Settlements have become an obsession for Israel.

The right-wing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu is gradually eroding Israel’s special historic legitimacy. Despite heavy criticism from the world community, Netanyahu insists on continuing to build:

“We will continue to build in Jerusalem, just as we have done for 42 years,” was yesterday’s silly, proud statement by the Israeli prime minister.

Following the humiliation of the American Vice President Joe Biden during his visit, it was the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s turn this weekend to be made a fool of.

Israel is in the process of turning its back on the world – at a time when the country actually needs help to handle Iran’s possible nuclear threat.

The decision to continue illegal settlements in the occupied territories, including east of Jerusalem, not only contravenes international rules but is also fundamentally against Israel’s national interests.

By constantly obscuring Israel’s borders and maintaining all possible conflicts, the government is blocking the road to peaceful stabilisation.

Netanyahu is weakening Israel’s role as the only democratic, constitutional state in the Middle East. The settlements demoralise Israel from within by making a state of emergency the normal state of affairs, and shrouding the letter of the law.

Israeli cul de sac
Democracy commits countries. Israel must, therefore, be kept at a higher standard than that of the region’s authoritarian regimes. Unfortunately, the settlements are creating an anti-democratic culture in Israel that is outside the realms of justice and reason.

The confrontation with the United States, the European Union and the rest of the free world does not serve Israel’s development potential. Either in finding an acceptable peace solution, or in further integrating Israel in the democratic global community.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has allowed himself to be guided by domestic considerations – among other reasons due to cooperation with the parties of the radical right. Those who tip the balance in Israeli politics have a bitter taste of xenophobia and national conservatism.

Netanyahu is a right-wing populist who harms Israel’s reputation and self-respect and who neither represents the entire country’s past or future. His government is not all of Israel, just as George W. Bush was not the United States and Anders Fogh Rasmussen was not Denmark.

Luckily, there is another Israel.

The right-wing government’s settlements are anti-Israeli – and must therefore be solidly opposed by all of Israel’s friends. That is the only way that a majority of Israelis will be forced to accept that the road of illegal settlements is a cul de sac for Israel as a democratic constitutional state.

ltm