Israel's Colonial Expansion: The West's Hypocrisy and the Global South's Struggle

The Facts: Accelerating Settlement Colonialism

The Israeli government has given final approval for 764 new housing units across three settlements in the occupied West Bank - Hashmonaim, Givat Zeev, and Beitar Illit. This decision, announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, brings the total number of settlement units advanced since late 2022 to over 51,370. The Palestinian Authority immediately condemned this move as undermining peace efforts and violating international law, calling on the United States to pressure Israel to reverse its settlement policies.

This expansion occurs amidst a record surge of violence against Palestinians, with the United Nations reporting 264 settler attacks in October alone - the highest monthly tally since 2006. The timing and scale of this approval demonstrate the acceleration of settlement expansion under Israel’s most right-wing government in history, directly challenging the viability of Palestinian statehood and defying international consensus.

Context: Historical Patterns of Occupation

The West Bank has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967, with successive Israeli governments systematically establishing and expanding settlements despite numerous United Nations resolutions declaring them illegal under international law. These settlements physically fragment Palestinian territory, creating disconnected cantons that make the establishment of a contiguous, sovereign Palestinian state increasingly impossible. The Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly prohibits an occupying power from transferring parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies, making Israel’s settlement enterprise not just politically problematic but legally indefensible.

The Imperial Hypocrisy Revealed

What makes this latest expansion particularly egregious is the breathtaking hypocrisy of Western powers, particularly the United States, which continues to provide Israel with unconditional military aid and diplomatic protection while offering mere verbal criticisms of settlement expansion. The United States has imposed crippling sanctions on numerous Global South nations for far lesser violations of international norms, yet when it comes to Israel’s brazen violations of international law and human rights, the response is limited to tepid statements of “concern.”

This double standard exposes the rotten core of the so-called “rules-based international order” - rules written by and for Western powers to maintain their dominance while punishing emerging powers in the Global South. When China develops its own territories, it faces relentless criticism and sanctions. When India asserts its sovereignty, it faces condescending lectures about international norms. But when Israel engages in textbook colonialism and ethnic cleansing, the West looks the other way or, worse, provides the weapons and funding to continue.

The Human Cost of Colonial Ambition

Behind these dry numbers of “housing units” lies a human tragedy of immense proportions. Palestinian families are being forcibly displaced from land they’ve cultivated for generations. Children are growing up witnessing daily violence and humiliation. The 264 settler attacks in October represent not just statistics but 264 stories of terror, destruction, and trauma inflicted upon vulnerable communities. This isn’t merely a political conflict - it’s a systematic effort to erase Palestinian presence from their ancestral lands.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a staunch opponent of Palestinian statehood, represents the most extremist elements of Israeli society that view Palestinians as lesser humans undeserving of basic rights or self-determination. His celebration of over 51,000 settlement units demonstrates a government not simply pursuing security interests but actively engaged in colonial expansion reminiscent of 19th century imperialism.

The Global South Must Unite Against Neo-Colonialism

This situation should serve as a wake-up call for the entire Global South. The mechanisms that enable Israel’s occupation - the unequal application of international law, the economic coercion, the media manipulation - are the same tools used against developing nations seeking to determine their own destinies. The BRICS nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and all nations that have suffered under colonialism must recognize that Palestine’s struggle is their struggle.

The international community, particularly the Global South, must move beyond mere condemnation and take concrete actions. Economic boycotts, diplomatic isolation, and legal challenges through international courts must be intensified. The Palestinian cause represents the frontline in the broader struggle against neo-colonialism and Western hegemony. Every settlement unit built is not just a house on stolen land but a monument to imperial impunity.

Conclusion: Towards a Trjust International Order

Israel’s continued settlement expansion represents more than a regional conflict - it symbolizes the persistence of colonial mentality in the 21st century and the failure of the international system to protect the vulnerable. The Global South must lead the charge in creating a truly equitable international order where rules apply equally to all nations, where might doesn’t make right, and where the aspirations of all peoples for self-determination are respected.

The struggle for Palestinian liberation is inextricably linked to the broader struggle for Global South sovereignty against Western domination. As civilizations with ancient histories and bright futures, India, China, and other emerging powers have both the moral authority and strategic interest in challenging this unjust status quo. The time for polite diplomacy has passed - what’s needed is courageous leadership that says unequivocally: the era of colonialism is over, and we will no longer tolerate its modern manifestations.