It is impossible to speak of Palestine and Palestinians without expressing a sense of awe at the ongoing, shocking genocide in Gaza, let alone the continuous Nakba to which the Palestinian people have been subjected since 1948. This ongoing Nakba is being realized through the expulsion and dispossession of Palestinians, which are taking a very high human, social, and economic cost, and is leaving behind a painful open wound that will never heal unless justice is done and the Palestinians can live a life of dignity, prosperity, and freedom on their land.
Under these bleak conditions, it is perhaps opportune to refer to the resilience of Palestinians in the face of a mighty Israel which is further empowered by its Western allies. This resilience is demonstrated in their confrontation of the war in Gaza, the growing resistance in the West Bank, and the success of the PLO leadership in Ramallah in securing international legitimacy for the Palestinian struggle while providing services and support to the population, especially in the West Bank, despite Israel’s continued efforts to weaken it.
Palestinian resilience on the one hand and the Israeli destruction of Gaza on the other also emboldened Arab countries to pursue diplomacy that serves their interests rather than subjugation to U.S. hegemony. These countries have finally understood that Israel is pushing toward a regional war feared by all, and hence they are seeking rapprochement rather than polarization within the region and with emerging world powers.
In the wake of this devastating war now waging for close to a year, the Middle East stands at an historic crossroads. What many view as one of the region’s most devastating conflicts may also offer the last, best chance for peace. Israel, long perceived as an invincible regional hegemon, is now facing a dramatic shift in its standing and security. The hostilities that began on Oct. 7, 2023, have shaken its economy, its societal structure, and its international alliances. What was once an unquestionable regional empire, fortified by military dominance and Western backing, now faces an internal implosion and external pressures that could redefine its future. This potential transformation hinges on whether Israel can transition from a militarized, expansionist power to a “normal” state, a state that agrees to recognize Palestinian national rights - either through the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state next to Israel based on international law and relevant UN resolutions or one democratic state with equal rights for all the people between the river and the sea. A just and fair resolution of the Palestinian quest for peace can stabilize the region and help rebuild countries like Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, and Yemen; open investment opportunities, especially to the rich Gulf countries; and lead to the peace and prosperity that the whole region is seeking.
The Roots of the Palestinian Struggle for Liberation
The origins of what is referred to as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict date back to the early 20th century, when Western powers, notably Britain, laid the groundwork for what would become the State of Israel through the Balfour Declaration of 1917. The creation of Israel in 1948 could only have been achieved through the expulsion and dispossession of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, an event referred to as the Nakba or catastrophe. This foundational trauma has defined Palestinian identity and resistance ever since and led to the phenomenal resistance against and resilience to dispossession and expulsion policies pursued by successive Israeli governments. Over the following decades, Palestinians suffered occupation and endured systematic policies of apartheid, settlement expansion, and a brutal military presence. It is within this framework that any assessment and judgment of the Palestinian aggression against southern Israel on October 7th should be seen.
As confirmed by most observers, Western powers, particularly the United States and Europe, played a pivotal role in shaping Israel’s strategic eradication of Palestine and the Palestinian people and its dominance in the Middle East. Since its inception, Israel has benefited from overwhelming diplomatic, military, and economic support from the West, which viewed it as a bulwark of stability in a strategically important region. However, this backing also enabled Israel to pursue more and more violent aggression against the Palestinian people with near total impunity and emboldened it to pursue the ongoing genocide in Gaza and its violent and destructive incursions into the West Bank.
Israel’s Rise as a Regional Power
The post-1967 period marked a critical turning point for Israel’s regional status. After the Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, territories recently confirmed by the International Court of Justice as occupied territories, requiring all countries to ensure that international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions are upheld.
This period solidified Israel’s military dominance and expanded its territorial control, setting the stage for decades of occupation and settlement expansion. Expansionism and Jewish supremacy have become Israel’s driving policy, leading to the Nation-State Law in 2017, Trump’s “Deal of the Century,” and the normalization accords with Arab countries which the United States promoted, empowering Israel to further deny Palestinian legitimacy within all of historical Palestine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been at the helm of Israeli politics for most of almost two decades, played a significant role in cementing Israel’s image as a technological and military superpower, often referred to as the “start-up nation.” Under his leadership, Israel pursued a strategy of divide and rule, using its diplomatic, lobbying, military, and intelligence capabilities to weaken and divide Palestinians, sow divisions among Arab states, and push for wars against countries like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, and others who refused to recognize or cooperate with Israel.
