As several European countries finally move toward recognizing the State of Palestine, the gesture—though largely symbolic—signals a shift in the global perception of a struggle that has too long been misrepresented as a “conflict” between equals. What the Palestinian people are fighting for is not a vague aspiration or a diplomatic bargaining chip: it is the recognition of their collective rights, first and foremost their right to independence and self-determination.
Palestine is not a side issue in global politics. It is the mirror of a global order built on selective justice, in which certain states can engage in permanent colonization, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid with near-total impunity. The moral urgency of the Palestinian cause lies in its capacity to expose the deep fractures of the post-colonial world.
Colonialism, Not Conflict
The current tragedy did not begin on October 7, 2023, nor even in 1967. It is rooted in a settler-colonial project that leveraged trauma, theology, and European nationalism to establish an ethno-national state in a land already inhabited. Since 1948, and especially after 1967, Israel has entrenched a strategy of domination through what it calls “facts on the ground”: illegal settlements, forced displacements, siege policies, demographic engineering, and the systematic erosion of Palestinian sovereignty.
The reality is not a conflict, but a structural asymmetry: a nuclear-armed, Western-backed state versus a stateless, blockaded, and fragmented people. This is not just about borders. It is about identity, memory, and political existence. Much like in apartheid South Africa or colonial Algeria, Palestinians face a regime built not on coexistence, but on exclusion.
Security Without Justice Is a Mirage
Israeli policies cannot be defended in the name of "security" when that security is built on the permanent denial of another people’s basic rights. A state cannot claim legitimacy while systematically violating international law, as confirmed by numerous UN resolutions, the Geneva Conventions, and the ICJ.
Since the 2018 "Nation-State Law", Israel has officially defined itself as the exclusive homeland of the Jewish people, denying any national rights to Palestinians—even those who are citizens of Israel. This makes any two-state solution increasingly unviable unless this ethno-national foundation is radically rethought.
Resistance and Double Standards
Palestinian resistance is often criminalized in international discourse, while Israeli state violence is normalized. But resistance against occupation is a right recognized under international law. The 2017 Hamas Charter, for instance, clearly distinguishes between Judaism as a religion and Zionism as a political ideology. The conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism is a dangerous rhetorical weapon used to delegitimize any opposition to the occupation.
The brutal reality in Gaza, where children starve and civilians are deliberately targeted, reveals a regime of violence that no longer hides behind diplomatic language. Yet, no real accountability exists. The United States continues to shield Israel, eroding its own credibility in the process.
Toward a Just Future
Calling for justice for Palestinians does not mean denying the right of Israelis to exist in peace and dignity. But justice cannot be based on racial or religious supremacy, nor can it coexist with permanent military domination.
If peace is to be possible, it must begin with equality. Whether through two states, one democratic state, or a confederation, the core principle must be the same: equal rights for all inhabitants between the river and the sea. That includes the right of return for refugees, the dismantling of illegal settlements, and a full end to the occupation.
Recognition of a Palestinian state—though long overdue—is not the end goal. It is a small step toward an international order in which justice is not granted selectively. If Palestinians are expected to coexist with their former jailers, it is only fair to demand that Israel re-examine its founding mythologies, its practices, and its future.
The future of the region will not be secured by military superiority or theocratic identity. It will only be secured through a shared political home where no one is superior by birth, by faith, or by force.
Palestinians do not ask for more than what any people should have: the right to live free, with dignity, on their own land.
Kader Tahri
Chroniqueur engagé, observateur inquiet
« Il faut dire les choses comme elles sont, mais refuser qu’elles soient comme ça. »
https://kadertahri.blogspot.com/ 
