The Guardian view on Israel’s far right: occupation of Palestinian territory feeds its extremism | Editorial

Uthis country today rejects credibility accusations of war crimes in a military campaign for which his actions are under investigation genocide? Which nation’s political leadership supports the illegal, violent expropriation land and forces his staunchest friend—whose protection is vital to his survival—to threaten to withdraw support? Unfortunately, the answer is Israel, which has directed its unbridled anger at the Palestinians after Hamas beaten 1,200 of its citizens and took another 253 hostages. The revenge led to a deepening conflict with devastating consequences.

While the recent violence is unprecedented in its ferocity, Israel has a history of dishonest behavior. But a deeper crisis for the country lies beneath the insubordination with which far right Israeli cabinet members answer to Joe Biden’s attention that the US would freeze weapons if Israel invaded Gaza’s southernmost town, Rafah. There seems to be no limit to how far extremists in Israel will go in defying world opinion.

The international community is not prepared to stand by and watch Israel continue to act with impunity. A regime of escalating sanctions was pursued to persuade it to change course. States cut diplomatically connections, stopping arms sales and maintenance Palestinian statehood. Turkey’s decision to I’m stopping trade with Israel will hurt. It’s Belgium a call for EU sanctions on imports from the Israeli-occupied territories. A Haaretz headline assumes tired indifference: “Israel is already becoming an international pariah. Do the Israelis care?”

International diplomacy supports a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and the release of Israeli hostages, along with a long-term peace plan to dismantle illegal settlements and eventually return to Israel’s 1967 borders, in which Israeli Jews form a clear democratic majority. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, is contemptuously of such ideas. His voters are not far behind, shaped by the constant growth of settlements and land grabbing. It has become a common view in Israel that the country has no choice – for security reasons – but to maintain control of the occupied territories and ignore UN resolutions demanding its withdrawal.

Today, it is clear that the consequences of military action and settlement building for the majority of Palestinians is either the imminent threat deathviolently expulsion or otherwise the loss of land and livelihood, with little choice but to go into exile.

The US, together with the EU and Great Britainhas imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank, who are accused of attacks on Palestinians. Non-profit organizations that fund pro-settler campaigns have also been targeted. The expansion of illegal posts in the West Bank, Israel’s political base far right, is supported by local authorities in the area. These state bodies have gotten rid of sanctions. But this is what needs to be considered further. Termination of the state sponsorship which allows settlements to flourish and grow means sanctioning banks that support illegal activities, companies that build on expropriated land, etc World Zionist Organizationan Israeli NGO charged with government land grabbing powers.

Mr. Netanyahu is running out of time. He is looking for an opportune time to campaign for re-election as a destroyer of Hamas. He bets on Donald Trump, who considers the settlements legitimate, returning to power. The Israeli occupation is at the root of his government’s extremism. An intelligent sanctions regime is needed because an illegal, violent enterprise poses an untold danger to Israel’s peace and security, as well as to the rules-based international order.

• Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section please Press here.