How Israel has dismantled governance in the West Bank | FT #shorts

Key Concepts:

• Gaza City Offensive
• Occupied West Bank
• Jenin Refugee Camp
• Oslo Accords
• Settlements Expansion
• Area A (Occupied West Bank)
• Palestinian Statehood
• Far-Right Israeli Government

Israeli Offensive in Gaza and the West Bank

The transcript details two concurrent Israeli offensives: a military operation in Gaza City aimed at taking control of the enclave, and a prolonged, different kind of offensive in the occupied West Bank over the past 23 months.

Jenin Refugee Camp: A Case Study in the West Bank

• January Operation: The Israeli military conducted a full-scale entry into the Jenin refugee camp. This followed previous raids.
• Minimal Resistance: The operation encountered little resistance.
• Displacement and Prolonged Presence: Approximately 20,000 people were displaced. Crucially, nine months later, Israeli military forces remained in the camp.
• Longest Presence: This marks the longest duration the Israeli military has ever maintained a presence within a refugee camp or in Area A of the occupied West Bank.

Israeli Political Objectives in the West Bank

When questioned by colleagues about the continued military presence in Jenin, Israeli politicians cited specific goals:

• Beyond Defeating Militancy: The objective extends beyond simply defeating Palestinian militancy.
• Undermining Oslo Accords: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right finance minister have implemented significant measures to dismantle what remains of the Oslo Accords since October 7th.
• Settlement Expansion: This includes expanding settlements and increasing Israeli control over land.
• Dividing the West Bank: Efforts are underway to fragment the West Bank in ways that would render the establishment of a future Palestinian state highly improbable.

Evidence of West Bank Division and Settlement Expansion

Driving through the West Bank reveals the practical implementation of these policies:

• Extremist Settler Land Grabs: Extremist settlers have occupied vast tracts of land.
• Palestinian Perspective: Palestinian officials and diplomats express that with sufficient international pressure, some of these actions could be reversed, maintaining a faint hope for a Palestinian state. They believe it is "never too late" if international will, momentum, and energy are mobilized to "back roll occupation, dismantle all these illegal colonial settlements and establish an independent and sovereign state of Palestine."
• Diminishing Likelihood: However, the visual reality of expanding settlements and the pervasive presence of the Israeli military in the West Bank makes this prospect appear increasingly unlikely.

The Political Landscape: Netanyahu's Far-Right Government

The current Israeli government, led by Netanyahu, is characterized as the most far-right in Israel's history. Their opposition to the concept of a Palestinian state is described as "quite resolute."

Conclusion

The transcript highlights a dual Israeli strategy: a direct military offensive in Gaza and a systematic, long-term effort in the West Bank to undermine Palestinian statehood. This latter strategy involves the prolonged military presence in areas like Jenin, the expansion of settlements, and the fragmentation of Palestinian territory, all supported by a resolute far-right Israeli government. While Palestinian officials hold onto the possibility of international intervention reversing these trends, the on-the-ground realities suggest a diminishing likelihood of a viable Palestinian state.