Netanyahu’s government also expanded settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, a policy widely condemned by the international community as a violation of international law. The relentless settlement expansion, alongside policies that entrenched apartheid-like conditions for Palestinians, led many to question Israel’s longterm viability as a democratic state. Internally, the occupation also corrupted Israeli institutions, leading to what some analysts describe as a growing fascist and theocratic undercurrent within Israeli society which finally took hold of government in January 2023 under Netanyahu’s leadership, weakening the foundational tenets of Israel – namely, its security, democracy, economy, and alliance with the United States.
The October 2023 War: A Turning Point
October 7th, when Hamas fighters from the besieged and impoverished Gaza Strip launched an unprecedented attack on the southern part of Israel, marked a critical turning point in more than seven decades of the Palestinian struggle for liberation. This attack, shocking in its scale and effectiveness, shattered the myth of Israel’s invincibility. For decades, Israel prided itself on its intelligence and military prowess, boasting one of the most advanced security apparatuses in the world. Yet, the breach of its Gaza border, coupled with a slow and ineffective military response, exposed deep vulnerabilities and divide within Israeli society.
The immediate aftermath of the attack saw Israel engage in yet another brutal war on Gaza, resulting in widespread devastation. However, the war also led to further weaknesses within Israeli society. Economically, Israel suffered massive losses, with foreign investments drying up, while its middle class, long a pillar of its stability, began emigrating in increasing numbers. Demonstrations erupted within Israel, highlighting the deep societal divides that had been festering for years. A banner displayed in Tel Aviv stating “From start-up nation to a shutdown nation,” a slogan launched by the BDS movement, captured the public’s growing disillusionment.
Israeli leaders have been long warned against its expansionist policies and its power-mongering. Among the harshest critics from back in the seventies, the late Yeshayahu Leibowitz, a prominent Israeli philosopher, had warned of the dangers of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. He foresaw the rise of a corrupt rabbinate and the militarization of Israeli society, which he believed would eventually lead to fascism. His warnings seem prescient today, as the combination of settlement expansion, military dominance, and an erosion of democratic norms has pushed Israel to the brink of implosion on the one hand. And, on the other, put it in the hands of a fanatic religious political leadership capable of unprecedented savagery, as seen in the ongoing devastation of Gaza, and one that has its finger on the nuclear button.
Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza, it has been clear to many observers that Netanyahu seeks to keep his hold on power and the regional successes of normalization while totally marginalizing Palestinian rights by dragging the war on until the U.S. elections in November. He hopes for the return of Trump as U.S. president to ensure his ability to influence U.S. decisions denying Palestinian statehood and to regain his supremacy over U.S. policies toward the region.
This process has further revealed Israeli governments’ use of the “peace process” to sustain the occupation and deepen apartheid. The peace process has now been transformed into negotiations for a ceasefire or the end of the war in Gaza, release of the hostages, and control of the Philadelphi Corridor on the border with Egypt in contravention of signed agreements.
The ongoing war on Gaza has also emboldened and strengthened resistance movements in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Gaza to form a coalition and synchronize their military engagement with Israel while strategizing their response to Israel’s aggressions, which are aimed at all Palestinians. In the process, Israel created extreme tension with both Egypt and Jordan, countries with whom it signed peace agreements a long time ago. This situation aggravated relations with both countries.
As Israel is stuck in a war that it cannot win, Netanyahu is trying to get the U.S. and European powers to join Israel in waging a regional war against Iran and its allies. This is where the U.S. strongly disagrees, as do the Arab countries, especially in the Gulf.
Sensing Israel wasted war investments, the Israeli public is in a rage expressed through very large demonstrations and threats to halt the economy unless a ceasefire agreement is signed. They are joined in this call by leaders of the military and heads of corporations. A ceasefire should end the war and return all hostages, including Palestinians held in Israeli jails that have been turned into torture camps, as reported in the Israeli media.
