Israeli settlers: Patriots or invaders? | Head to Head 

It is a colonial tradition of projection. These anxieties are hardly unique to Jewish Israelis; settlers in many different colonies throughout history have echoed these same sentiments. If we were to take a look at the narrative surrounding anti-Apartheid South Africa activism and boycotts, we would find eerily similar projections and arguments. For example, In an article for the Globe and Mail under the title “The good side of white South Africa” Kenneth Walker argued that ending the Apartheid system and giving everyone an equal vote would be a “a recipe for slaughter in South Africa”. Others, such as Shingler, echoed similar claims, saying that anti-racist activists were actually not interested in ending Apartheid as a policy, but in South Africa as a society. Others came out to claim these activists were actually motivated by “anti-white racism”, fueled by “Black imperialism”. Political comics displayed a giant soviet bear, bearing down on South Africa declaring “We shall drive South Africa into the Sea!” Sound familiar? As Fred Moten once said: “Settlers always think they’re defending themselves. That’s why they build forts on other people’s land. And then they freak out over the fact that they are surrounded. And they’re still surrounded.“ Similarly, in Israel equality and the rights of Palestinian refugees are positioned as a diametric opposite to the very life of the Israeli settler. The return of said refugees then becomes nothing short of annihilation. Therefore, not only does the settler seek to deny the return of the native refugees, but to attack the entire concept of these refugees having any rights to begin with. However, in the rare cases where Israeli advocates even acknowledge that Palestinian refugees were wronged, and that their dispersal around the world was due to Israeli actions, the argument becomes that while it is tragic, it is the only way to keep the Jewish people safe. Once again, this pretence is hardly unique to Jewish Israelis, as a matter of fact, similar arguments were used against the abolition of slavery in the United States. For example, Thomas Jefferson likened slavery to a wolf: “we have the wolf by the ear, and we can neither hold him nor safely let him go. Justice is in one scale, and self-preservation in the other.” How utterly ridiculous this all sounds now. While the first approach is crude and vile propaganda, designed to instigate fear and panic, it is par for the course for settler societies. Perhaps the second approach stands out a little bit more for its brazen attempt at manipulation. In a final endeavor to center their experiences and erase their victims, settlers frame themselves as the stars of their own tragedy, in the end they were the tragic victims of fate, forced to wield injustice for the sake of self-preservation.

Who land? Why can’t Jews have this little tiny piece of land when Arabs have like 22 countries?

He fears the suicide bombers, jihad, rockets…

@@king43215glorious comment

@@BrandyTexas214using your stupid logic, why did europeans moved to the Americas when there was plenty of european countries. You need to use your brain however tiny it is.

Beautiful??

This was sadly funny

2 points: 1. He is really honest in expressing himself and his views. 2. If you can prove that Jewish Israelis live on stolen lands, then you also can prove that Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, some portions of Arabs ( on Kurdish lands) etc are also living on stolen lands. You can't single out only the Jews while others can keep the stolen lands. I mean, I don't really care but the whole international laws and principles are based on power, might and brute force.

What if the house belongs to the thief??

@@hamidhamidi3134 "Kurdish lands" now thats funny.

***** You are scared of 'Islam' and with good reason. But the problem isn't Islam, it's the catastrophe inflicted on Palestine by foreigners who have no connection whatsoever with the Middle East.

+George Zee - Palestine was never a nation state. Your Qur'an is bullshit but it does say it belongs to the Jews,

George Zee You're a full blown psycho.

