International Pressure is Needed to Save Israel from Itself

The violence was in response to the IDF's dismantling of a new illegal outpost nearby and continued and increased throughout the night and into the next day, including attacks on an IDF base and soldiers.

This comes shortly after newly-appointed defense minister, Israel Katz announced the end of administrative detention for settlers (though he has since walked this back), which they in turn saw as a "green light" to continue and intensify their attacks on Palestinians.

The horrors and tragedies in the occupied West Bank often go unnoticed for a couple of reasons - between the war in Gaza, the recent ceasefire with Lebanon, and the hostages remaining in the hands of Hamas, there are distractions everywhere. Grimmer than that, these acts are so commonplace, so a part of the routine of everyday life in the occupied West Bank that there is simply nothing new to say about them.

Both of these reasons make Israel's right-wing happy. Using the war in Gaza has provided a cover for settlers to continue this violence, and for extremist right-wing ministers to fast-track their annexationist plans, something we've written about in our policy paper on the occupied West Bank and our recommendations to Canada's Foreign Affairs Committee.

Further, by tiring of discussing these acts, they become banal, mundane. Sure, now and then a mainstream Israeli media personality or security official comments on the situation, controversy swirls and discourse ramps up, but it then predictably fades away.

But the reality on the ground does not fade away and for Palestinians living under occupation, life becomes more difficult, more insecure, more painful.

Yesterday, the directors of the documentary No Other Land, which follows the lives of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta in the South Hebron Hills as the Israeli government destroys their villages, were interviewed on CBC's The Current.

In their discussion, they reiterated the calls that we have made - for the Canadian government to recognize Palestinian statehood, and for more sanctions to be imposed.

Their rationale was also the rationale which we believe - that the deepening conflict will not be solved from within. International pressure is needed to bring about a political solution. Further, without political power, no amount of awareness, dialogue, or protest can move the needle.

This is also where the work is hardest - international pressure feels uncomfortable for many, and as many of us see the direct result of the conflict closer to home in the form of antisemitic attacks and threats to our Jewish institutions, it feels scary to further allow ourselves to be vulnerable.

It would be our preference that international pressure was not needed at all. It would be our preference that Israeli leaders recommitted to a path of diplomacy and reconciliation, and worked toward a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza. Unfortunately, the current Israeli government has the exact opposite in mind, increasing its violence and oppression in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Israelis and many diaspora Jews were shocked when the staunchly right-wing former defense minister Moshe "Bogie" Yaalon referred to the IDF's actions in Northern Gaza as "ethnic cleansing". When pressed on his statement, he doubled down and reiterated this belief, claiming that "war crimes are happening here" and that it is being hidden from the Israeli public.

More soldiers are refusing to serve, and reservists are refusing to show up for duty. Many Israelis still take to the streets to protest the war, the current government, and the lack of a hostage release and ceasefire deal. It is simply the case, however, that this is still not enough.

Difficult decisions must be made by an international community that purports to uphold democracy, international law, and human rights. And difficult decisions must be made by those of us who care deeply about Israel to recognize the extent of the danger being inflicted upon it by its own government.

We must move beyond just dialogue, hope, and patience to action because being uncomfortable in the short-term is a small price to pay to avoid a long-term and irreversible annexationist, apartheid reality.

This past Tuesday was Giving Tuesday and we shattered all our previous Giving Tuesday records. We know this is because so many of us - increasing numbers of us - understand that this is the fight for the soul of Israel, and we can't afford to lose.

Thank you to all of you doing this hard work with us, and recognizing what's on the line. It's not easy, but not only is it right and just, it's the only way.