Israel’s Internal Implosion
The October 2023, war not only damaged Israel’s international reputation but also triggered a deeper crisis within the state. The war exposed the deep polarization within Israeli society, driven by tensions between secular and religious factions and between those who seek a ceasefire and the return of the hostages and those who support Netanyahu’s hold on power.
The far-right religious elements in Netanyahu’s coalition government have pushed for policies that many Israelis view as dangerous and unsustainable. Netanyahu, in his bid to stay in power, has increasingly catered to these extremist factions, further deepening the societal divide.
Economically, the war has been a disaster for Israel. Foreign investments, which had fueled Israel’s high-tech sector, have begun to flee the country, and the middle class—long the backbone of Israel’s economic success—has started emigrating in larger numbers. The “start-up nation” narrative, once a source of national pride, is now being overshadowed by the realities of occupation, apartheid, and war. The erosion of Israel’s democracy, coupled with the economic downturn, has led many to question whether the country can continue on its current trajectory.
The Path to a “Normal” State
Despite the grim realities on the ground, there is a growing understanding that the war in Gaza may offer a unique opportunity for peace. For decades, Palestinians have been fighting for their right to selfdetermination and the establishment of a sovereign state. The events of October 2023, have only reinforced this demand, as Palestinians continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience in the face of overwhelming violence.
Israel now faces a choice: It can either continue down the path of occupation, apartheid, genocide, and regional isolation or it can embrace the possibility of becoming a “normal” state. This would require Israel to accept the reality of partition and support the establishment of a viable, sustainable Palestinian state based on respect for international law and UN resolutions. Such a move would not only bring peace to the region but also would restore Israel’s standing in the international community.
For this transformation to occur, Israel must first reckon with its internal divisions. The growing polarization between secular and religious factions, between proponents of peace and supporters of continued occupation, must be addressed. The evacuation of settlements in the West Bank, the withdrawal from the occupied territories, and the acceptance of a two-state solution are necessary steps toward becoming a normal state.
Internationally, there is increasing pressure on Israel to change course. Public opinion, particularly in Europe and among progressive movements in the United States, is shifting. The war in Gaza has galvanized global movements against the Israeli occupation, and calls for accountability, including investigations into war crimes, apartheid, and genocide, are growing louder.
A New International Order: The Role of Global Players
As the global order shifts, with emerging powers such as China, Russia, and the BRICS nations challenging the unipolar dominance of the United States, Israel’s position in the international system is also under threat. These new global powers are less willing to support Israel’s occupation and are increasingly aligning themselves with Palestinian calls for justice. This geopolitical shift could have profound implications for Israel’s future, as the international community moves toward a more multipolar world and more support of accountability for breaching international law.
Moreover, the rise of civil society movements and technological innovations are reshaping the discourse around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Grassroots movements advocating for Palestinian rights are gaining traction, and international solidarity with Palestine is growing. These movements, coupled with changing geopolitical dynamics, could pave the way for a new era of multilateralism in the Middle East.
In this context, one should recognize the commendable efforts the Palestinian leadership has exerted in the international arena at the level of the United Nations. Equally important are demographic indicators for a young, well-educated, entrepreneurial, resistant, and resilient population with extensions in the diaspora now rising in the face of huge adversity to join the Palestinian struggle for dignity and freedom. Palestinians deserve and should be able to govern themselves and be assisted rather than halted in establishing good governance and holding elections.
The Way Forward
The war in Gaza may well mark the beginning of the end for Israel as a regional hegemon. The conflict has exposed the deep flaws within Israel’s political, military, and economic systems and has galvanized a global movement for Palestinian self-determination. For Israel to secure a future of peace and stability, it must embrace the possibility of becoming a normal state—one that accepts coexistence with a sovereign Palestinian state and respects international law.
The transformation of Israel from a regional superpower to a normal state will not be easy. It will require difficult decisions, including the dismantling of settlements, the withdrawal from the occupied territories, and the acceptance of the Palestinians’ right to self-determination in a state of their own. But if Israel can rise to this challenge, it could unlock a future of peace, stability, and prosperity not only for itself and the Palestinian people but also for the entire region.