Does Israel Recognize Palestine’s Right To Exist? (Part 1 of 2)
The claim that peace cannot exist between Israelis and Palestinians until Palestine recognizes the right of Israel to exist—is a claim predicated on a lie against Palestinians.
A December 8, 1988 New York Times report reads, “Yasir Arafat said today that the Palestine Liberation Organization accepted the existence of the state of Israel.”
This statement was reaffirmed in 1993. This year marks 36 years that Palestinian leadership has been unequivocal that they recognize the right of Israel to exist, and seek an equitable and fair two-state solution. Instead, seven American administrations later and Palestinians, and the world, have only seen regression.
For example, illegal Israeli settlements have exploded across occupied Palestine from around 100,000 in 1988 to more than 600,000 now, all with seemingly silent approval from President Biden, and all with no hint of slowing down.
Likewise, on May 14, 2018 the United States shifted its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, contrary to international norms and understanding. This provocation reflected a complete dismissal of Palestinian Muslims living in Palestine and Israel—and indeed dismisses the view held by most of the world. This move ignored Palestinian Christians—who called the move “dangerous and insulting.” It also ignored most Jews—80% of them—who opposed the move from Tel Aviv.
Palestinians have pleaded their humanity with peaceful protest, and instead suffered massive, violent, and disproportionate consequences as a result. The UN reports that during the 2018 Great March for Return, for example:
Israeli forces responded by shooting tear gas canisters, some of them dropped from drones, rubber bullets and live ammunition, mostly by snipers. As a result, 214 Palestinians, including 46 children, were killed, and over 36,100, including nearly 8,800 children have been injured. One in five of those injured (over 8,000) were hit by live ammunition.[3] During the same period, one Israeli soldier was killed and seven others were injured during the demonstrations.
These unarmed victims include the disabled and at least eight children, including 8 month old Leila Anwar al-Ghandour.
Israel justified the hundreds of Palestinian deaths by claiming it was merely “defending its borders,” but this too is a misdirection. Israel has not defined its borders, refuses to do so despite repeated demands, and continues to move them unilaterally to fit its needs. Neither did the previous, nor has the current White House administration challenged Israel’s constant border advancement, leading to more illegal settlements. Instead, the previous administration profited off of them.
Still, as recently as 2012, Israel’s own Supreme Court ordered the Israeli government to dismantle its illegal settlements. Similarly, the UN Security Council concluded in 2016, “Israel’s establishment of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, had no legal validity, constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders.” All of this was to no avail, as illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land continue unabated even now in 2024.
And in this current siege on Gaza, one in which the ICJ ruled near unanimously ordering Israel to prevent genocide, critics of Palestine deflect by citing Hamas. As if to ignore Israel’s violent military occupation, its refusal to define its boundaries, and its illegal settlements altogether, the focus remains on Hamas in the Gaza strip.
What do we do about Hamas?
Read Part 2 here and please consider investing in a paid subscription.