Was Britain aware, when it issued the Balfour Declaration to establish a “national home for the oppressed Jews” in Europe, that these Jewish migrants arriving in Palestine from across the globe would create a state that would become a dominant global force and an uncontrollable monster a century later?
The Balfour Declaration starkly contradicted the promises made in the McMahon–Hussein Correspondence, which proposed the establishment of an Arab kingdom stretching from Yemen to Syria. Britain’s promise to the Arabs was, in essence, a means to an end: advancing the Zionist colonial project in Palestine under British cover and enabling Anglo-French colonial ambitions in the Middle East, as outlined in the Sykes-Picot Agreement, following the weakening of the Ottoman Empire.
The Arabs, inadvertently, facilitated these colonial projects by aligning with the Allies during World War I to dismantle the Ottoman Empire. In hindsight, they realized the betrayal after being “baited and trapped,” as the so-called “oppressed Jews” formed militant groups that terrorized Palestinians, dispossessed them of their lands, and committed massacres—a grim reality that continues today, especially in Gaza. This “Zionist society,” disparate in origins but united by a shared goal, has pursued the systematic expulsion of Palestinians, the seizure of their lands, and the creation of a strong, expansionist state on the ruins of Middle Eastern nations.
From the Nakba in 1948 to the Naksa in 1967, and the subsequent endless conflicts in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and beyond, Israel has waged unrelenting wars on Palestinians and their allies, perpetuating a century-long colonial enterprise.
Nuclear Ambitions and Regional Dominance
Barely a decade after the U.S. developed its atomic bomb and used it on Japan, Israel began constructing its first nuclear reactor, with French assistance under the government of Guy Mollet. This effort culminated in Israel acquiring nuclear weapons, which it neither confirms nor denies. Statements by Israeli officials have occasionally hinted at the willingness to use these weapons against Palestinians, including in Gaza. U.S. intelligence documents also suggest that while Israel has considered nuclear strikes on Iran, it remains wary of escalation.
Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons has solidified its status as a regional superpower, preventing other Middle Eastern nations from acquiring similar capabilities. When Iraq attempted to develop nuclear capabilities, Israel bombed its reactor in 1981. The same occurred in Syria in 2007. Now, Israel is determined to thwart Iran’s nuclear program, fearing the loss of its regional nuclear monopoly and the potential for a balance of power.
This nuclear advantage underpins Israel’s territorial expansion, as it continues to displace Palestinians and encroach upon neighboring lands.
Western Support and Hypocrisy
From its inception, Israel was nurtured by the West—particularly the United States—which provided financial aid, advanced weaponry, intelligence, and diplomatic backing. This support persisted even as Arab regimes positioned themselves as champions of the Palestinian cause. Despite rhetorical commitments, only four Arab states—Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq—actively engaged in wars with Israel, while others watched passively from the sidelines.
Israel exploited this situation, portraying itself as a besieged state surrounded by hostile Arab nations. This narrative justified unprecedented Western military aid, enabling Israel to amass the most advanced weaponry and become the region’s most formidable military force. Today, the Israeli military employs devastating munitions to target leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, destroy infrastructure, and conduct indiscriminate killings of civilians, as seen in Gaza.
Shift Towards Religious Zionism
Initially, Zionism was presented as a secular movement, separating religion from state. This stance was represented by the Israeli Labor Party, which dominated politics from Israel’s founding until 1977, focusing on state-building and territorial expansion. However, the emergence of right-wing parties, particularly Likud in 1973, signaled a shift. Likud, with its belief in “Greater Israel” and the right to settle in all Palestinian territories, defeated Labor in the 1977 elections.
Under Likud’s leadership, particularly that of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli government has leaned heavily on alliances with far-right religious parties. These parties, including the Religious Zionist Party and Jewish Power, openly advocate for the annexation of Palestinian territories, the expulsion of Palestinians, and the establishment of a “Jewish-only” state.
Figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key member of Netanyahu’s coalition, have fueled this agenda. After arming settlers to terrorize Palestinians, Ben-Gvir declared, “We will encourage the voluntary migration of all Gaza residents to other countries because this land belongs to us.” Such rhetoric aligns with legislative efforts to exclude Palestinians from political representation and erase their rights.
International Condemnation and Calls for Accountability
The global silence surrounding Israel’s actions has emboldened its impunity. Reports, such as that by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian Human Rights, have labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide.” Prominent voices, including Amos Schocken, publisher of the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz, have acknowledged Israel’s apartheid policies and called for international sanctions against its government, particularly extremists like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
Western voices, too, have condemned Israel’s actions. French President Emmanuel Macron described its actions as “barbaric,” while Jewish anti-Zionist writers like Yoav Litvin and Yossi Beilin have warned of Israel’s descent into global infamy, with Beilin stating, “You were lied to; your state will become the most feared in the world.”