I don't know if you omitted the context in which these words were used on purpose as a way to make this man look as if he was happily boasting about Israel's problems or if it was an honest mistake, but this was a critique to certain Israel's policies and the context and all the other used words are necessary to avoid making it seems as if Israel is per se illegitimate, because many people actually think that, even though it is not. Now we are all focused on the West Bank and on the blockade on Gaza but the first steps into this conflict were between an internationally recognized nation that legally bought the land that was inhabiting and farming and a group of people that opposed such legitimate state and that swore to destroy it. Backing up such statement with various wars. And there wasn't even one single settlement in the West Bank, so it seems quite disingenuous to say that it's all on the Israelis and specifically on the settlers (that I often dislike). At some point there were some Jewish communities (or settlers) near the Gaza strip and the army was sent there to forcefully remove them because it the Palestinians asked to do so in order to talk about peace. Right after giving that land to the Arabs they had the elections and voted for Hamas, which promised to kill all the Jews. From that moment there were the multiple suicide bombers, kidnapping of childrens etc. At some point Israel simply put a wall and various checkpoints in order to stop them. They are seriously ugly measures on many levels, but the alternative was that of letting extremists kill whoever they wanted to kill. *Allright, that said, this is the full text from which you extrapolated your comment:* Israel's security cannot be based only on the sword; it must rather be based on our principles of moral justice and on peace with our neighbors - those living next door and those living a little further away. The Zionist dream's realization and the Jewish people's national rebirth through the creation of Israel were achieved not because of the Jewish side's superior number of tanks, planes or other aggressive means. The State of Israel was born because the Zionist movement realized it must find a solution to the Jews' persecution and because the enlightened world recognized the need for that solution. The enlightened world's recognition of the solution's moral justification was an important, principal factor in Israel's creation. In other words, Israel was established on a clear, recognized moral base. Without such a moral base, it is doubtful whether the Zionist idea would have become a reality. The Six-Day War was forced upon us; however, the war's seventh day, which began on June 12, 1967 and has continued to this day, is the product of our choice. We enthusiastically chose to become a colonial society, ignoring international treaties, expropriating lands, transferring settlers from Israel to the occupied territories, engaging in theft and finding justification for all these activities. Passionately desiring to keep the occupied territories, we developed two judicial systems: one - progressive, liberal - in Israel; and the other - cruel, injurious - in the occupied territories. In effect, we established an apartheid regime in the occupied territories immediately following their capture. That oppressive regime exists to this day. The Six-Day War's seventh day has transformed us from a moral society, sure of the justice of Israel's creation, into a society that oppresses another people, preventing it from realizing its legitimate national aspirations. The Six-Day War's seventh day has transformed us from a just society into an unjust one, prepared to expand its control atop another nation's ruins. The discarding of our moral foundation has hurt us as a society, reinforcing the arguments of the world's hostile elements and sowers of evil and intensifying their influence. The intifada is the Palestinian people's war of national liberation. Historical processes teach us that no nation is prepared to live under another's domination and that a suppressed people's war of national liberation will inevitably succeed. We understand this point but choose to ignore it. We are prepared to engage in confrontation to prevent an historical process, although we are well aware that this process is anchored in the moral justification behind every people's war of national liberation and behind its right to self-determination, and although we are well aware that this process will attain its inevitable goal. This is the background of the difficult testimony we have received about actions of Israel Defense Forces personnel in the occupied territories. No need to repeat the details of the painful phenomena entailed in the occupation regime and in our battle to prolong it. Suffice it to recall the killing of little children fleeing for safety; the executions, without trial, of wanted persons who were not on their way to launch a terrorist act; and the encirclements, closures and roadblocks that have turned the lives of millions into a nightmare. Even if all these actions stem from our need to defend ourselves under an occupation's conditions, the occupation's non-existence would render them unnecessary. Thus, a black flag hovers over these actions. This is a harsh reality that is causing us to lose the moral base of our existence as a free, just society and to jeopardize Israel's long-range survival. Israel's security cannot be based only on the sword; it must rather be based on our principles of moral justice and on peace with our neighbors - those living next door and those living a little further away. An occupation regime undermines those principles of moral justice and prevents the attainment of peace. Thus, that regime endangers Israel's existence. It is against this background that one must view the refusal of IDF reservist officers and soldiers to serve in the territories. In their eyes, the occupation regime is evil and military service in the occupied territories is evil. In their eyes, military service in the occupied territories, which places soldiers in situations forcing them to commit immoral acts, is evil, and, according to their conscience, they cannot be party to such acts. Thus, their refusal to serve is an act of conscience that is justified and recognized in every democratic regime. History's verdict will be that their refusal was the act that restored our moral backbone.

