For over seven decades, Israel has projected itself as a beacon of democracy and civilization, grounded in religious and historical narratives. But this self-image, amplified by powerful Western allies and media, is a carefully curated illusion. Beneath the surface lies a structure of settler-colonialism, racial supremacy, and state-sanctioned apartheid.
Israel’s foundational and operational architecture privileges Jewish Israelis while disenfranchising and dispossessing the indigenous Palestinian people. This is not about religious self-determination; it is about ethno-national domination wrapped in divine justification.
Colonial Genesis, Not Religious Destiny
Israel’s birth in 1948 followed a violent expulsion — not a holy fulfilment. Over 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced in what is now known as the Nakba, and more than 500 villages were destroyed. This was a colonial realignment, not a spiritual restoration.
Israel was established with the support of European powers seeking to offload the consequences of their own antisemitism. Palestinian land was sacrificed at the altar of geopolitical convenience.
To this day, Israel continues this logic: settlement expansion, home demolitions, annexation, and the siege of Gaza are modern manifestations of settler-colonial aggression. Religion is cited not for peace, but to legitimize dispossession.
Apartheid by Design
Israel operates two legal systems: one for Jewish citizens and another — vastly inferior — for Palestinians. This dualism is enforced through military occupation, movement restrictions, land seizures, and institutional discrimination. From the river to the sea, Palestinians live under surveillance, siege, and separation.
International bodies — Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and UN Special Rapporteurs — have unanimously affirmed that Israel is practicing apartheid. This isn’t polemic. It is fact.
If apartheid was condemned in South Africa, it must be condemned in Palestine.
Weaponizing Religion: A Cloak for Supremacy
Far from embodying religious values, Israel exploits religious identity to shield itself from global accountability. Its governance is rooted in Jewish supremacy, not Jewish ethics. True Judaism, like other faiths, does not condone occupation or ethnic domination.
By conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism, the state and its supporters seek to suppress legitimate dissent and moral outrage. But principled opposition to apartheid is not antisemitic — it is an ethical imperative.
Why the Global South Must Speak
Nations with histories of colonization understand what it means to suffer under foreign rule and racial hierarchies. They must not be swayed by Israel’s appeals to religious identity or by Western diplomatic pressure.
Supporting Israel’s aggression undermines the moral legacies of anti-colonial struggles. The Global South must champion justice in Palestine — not as a political gesture, but as a continuation of its own liberation narratives.
Voting against Israeli aggression at international forums is a declaration of moral consistency.
Conclusion: No Legitimacy Without Equality
Israel’s legitimacy cannot be sustained through military might, propaganda, or religious symbolism. Only by dismantling its apartheid structures, ending the occupation, and recognizing Palestinian rights can it become a true member of the global democratic community.
Until then, Israel remains a colonial-apartheid state — and those who value justice must say so, especially the small nations whose voices carry the weight of moral truth.
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Ranjan Solomon is a political commentator with four decades of close engagement in issues of justice for Palestine
