza. Fine. But what about the West Bank?

For decades, the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank has annulled all forms of militarism. It has adopted a peaceful, nonviolent approach in trying to settle the matter of Israel’s “occupation”. Even in cases where Israel itself has used violence in the West Bank — through its army, police or the barbarian settlers — the PA has adamantly refrained from using violence.

And it has made it clear that it wants peace, and nothing but peace, and that Israel’s security is the prime objective.

What was the result?

More destruction of Palestinian homes, more usurpation of their land through a steady series of “settlement” projects publically and shamelessly supported and sponsored by the Israeli government itself.

And more obstructions and checkpoints, more arrests of Palestinian protesters and non-protesters alike, more oppression of prisoners, and more wanton killings of Palestinians — such as the brutal arson attack against the peaceful family of 18-month-old Palestinian baby, Ali Dawabsheh, who was burned to death in his own home.

The key question here is: What justification does Israel give for its continued “occupation” and oppression of the West Bank when the PA has been doing nothing but trying to live up to its side of the bargain by seeking a peaceful, civil settlement to this endless, uncivil “occupation”?

The justification is what is obvious to all, what Israel has been doing implicitly and explicitly for decades but not saying out loud: colonisation.

Israel as a state, not just as government, has to make up its mind and decide whether its unwelcome presence in the Palestinian territories is occupation or colonisation.

If it is the former, then a solution can be found. If it is the latter, then it is useless to even talk about negotiations and peace.