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Last Monday, amid a combined speech by American leader Donald Trump and Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli parliament, fellow lawmaker Ayman Odeh and I displayed a sign urging the recognition of Palestine. We were forcibly removed from the legislative assembly, revealing the fragile state of what's often described as the "only democratic state in the region". How can leaders speak about Middle East peace while declining to acknowledge a people denied of fundamental liberties and entitlements under long-standing occupation?

The Situation in the Occupied West Bank

In no place is the deceit more evident than in the controlled West Bank. There, talk of peace seem distant and weak, while the terrifying echoes of settler violence and intimidation persist strongly. More than 30 occurrences of violence by settlers against Palestinians have been recorded since the announcement of the Trump administration's 20-point plan in late September, featuring physical assaults, stealing of crops, and burning of vehicles and property.

Systematic Violence During Agricultural Period

The increase in violence by colonists is deliberate. This time marks the start of agricultural harvesting. More than a vital economic event, it represents an important social and national moment that shows endurance under military rule. Precisely for these causes, annually colonists attack Palestinians during this precious period. During the last year's agricultural period, rights groups documented 113 separate cases of violence, harassment, preventing harvesting, or destruction to olive groves and crops by Israeli civilians and soldiers, which took place on territories owned by 51 Palestinian communities, towns, and areas.

Israeli military seemed to have had a larger part in hindering the harvesting season

Yesh Din also found that "Israel's security forces appeared to have played a larger part in obstructing the harvesting season". In approximately 70% of cases where access to lands was forcibly blocked, troops, border guards, and settler security officials were actually present. They either personally prevented Palestinians from accessing and gathering their property, or failed to stop settlers who threatened or assaulted them.

Political Backing for Colonization

This is no surprise, as the leader of the settlers' political party, Bezalel Smotrich, was appointed as an additional minister in the Ministry of Defence responsible for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. In one village, for example, a special military coordination team removed private olive plants of Palestinians, claiming missing documentation, but ignored infractions by an unauthorized nearby colonist encampment. Last week, the local court decided to halt all construction in the outpost, which was constructed on property taken by Israel and unlawfully transferred to settlers.

Annexation Ambitions and Global Reaction

In the occupied West Bank, colonist violence is nothing but a instrument used by the government to pursue de-facto annexation. Earlier this month, Smotrich led a procession of many of settlers in favor of annexation the West Bank. He was reported as stating, "We are continuing to establish presence with our feet of the Land of Israel with many settlers, many champions, and hundreds of thousands of colonists who live in this part of the land ... we must to normalize it and establish it permanently."

The settlers and their backers in the parliament are explicit about their motives and intentions. Why, then, do political leaders in the west refrain from meaningful sanctions and political actions? Smotrich was penalized by the United Kingdom in June, but the impact of the penalty has been limited. He may not be permitted to go to the UK and visit the London's entertainment district, but he still maintains the ministerial power to take lands in the West Bank. Remarkably in the declaration of sanctions, the UK emphasized they take place "in his personal capacity" only.

Global Acknowledgment and Actual Situation

If the British administration recognizes the reality of settler violence and its grave consequences on Palestinian existence, why does it still allow goods from settlements to be marketed in markets and outlets in Britain? If the British leader is genuine about recognition of Palestine as a sovereign entity, how come he allow the Israeli administration to violate its sovereignty with such aggressive methods? Or was the recognition an hollow ploy to shut down opposition in the UK, a hollow act only to be realised in the relabeling of some maps?

Pathway to Genuine Peace

A fair resolution must respect the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people for self-recognition, independence, and liberty from occupation and siege. Only when each human being's dignity between the Jordan River and sea is honored can we truly say peace has been achieved.

Genuine peace demands an independent Palestinian nation alongside the Israeli state: this is the sole solution that has agreement among the global community, the Palestinian national movement, and the Israeli peace advocates.

Trump may have applied pressure on Netanyahu to halt the violence, but he likely only did so because the burden of his relationship with the isolated government of Netanyahu had become excessive. The large demonstrations throughout the world for the freedom of Palestine, and the unwavering anti-government protests within the country, are the real factors behind this pressure.

It is thanks to this massive civil movement that a truce has been agreed, the captives freed, and the people of Gaza can experience safeguard from annihilation. After the truce arrangement has been finalized, it is crucial to keep applying this pressure. The international community has turned a blind eye to the violence in the strip for many years; it must not repeat the same mistake in the West Bank.