In the shadow of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the West was endeavoring to salvage its relationship with Southern nations, which doubted its discourse on international law, deeming it hypocritical. However, the 'Al-Aqsa Flood' operation on October 7th in Israel and subsequent events in the Gaza Strip have obliterated these efforts, resulting in a complete and irreversible rift between the two sides.
Pierre Haski opens his column in 'L'Obs' with these reflections, highlighting that public opinion and even governments in the South empathize with the Gazan population suffering under three months of Israeli bombardment, questioning the Western narrative on law, war crimes, and justice.
The brutality of the Israeli response and the widespread images of Palestinian civilian casualties on social media create an indefensible situation for those supporting Ukraine on legal grounds against Russian aggression. It appears that voices in the South and even among some Westerners are saying, "Spare us the moral lectures."
The West can only blame itself, the magazine suggests, for neglecting the Palestinian issue which seemed under control for two decades. This neglect has placed Americans, particularly President Joe Biden, in an awkward situation as guarantors of Israeli security, with little trust in its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Disingenuous Silence
As Haski notes, it is peculiar that the United States delivers ammunition to Israel and twice exercises its veto against calls for a ceasefire in Gaza while simultaneously criticizing Israeli strategy and the toll on civilian lives. This makes the U.S. stance incomprehensible, prompting the rest of the world to wonder: if you disapprove, why empower Israel to continue such actions?
Similarly, Europeans proclaim their unconditional support for Israel. This support directly conflicts with their belief that Israel's response is disproportionate and makes their timid calls for a ceasefire seem irrelevant to the Southern public, which perceives a duplicitous silence from Europe when victims are non-European.
Haski: We cannot denounce Russian expansion in Ukraine while turning a blind eye to settlements in the West Bank, as the world is watching.
Despite the importance of humanitarian aid, it is insufficient to alter the perception of Western complicity in the deaths of Gazan children. Western credibility can only be restored by seriousness when discussing political solutions and the two-state narrative.
According to Haski, the true test is not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank. The issue is not limited to Hamas' military wing but also includes settlement expansion and the bloody struggle for land and space. We cannot rightfully condemn Russian expansion in Ukraine and ignore settlements in the West Bank because the world is watching us.
