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Last week, during a combined speech by American leader Donald Trump and Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, colleague parliamentarian Ayman Odeh and I displayed a sign urging the recognition of Palestine. We were violently ejected from the parliamentary assembly, revealing the weak state of what's frequently described as the "sole democracy in the region". How can officials talk about Middle East peace while declining to acknowledge a people deprived of basic freedoms and rights under long-standing occupation?

The Situation in the Occupied West Bank

Nowhere is the hypocrisy more apparent than in the occupied West Bank. There, words of reconciliation sound distant and weak, while the frightening echoes of settler violence and intimidation persist loudly. Over 30 occurrences of violence by settlers against Palestinian civilians have been recorded since the unveiling of the US peace proposal in September's end, featuring attacks, stealing of agricultural produce, and burning of vehicles and belongings.

Targeted Aggression During Agricultural Period

The rise in violence by colonists is not coincidental. This time marks the start of agricultural harvesting. Beyond a vital economic activity, it constitutes an important social and national moment that shows resilience under military rule. Exactly for these reasons, year after year settlers target Palestinian farmers throughout this crucial time. During the 2024 harvest period, rights groups documented 113 distinct incidents of violence, intimidation, harvest-thwarting, or destruction to olive trees and crops involving settlers and soldiers, which took place on lands belonging to 51 Palestinian-owned villages, municipalities, and areas.

Israeli military appeared to have had a larger part in obstructing the harvesting season

The human rights group also discovered that "Israel's military seemed to have had a greater part in hindering the olive harvest". In about 70% of cases where access to lands was violently blocked, soldiers, border guards, and settler civilian security coordinators were physically on site. They either directly prevented Palestinians from accessing and harvesting their property, or neglected to prevent colonists who harassed or assaulted them.

Government Support for Settler Activities

This is no surprise, as the head of the settlers' political party, Bezalel Smotrich, was appointed as an extra official in the Defense Ministry responsible for the territorial coordination unit. In one village, for instance, a particular COGAT unit removed private olive trees of local residents, citing missing documentation, but ignored infractions by an unauthorized nearby settler outpost. Last week, the Jerusalem district court ruled to halt all building work in the outpost, which was constructed on lands taken by Israeli authorities and unlawfully transferred to settlers.

Annexation Goals and Global Response

In the controlled West Bank, settler terrorism is nothing but a instrument used by the government to pursue de-facto incorporation. Earlier this month, Smotrich led a march of thousands of settlers in support of taking over the West Bank. He was quoted as stating, "We persist to take hold with our presence of the Land of Israel with many pioneers, many champions, and countless of settlers who reside in this area of the land ... we must to normalise it and establish it permanently."

The settlers and their backers in the parliament are clear about their motives and intentions. Why, then, do political leaders in the Western nations refrain from meaningful sanctions and diplomatic measures? Smotrich was sanctioned by the UK in June, but the effect of the sanction has been limited. He may not be able to travel to the UK and tour the London's entertainment district, but he still enjoys the governmental authority to take territories in the West Bank. Even in the announcement of penalties, the British government highlighted they take place "personally" solely.

International Recognition and Actual Situation

If the UK government acknowledges the truth of settler violence and its serious implications on Palestinian life, why does it still allow goods from settlements to be marketed in stores and shops in the UK? If Starmer is serious about recognition of Palestine as a state, how can he permit the Israeli administration to violate its independence with such aggressive methods? Or was the recognition an empty ploy to shut down opposition in the UK, a meaningless act only to be implemented in the relabeling of some cartographic representations?

Route Toward True Peace

A just peace must respect the fundamental rights of the Palestinian population for self-determination, independence, and liberty from occupation and siege. Only when every human being's dignity across the river and sea is honored can we truly declare peace has been achieved.

Genuine peace requires an sovereign Palestinian state next to Israel: this is the sole solution that has consensus among the global community, the Palestinian national movement, and the Israeli peace advocates.

The former US president may have inflicted pressure on Netanyahu to halt the genocide, but he likely only did so because the strain of his connection with the isolated government of Netanyahu had become excessive. The large demonstrations throughout the world for the freedom of Palestine, and the unwavering anti-government protests inside Israel, are the actual forces behind this influence.

It is due to this massive public campaign that a ceasefire has been agreed, the hostages released, and the residents of Gaza can experience safeguard from annihilation. After the ceasefire agreement has been signed, it is crucial to keep maintaining this influence. The world has turned a blind eye to the violence in the strip for many years; it must not make the same mistake in the occupied territories.