HIKMA SUMMIT
OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

An overview of settler colonialism

Settler colonialism is one of the different nuances of the Israeli occupation. Since 2021, Israeli settler violence has increased significantly: from an average of 1 case per day in 2021, increasing to 2 cases per day in 2022 and 3 cases per day in 2023, the rate has spiked to 7 cases per day since October 7.(1) The radicalization of settler colonialists can, however, be better understood when observed within the broader context of the Israeli occupation.

While the phenomenon has always been present, it was Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 that played a role in further radicalizing these individuals. As Ariel Sharon first started dismantling Israeli settlements in Gaza in 2003, settlers felt abandoned by the state, resulting in a growing distrust in its authority. The situation worsened by summer 2005, when Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip by ousting all the settlers (around 8,600 people), demolishing villages and transferring entire communities, bringing an end to its de facto military occupation. In this context, radical settlers groups like the “Hilltop youth” started to view the state as an obstacle to God’s will, namely the creation of the Land of Israel, or, in other words, the “Promised Land”. It was this feeling of abandonment and betrayal that propped up these movements, further radicalizing the settlers. As a result, violent episodes and attacks have been manifesting in many forms, including the eviction of families from their homes, the destruction of mosques or Palestinian properties, the burning of fields, livestock and trees, as well as psychological abuse aimed at provoking a violent response. As these acts go unpunished and overlooked, they can sometimes lead to retaliation from Palestinians, initiating a never ending spiral of violence.

Movement restrictions

In addition to the growing number of violent acts committed by Israeli settlers, there has been a notable rise in access restrictions, usually managed by Israeli authorities, especially near the Israeli settlement areas. At the beginning of 2023, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) revealed that there were 645 movement obstacles deployed by Israeli forces that deeply restricted Palestinian movement in the West Bank.(2) These restrictions have been put into practice since 1967, and they not only impede access to services and resources but also undermine the enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights. At the moment, there are 793 movement obstacles that permanently or intermittently control, restrict and monitor Palestinian movement. Between October 2023 and March 2024, the number further increased by 23%.(3)

Challenges and possible solutions

The major challenge in countering this specific form of radicalization, as noted earlier, lies in the fact that these violations not only go unpunished, but they are also aggravated by Israeli authorities themselves: the very entity that should guarantee protection to Palestinians is the one that ends up perpetrating these same violations. The UNOCHA has in fact observed that not only Israeli security forces stand by and take no action in preventing this kind of violence, but they also respond to settler-related violence by ordering Palestinians to leave their lands or even by actively supporting the settlers. According to Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization, 91% of investigations into settler attacks against Palestinians between 2005 and 2019 were closed by the Israeli authorities with no charges filed.(4) However, each time Israeli authorities fail to stop radical settlers, they further encourage these groups to escalate their actions.

Understanding radicalization: the role of emotions

Observing which emotions trigger violent behavior can explain why radicalized individuals either engage in normative (non violent) or non-normative (violent) acts. While investigating this, Tausch et al.’s survey data(5) comes to help. The key findings of the survey were that a) when experiencing anger, individuals were more likely to engage in normative actions, b) while when experiencing contempt, individuals were likely to engage in non-normative actions. The latter is explained by the fact that contempt was shown to be related to dehumanization, and it revolves around the appraisal that the other is inferior, maybe not even worth one’s energy or attention, because he or she is intrinsically bad. Moreover, there is no desire to preserve social relationships, which further entitles individuals to engage in extreme actions. By focusing on emotions that trigger violent behavior, one can better understand the phenomenon of radicalization but also identify patterns that could help anticipate which individuals may be more likely to engage in violent acts, enabling more effective interventions and preventative measures. However, the observed situation is much more complicated, as the very entity that should address the problem actually at times ends up holding the role of the perpetrator. This dynamic can be explained by the fact that these violations align with the interests of the government itself.

Towards possible solutions

Following extremist attacks directed towards the IDF, some Israeli generals and government ministers began to label radical settlers as terrorists. However, the growing power of the extreme right within the Likud party pressures more moderate members of the party to support or, at the very least, not challenge settlement activities. This makes it harder for Likud members to advocate for more balanced or moderate policies regarding settlements without facing backlash from the party’s right-wing factions. Although this shift in labeling is a step in the right direction, much more must be done. Perpetrators of violence should officially be designated as terrorists and their activities disrupted more aggressively. This includes holding them accountable through prosecution, just as Palestinian terrorists are. Meanwhile, the United States should encourage the Israeli government to take comprehensive measures that address this issue. Only through decisive action can a de-escalation of violence occur.

Conclusions

The situation in the West Bank has deteriorated significantly since the start of the Israeli-Hamas war. A surge of violent attacks and territorial expansions by settlers has been observed: violent acts against Palestinians, including evictions and property destructions, have become more frequent as Israeli authorities largely remain passive, allowing these violations to occur without consequence. Addressing this form of radicalization is challenging, as these violent actions sometimes align with the objective of the Israeli state. It is essential to implement effective solutions, as the phenomenon is at the core of the escalating cycle of violence between Palestinians and Israeli settlers in the West Bank region.

Useful links:

1. https://www.ochaopt.org/content/other-mass-displacement-while-eyes-are-gaza-settlers-advance-west-bank-herders

2. https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/fact-sheet-movement-and-access-west-bank-august-2023

3. https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/fact-sheet-movement-and-access-west-bank-september-2024-0

4. https://imeu.org/article/overview-of-israels-violations-of-palestinian-rights-jan-2021-jan-2022

5. Tausch, N., Becker, J., Spears, R., Christ, O., Saab, R., Singh, P., & Siddiqui, R.N. (2011). Explaining radical group behaviour: Developing emotion and efficacy routes to normative and non-normative collective action. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101, 129-148.