The Blogs: Israeli “Occupation” Does Not Exist

Using “Diplomatic Weapons” to Unjustly Harm Israel

It’s no secret that the world’s only Jewish state has faced relentless attempts to delegitimize its existence. Even back when Israel applied for United Nations membership, it ran into hateful pushback despite ticking all the boxes for statehood.

Although the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recommended Israel’s admission with a 9-1 vote, the process was excessively complicated by the demands of Arab nations. They insisted on a special ad hoc committee to scrutinize Israel’s application further. Mind you, this is something not typically done even for countries with severe human rights abuses, such as Sudan or Myanmar.

Undermining Israel’s legitimacy was a strategic move that shifted the conflict from the battlefield to diplomatic channels. Why was there such an opposition to Israel’s re-establishment? Simple: it is because a unified Arab world was central to Pan-Arabism, and the creation of Israel disrupted this vision.

Any non-Arab state was viewed as a foreign intrusion—especially a Jewish one. Hence, this opposition extended to other non-Arab groups (e.g., Kurds and Assyrians) who also sought autonomy and independence but were suppressed to maintain Arab dominance.

The Transition of Authority

The false narrative of Israeli “occupation” is yet another diplomatic weapon used to harm Israel unjustly. This myth of occupation tends to ignore key facts.

Firstly, Israel began transferring control over parts of the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as part of the Oslo Accords signed in the 1990s—all for the hope of peace. Area A, which comprises about 18% of the West Bank, is under full administrative and security control of the Palestinian Authority (PA). This area includes major population centers such as Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem, and Jericho. Meanwhile, Area B, covering about 22% of the West Bank, is still under Palestinian civil control with joint Israeli-Palestinian security control.

Secondly, Gaza followed a similar transition with Israel completely withdrawing in 2005. Israel not only physically removed thousands of Jewish people from Gaza against their wishes, but even went as far as to digging up and moving Jewish graves. Many Jewish buildings in Gaza were abandoned, including synagogues, homes, and greenhouses.

These disengagements marked the end of direct Israeli control over said areas. Today, there is NO occupation of Palestinian territory. In fact, the only Jews in Palestinian lands are those being held as hostages.

Moreover, any argument against Israeli settlement expansions in the unclaimed areas of the West Bank is often exaggerated. The settlements constitute a small fraction of the West Bank and are mostly on land historically and legally claimed by Israel. Their existence does NOT equate to occupation. Some expansion is also occurring on the Palestinian side as well, yet they are never labeled as occupiers by the media.

Ignoring Jewish Indigenous Rights

It is also entirely misleading to label Jews living in Judea and Samaria—often referred to by the politically charged term “West Bank”—as occupiers. Jews are simply residing in areas where their ancestors lived for millennia. This deep-rooted connection illustrates that Jews cannot be considered occupiers in a land they are indigenous to. It is akin to calling Native Americans “occupiers” in America—it is wrong. Yet, somehow, this mischaracterization is completely acceptable when it comes to Jews.

Jew’s connection to Israel is deeply historical. Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery is over 3,000 years old, underscoring the Jewish presence in the region. Comparatively, the oldest Arab cemetery (Mamilla Cemetery) in Israel dates back to the 11th century. The Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine, is built on TOP of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Even religious texts (yes, including the Quran) acknowledge the Jewish right to the land. Hence, it is objectively false to be labeled an “occupier” in a land where your roots run as deep as 3,700 years. It is a pre-existing right to live in our indigenous land—not merely a granted right.

Legal Clarifications

Claims of Israeli occupation are not supported by substantial legal evidence. For instance, a case brought by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was decisively rejected by the French Court of Appeals of Versailles in 2017 because there is not a basis for the claim of an illegal occupation.

Moreso, the right of the Jewish people to live in and govern Israel is firmly established in international law. The 1920 San Remo Resolution—confirmed by the League of Nations in 1922—recognized Jewish sovereignty over the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, including Jerusalem. This resolution is binding under international law, as upheld by UN Charter Article 80.

The infamous call “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” disregards these legal foundations by advocating for the eradication of a sovereign nation. The genocidal chant directly contravenes international law. Isn’t it interesting how antisemites invoke international law only when it suits their narrative?

It is abundantly clear that efforts to smear Israel as an “occupier” or a “violator of international law” stem from political motivations rather than factual grounds. This has not gotten us closer to peace. It’s time to put an end to this baseless anti-Jew agenda and acknowledge the reality because only with the truth can we have peace.