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Last week, amid a joint address by American leader Donald Trump and Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli parliament, fellow lawmaker Ayman Odeh and I raised a banner urging the recognition of the Palestinian state. We were forcibly removed from the legislative session, revealing the fragile state of what's often portrayed as the "only democratic state in the region". How can officials talk about Middle East peace while declining to recognize a population denied of fundamental liberties and entitlements under long-standing military control?

The Situation in the West Bank

In no place is the deceit more apparent than in the controlled West Bank. There, words of reconciliation seem remote and weak, while the frightening sounds of settler violence and intimidation persist loudly. More than 30 occurrences of settler aggression against Palestinians have been recorded since the unveiling of the US 20-point plan in September's end, including attacks, stealing of crops, and torching of vehicles and belongings.

Systematic Aggression During Agricultural Period

The increase in settler terrorism is not coincidental. This time signals the beginning of harvest seasons. More than a crucial economic activity, it constitutes an important communal and national moment that shows resilience under occupation. Precisely for these causes, annually settlers target Palestinians during this precious period. During the 2024 harvest season, human rights organizations documented 113 distinct cases of aggression, harassment, preventing harvesting, or destruction to olive trees and crops by settlers and military personnel, which took place on lands owned by 51 Palestinian-owned villages, municipalities, and areas.

Israel's military appeared to have had a larger role in hindering the olive harvest

Yesh Din also found that "Israel's military appeared to have played a larger part in obstructing the olive harvest". In about 70% of cases where access to farmland was violently blocked, soldiers, border guards, and settler civilian security coordinators were actually present. They either personally prevented Palestinian farmers from accessing and harvesting their own lands, or neglected to stop colonists who threatened or assaulted them.

Political Support for Settler Activities

This comes as no surprise, as the leader of the settlers' political party, Bezalel Smotrich, was appointed as an additional minister in the Ministry of Defence in charge of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. In Umm al-Khair, for instance, a special military coordination team uprooted personally-owned olive plants of Palestinians, claiming lack of permits, but overlooked infractions by an unauthorized adjacent settler outpost. Last week, the local court decided to stop all building work in the outpost, which was built on property seized by Israel and unlawfully given to colonists.

Takeover Goals and Global Reaction

In the occupied West Bank, colonist violence is nothing but a tool used by the government to achieve practical incorporation. Recently, Smotrich led a march of many of colonists in support of taking over the West Bank. He was quoted as stating, "We persist to establish presence with our feet of the Land of Israel with numerous pioneers, many heroes, and countless of colonists who live in this area of the land ... we must to normalize it and establish it permanently."

The settlers and their backers in the Knesset are explicit about their motives and goals. Why, then, do political leaders in the Western nations hesitate from substantial sanctions and political actions? Smotrich was penalized by the UK in the summer, but the effect of the sanction has been limited. He may not be able to go to the United Kingdom and tour the London's entertainment district, but he still enjoys the governmental authority to seize territories in the West Bank. Even in the announcement of sanctions, the British government emphasized they take place "personally" only.

Global Recognition and Reality

If the UK government recognizes the reality of settler violence and its serious consequences on Palestinian existence, why does it still allow settlement produce to be marketed in markets and outlets in the UK? If Starmer is serious about acknowledging Palestinian statehood as a sovereign entity, how come he permit the Israeli government to violate its sovereignty with such aggressive methods? Or was the acknowledgment an empty tactic to shut down opposition in the United Kingdom, a meaningless act only to be realised in the relabeling of some maps?

Route Toward True Resolution

A fair resolution must respect the fundamental entitlements of the Palestinian population for self-recognition, sovereignty, and freedom from occupation and siege. Only when each person's worth across the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea is honored can we truly say peace has been achieved.

True peace requires an independent Palestinian state next to Israel: this is the only formula that has agreement among the international community, the Palestinian leadership, and the Israeli peace camp.

The former US president may have inflicted pressure on the Israeli leader to halt the violence, but he probably only did so because the strain of his connection with the isolated government of the Israeli PM had become excessive. The large demonstrations throughout the globe for the liberation of Palestinian territories, and the persistent anti-government demonstrations within Israel, are the actual forces behind this pressure.

It is thanks to this enormous public campaign that a ceasefire has been signed, the captives released, and the people of the territory can experience safeguard from destruction. After the ceasefire agreement has been signed, it is crucial to continue applying this pressure. The international community has turned a blind eye to the atrocities in Gaza for many years; it must not make the same mistake in the occupied territories.