Settler terrorism is the modern incarnation of the Zionist dream
Settler terrorism is the modern incarnation of the Zionist dream Submitted by Fadi Zatari on Tue, 08/04/2026 - 16:22 Israel's brutal campaign of apartheid and displacement is putting unbearable pressure on the indigenous Palestinian population An armed Israeli settler is seen in the occupied West Bank village of Ras Ein al-Auja, whose Bedouin community was displaced earlier this year, on 22 April…
Israel's relentless pursuit of apartheid and displacement is indicative of the enduring Zionist dream, as articulated by early Jewish theorists. The concept of a Jewish state, founded on settlements in Palestine, was first proposed by Moses Hess in 1862 and later endorsed by Russian Jewish thinker Leon Pinsker in 1882. Both envisioned the Holy Land as a vacant land to be colonized for the benefit of the Jewish nation – a vision that overlooked the indigenous Palestinian population.
Major Zionist theorists, devoid of any consideration for the Palestinian nation, saw Palestine as an empty land awaiting Jewish settlement. This perspective was instrumental in shaping the ethnic cleansing, mass killings, and destruction that characterized the Nakba – the forced displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians.
The terrorist organizations that emerged from these Zionist movements, such as Haganah and Lehi, played a crucial role in the establishment of Israel in 1948. These paramilitary groups, driven by violence and terrorism, paved the way for the creation of the state, which subsequently absorbed these organizations and their leaders into the Israeli military.
By 1948, Israel had already colonized 78 percent of historical Palestine through these means. The Six-Day War in 1967 saw Israel annexing the remaining Palestinian territories – the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Despite the "peace process" with the Palestine Liberation Organisation, the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank has continued unabated.
Classical Zionist theorists, long before Israel's establishment, denied the existence of the Palestinian nation. Legally, Israel has never acknowledged its military control and colonization of the Palestinian territories as an occupation, instead labeling them as disputed zones where Palestinians are merely residents, not citizens.
Over the past decade, Israel has intensified its subjugation of Palestinians through military orders, confiscation of land, expansion of Jewish settlements, and strict regulations on daily life. This has resulted in the confiscation of around 750,000 Israeli settlers currently residing in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, with this expansion achieved through both violent acts and state support.
In the West Bank, Israeli settlements have led to the isolation and fragmentation of Palestinian communities. The establishment of hundreds of military checkpoints, gates, and roadblocks has made it nearly impossible for Palestinians to travel between their cities and villages, hindering any prospect of peace or a viable future state. Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity, including apartheid and persecution, through its policies in the occupied territories.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
