Who is delegitimizing Israel?

This week, we saw the Netanyahu government’s appalling disregard for the rule of law, through its authorization of three illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank – in effect establishing the first new settlements since 1990. This blatant flouting of Israel’s own laws was followed only two days later by another outrageous action of the Israeli government, which today indicated its intention to try to “legalize” yet another outpost (Givat Ha’Ulpana) that the Israeli Supreme Court had previously ruled must be removed within days.

Previous Israeli governments repeatedly committed to removing illegal outposts, including as part of Israel’s acceptance of the Roadmap.  All Israeli governments, since the end of the government of Yitzhak Shamir, were committed to not establishing new settlements in the West Bank.  The Netanyahu government is blatantly reneging on both of these commitments.

As Americans and as Jews, we are committed supporters of the state of Israel, defending her existence and right to security. This, however, is indefensible.  “Legalizing” outposts creates additional obstacles to peace.  It makes the two-state solution less feasible.  It threatens Israel from within - sacrificing democracy and the rule of law to placate the most extreme elements of Israeli society, even at the cost of Israel’s future.  And it sends a signal to the world that the current Israeli government supports the settlers over peace, and even over its own laws.  

Ambassador Oren has been much in the news lately, denouncing efforts to “delegitimize” the state of Israel.  What he and his government fail to grasp, it seems, is that there can be no “delegitimization” worse than what Israel’s current administration is doing to itself. There is no “hasbara” that can hide or gloss over actions so outrageous that they can neither be defended nor explained.

Tell Ambassador Oren that Israel must dismantle the Ulpana outpost, and all other illegal outposts.

Ambassador Ron Dermer

Embassy of Israel