@@magnumopus1628 Israel has done atrocities in palestine long before hamas. So how can you put a blame on hamas for fighting back for their homeland ? How about nine years old boy got shot in the head. ? Do you legitimately denying the innocent lived that was taken by israelis ?

***** we don't blame the jews! We blame Israel! We blame Netanyahu! For killing the innocent children and civilian. Very little Israeli died and most of them are soldiers. U think we around the world don't know about that?

***** none of my questions r addressed. I guess u r the one living in a shithole. Dont bother to clear things for Israel when u can't answer the questions. Go and watch the latest vid from isis, treating to kill Palestinians in Gaza. Isis even killed Muslims and u still think they r Muslims? Woah u must be kinda thick to think like that. I've seen no Israeli suffers or sleep in between slabs of concrete. So, no sorry for u. U could walk leisurely, sippings coffee at a nearby coffee shop. No there's nothing to be sorry to Israeli.

@* Oh you are one of those people? Who replies to information by calling names? Working perfectly! You changed my entire way of thinking.. keep it up!!

@* Thank you for your message. I can now see the light. You actually put information instead of calling names.. but then you did it again.. My dear, you won’t be able to convince any single person with your point of view even if it is correct if you keep doing that. I suggest you evolve to the level of human and start from there so maybe we can have a useful and informative debate. The fact that you listed all these historic events means that you deliberately decided to leave off many blanks, which means you are happy enough with the pieces of information that supports your point of view only. The alternative is you really didn't know which is sad because you shouldn't be preaching others when you don't know the full story. Being Arab, in modern use of the word, is someone living in or a descendant of an Arab country. Being Jewish on the other hand is belonging to a religion. They are two different things and I have no clue why you bothered yourself listing the Arab countries for.. It doesn't matter how many countries constitute the Arab world. Arabs and Jews live all over the world and for a very long time lived together with no issues. Israelites were not the sole and only inhabitants of this piece of land. Canaanites, Phoenicians, and Philistines also lived in this region at the time. There were many inhabitants, settlers, invaders, crusaders etc.. that came and went to these parts of the world. It is really funny how you listed some facts ending in the 136 CE and then jumped to 1917 where Lord Balfour recognized the Jewish people’s right to their homeland.. Really?! Do you hear yourself? Are you seriously suggesting that people of a certain religion that started 2 thousand years ago have the right to a piece of land in the 20th century? not only that but you seem very sure and have a crystal clear picture where the boundaries of this land should be!! but the cherry on top is that Israelis even sacrificed some of this land and were generous in not taking it. Lord Balfour, promised a piece of land, that he doesn't own, to a group of people who were not inhabitants of this land. Plain simple. There is nothing called right to homeland. Who gave Jewish people that right? and who gave them the right to expel the inhabitants of these parts. Please don't say league of nations or UN. The United Nations Human Rights council condemned Israel just as much as all the other countries combined. But of course you wouldn't bother yourself with it. Stop hiding behind your finger. Israelis, under British cover and aid, deliberately expelled around 750,000 inhabitants who were living in that area and took over, and have been doing so ever since. And you still wonder why people fought the idea at the time and rejected these decrees. The League of Nations and UN has nothing to do with it. Victors of war and the most powerful writes history. No one has to suffer and everyone has the right to live peacefully. But to come about and say "Get out, I used to live here some thousand years ago" makes no sense. If it makes sense to you then I hardly believe we will ever agree on anything else.

I think you mean 1400 years

@@yeshuasage3724 that’s islam. Are you saying Arab cake from the space?

@@ashwaqahmed9656 arabs came from the Arabian peninsula dummy, they expanded forwards from the 7th century

yeah, Mehdi has a habit of manipulation & doublespeak

I do not mean Mehdi, but THAT DEVIL ON THE MOON

No, the guy hasn't answer any questions clearly, just beating around the bush

Bro you didn't accept the two state solution, tried to wipe Israel from the face of the earth.After you failed, now you want the land back? Be happy in whatever small piece of land you are getting. Your existence is because of our goodwill.

so u're telling me we took the land by force and u can do nothing? we are not afraid from death and we will get our land back it's a matter of time, years ago romans were like the undefeatable enemies and now they're just part of the history. have a nice day we love peace

@@darkman8939 good to have high hopes but in this lifetime you will not get the land. Njoy.

