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Last week, during a combined address by US President Donald Trump and Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, colleague lawmaker Ayman Odeh and I displayed a banner urging the recognition of Palestine. We were violently ejected from the legislative assembly, revealing the fragile condition of what's often described as the "only democracy in the Middle East". How can officials speak about regional peace while refusing to recognize a people denied of fundamental freedoms and entitlements under long-standing military control?

The Situation in the Occupied West Bank

Nowhere is the hypocrisy more apparent than in the occupied West Bank. There, talk of peace seem remote and weak, while the terrifying echoes of settler violence and terror persist loudly. More than 30 incidents of violence by settlers against Palestinian civilians have been recorded since the unveiling of the Trump administration's 20-point plan in September's end, including attacks, stealing of crops, and burning of cars and belongings.

Targeted Aggression During Harvest Season

The increase in settler terrorism is not coincidental. This period marks the beginning of harvest seasons. Beyond a vital economic activity, it constitutes an important social and cultural moment that shows resilience under occupation. Precisely for these causes, annually settlers target Palestinians during this crucial period. During the last year's agricultural season, human rights organizations documented 113 distinct incidents of violence, harassment, preventing harvesting, or damage to olive groves and produce by settlers and military personnel, which took place on territories owned by 51 Palestinian-owned communities, municipalities, and areas.

Israel's security forces seemed to have had a larger part in obstructing the harvesting season

Yesh Din also discovered that "Israel's security forces seemed to have had a greater part in hindering the olive harvest". In approximately 70% of instances where entry to lands was violently prevented, troops, border police officers, and settlement civilian security coordinators were actually present. They either personally stopped Palestinians from reaching and harvesting their own lands, or failed to prevent settlers who harassed or assaulted them.

Political Support for Colonization

This is no surprise, as the head of the settlers' political party, Bezalel Smotrich, was named as an additional official in the Ministry of Defence responsible for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. In one village, for example, a particular military coordination team removed private olive plants of Palestinians, citing missing documentation, but ignored violations by an unauthorized nearby settler outpost. Last week, the Jerusalem district court decided to halt all building work in the outpost, which was constructed on property taken by Israel and illegally given to settlers.

Takeover Ambitions and Global Response

In the controlled West Bank, colonist violence is nothing but a tool used by the administration to achieve practical incorporation. Recently, Smotrich led a procession of thousands of settlers in favor of taking over the West Bank. He was quoted as saying, "We are continuing to establish presence with our presence of the Land of Israel with numerous pioneers, numerous champions, and countless of colonists who reside in this area of the land ... we must to normalize it and establish it permanently."

The settlers and their backers in the Knesset are clear about their motives and intentions. Why, then, do political leaders in the Western nations hesitate from meaningful penalties and political actions? Smotrich was sanctioned by the UK in the summer, but the impact of the penalty has been minimal. He may not be able to go to the United Kingdom and visit the London's entertainment district, but he still maintains the governmental authority to seize lands in the West Bank. Even in the declaration of penalties, the UK highlighted they take place "in his personal capacity" only.

Global Acknowledgment and Actual Situation

If the British administration recognizes the reality of settler violence and its serious implications on Palestinian life, why does it still allow settlement produce to be marketed in markets and shops in the UK? If the British leader is genuine about recognition of Palestine as a state, how can he permit the Israeli government to violate its independence with such violent means? Or was the recognition an empty ploy to silence dissenting voices in the UK, a hollow act only to be realised in the rebranding of some cartographic representations?

Route Toward True Peace

A fair resolution must respect the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people for self-recognition, sovereignty, and liberty from occupation and siege. Only when each human being's dignity across the river and sea is respected can we truly say peace has been attained.

Genuine resolution demands an independent Palestinian nation next to Israel: this is the only formula that enjoises consensus among the international community, the Palestinian leadership, and the Israeli peace camp.

Trump may have inflicted pressure on Netanyahu to stop the violence, but he likely only did so because the strain of his connection with the pariah regime of the Israeli PM had become excessive. The mass protests across the globe for the liberation of Palestinian territories, and the persistent opposition demonstrations within the country, are the actual factors behind this influence.

It is due to this massive civil movement that a truce has been signed, the captives freed, and the people of Gaza can experience protection from annihilation. After the ceasefire agreement has been signed, it is crucial to continue maintaining this influence. The international community has ignored to the violence in the strip for many years; it must not repeat the same mistake in the occupied territories.