Phenix Center for Economic & Informatics Studies Phenix Center for Economic & Informatics Studies
For over seven decades, the Israeli occupation has cast its long, dark shadow not only over occupied Palestine but also over other neighboring countries, especially Jordan. The consequences of this prolonged occupation run deep and are far-reaching, impacting the lives of millions of Palestinians and sowing the seeds of instability throughout the region and the world.
One of the most glaring injustices resulting from Israeli occupation is the denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state—a right granted to all peoples worldwide. Equally concerning are the devastating losses in lives, displacement, land confiscation, and home demolitions that have occurred over decades and that are continuing. Tens of thousands of Palestinian youths, along with children, women, and the elderly, have lost their lives, and millions have been displaced both within and outside their homeland, in addition to millions being subjected to years of occupation and detention. The damages inflicted on families, communities, and the overall fabric of Palestinian society are extremely grave and constitute serious violations of the rights of the Palestinian people.
While Palestinians continue to endure a life marked by restrictions, checkpoints, occupation, eviction, and dispossession, their aspirations for a sovereign state with defined borders remain elusive. It is imperative for the international community to remember that the Palestinian people, like any other, deserve the opportunity to shape their destiny and build their independent state.
The Israeli occupation’s control over vital resources such as land and water has hindered the potential for Palestinian economic growth and various development pathways. Palestinians find themselves unable to harness and leverage their natural resources to boost their economy, which has been constrained due to this resource deprivation.
Control over water resources in the region has hampered the development of crucial sectors, particularly agriculture. Water is a fundamental resource for agriculture and the agro-industry: when neighboring countries are denied access to these resources, it severely undermines their economic stability. Jordan, in particular, faces many challenges providing water to its citizens and maintaining agricultural productivity, partly due to the scarcity caused by Israeli control of shared water resources.
The economic repercussions extend further, as neighboring countries are forced to allocate significant portions of their budgets to military spending due to the ongoing threat posed by Israeli occupation. These funds could have been redirected towards social development, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. The perpetual militarization diverts resources away from vital sectors that could lead to more stable and prosperous societies.
Given these injustices and their undeniable impact on sustainable development in the region and its people, it is imperative for major Western countries to reconsider their supportive stance toward the Israeli occupation. They must recognize that their positions cannot be interpreted as anything other than a perspective rooted in their long history of colonialism towards other peoples.
Any endorsement of the Israeli occupation and its ongoing multiple crimes by countries that tout development and human rights issues daily is unacceptable. These nations must exert substantial pressure on the Israeli occupation state. The international community must not turn a blind eye to the continuous occupation and crimes committed against the Palestinian people. The time has come for these countries to abandon any biased and arrogant perspectives and work towards ending the occupation and its crimes.
Furthermore, it is of utmost importance to acknowledge the Palestinian people’s right to resist Israeli occupation, a right enshrined in international law and human rights conventions. When double standards are applied to the Palestinian struggle, it not only is unjust but also perpetuates a cycle of violence, repression, and expansion.
Palestinians, like any people facing occupation, have the right to resist the Israeli occupation, settler-colonialism, and the undermining of their rights through all available means.Top of Form