​@@pranshunagpure9781 i know how much u're scared, have a nice day

@@darkman8939 scared😂😂 you remember the Gaza strikes, right? Kidnapping 3 teens and wrath of netanyahu post that.

wahhed,stolen by islamists since 632AD,now i know wot u mean,it is free now

Hahaha.🤗

arab islam took israel in 632 jihad,their land is in arabia,torah says so,and bible,and quran.wot now mr taquiya

@@makedonistoi i am quite sure you have consumed last remaining brain cells to come up with these two lines. since you mentioned torah, bible and quran which i am sure you only know by names only, you have now idea, the jewish claims on that land based on divine decree is total fabrication. ask any orthodox jew about the authenticity of that claim. beside all that, collective wisdom of humanity and UN have very clear resolution about these illegal settlements.

@@aliafaaqkhan2176 -oh,u mean the islamic infiltrated UN that decreed israel as a state in the 40s and now say it is illegal settlements,we know ur taquiya very well

@@makedonistoi do you know who are the orthodox jews and why they protest against illegitimate state of israel? do they have a different torah?

@@aliafaaqkhan2176 -u stop at nothing to de-legitimize a whole people,may god forgive u of ur broken soul,everbody who see this knows ur fruit,a jealous heart is who u are

Talha Tariq he look like a fat 🐷

Then gag

then Christians shall be fighting Jews for that land and Jews will have no right to it since Moses was in Eygpt xD

And 19:34

Remember seeing an Isreali soldier saying "Now, we only depend on ourselves." Either stupid or delusional.

Why do Arabs get every single country and Jews can’t even have one?

@@BrandyTexas214Not surprised someone from Texas supporting Nazis.

OG K reference??

u mean free israel from the arab occupation since 632 jihad,oh i forgot u thieve and lie too

@@abdlhmdx -from ur worde i see why ishmael people cant live/mix with others

@Alexnder90 F -if u from their cult,why come here,why to put uself on top of christians and jewish,u just a mohamadden

@Tom E -wot,so u say jewish is not to have their homeland?is that wot u say

Thank u

abdihakim,israel is the only home for the jewish,maybe the pa-lie-stins should return to arabia,their home and ishmaels home,ur covetous heart shares nothing for others

I think you might have wrongly heard "Somalia" when he said "Samaria". Judea and Samaria were the two main states of ancient Israel.

@@makedonistoi palestinians arent arabian, original arabs arent from arabia

You right jesus came to stop tyranny like the Romans tyrannist & their corrupt Jews The Chief Rabbis conspirator Who planned to assisnated jesus christ togheter. Same ppl, same mentality who wants to confuse Christians to by their side while again they broke all the law of God togeta with the international law. Honestly iwant to ask him Which law is he respecting?if he claims that they God send ppl, then what kind of God can recommend or approve a tyranny stays like isreal who she blood confiscate other ppl's properties in full view also cause millions homeless refugees? Fact are fact history does not lie. And what abt how the Apatheid state of isreal acquire that piece of colony is registered in history books ✍️.

IKR MEHDI HASSAN IS A GENIUS

Very true in many ways but if you look at a lot of the middle east and other Muslim nations there are a lot of violent civil wars and human rights issues that revolve around Islamic fundamentalism, so the fear isn’t a total fabrication (take a liberated Afghanistan for example and human rights problems over there). A European style colony in the heart middle east was always going to create a culture clash unfortunately. In any case this potential conflict is preferable to the current one I would argue.

Exactly. Its like arguing for murder or rape or peadophillia... all are illegal under international law just like settlers are.

Exactly just look at the story of Moses. They're from Egypt not Palestine.

@@Anonymous-411 that’s not true at all, we literally were in judea before egypt

@@bentiomkin795 what's not true? Moses was from Egypt.

Atleast better than Islamic thieves getting brainwashed by Qur'an and started occupying disbelievers land. Israel is only 1% of Middle-East

It is a reupload lol

Deja Vu?

Because America is a bully with a gun.