Israel and Palestine: a conflict, a colonial occupation, a racist apartheid system, and an “incremental genocide” that has lasted some 80 years and has resumed more violently than before after October 7, 2023. What political solution today for Palestine? We discuss this with Rana Salman, Palestinian activist and co-director – along with Eszter Koranyi – of the Israeli-Palestinian peace movement “Combatants for Peace.”
As a Palestinian and a “peace fighter”, what do you think about Zionism? Is it a dangerous ideology for peace between Israel and Palestine?
My thoughts on Zionism are shaped by the ongoing struggle for justice, self-determination, and human rights. Zionism, as an ideology, emerged in the late 19th century with the goal of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine. While some supporters of Zionism advocate for peaceful coexistence and mutual recognition, others have supported policies that involve the displacement, dispossession, and denial of the rights of the Palestinian people. In its current form, Zionism is often associated with the continued occupation of Palestinian territories, expansion of settlements, and restrictions on Palestinian freedom. For me, this form of Zionism represents a threat to peace because it perpetuates injustice, inequality, violence and Jewish supremacy. The danger lies in this version of Zionism that disregards Palestinian rights and aspirations, making it a major obstacle to lasting peace and a just solution.
In the current situation, it cannot be denied that there is an occupying state in ‘belligerent occupation’, Israel, and a region under racist and colonial apartheid that awaits its liberation and political institutionalisation. Do you call the responses from Gaza to Israeli oppression ‘Palestinian terrorism’ or ‘Palestinian resistance’?
The responses from Gaza to Israeli oppression can be understood in the context of resistance rather than terrorism. The situation is one of a people under occupation, facing systematic oppression, violence, and deprivation of basic human rights. For Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, where they live under a blockade and face frequent military operations, the acts of resistance are often seen as a response to decades of occupation and an effort to defend their land, dignity, and survival.
It’s crucial to distinguish between the label of “terrorism,” which is often used to criminalize and delegitimize acts of resistance, and the broader context of a struggle for self-determination. Under international law, occupied peoples have the right to resist occupation. This resistance can take various forms, from nonviolent protests to armed struggle, and often arises out of desperation in the face of continuous oppression. While some actions may cause harm to civilians, the root cause of the violence lies in the occupation itself, which involves collective punishment, displacement, and the systemic denial of Palestinian rights. However, as a Palestinian and as a peace activist in Combatants for Peace, I believe in nonviolent resistance to the occupation as a way to reach a long standing and sustainable solution. Violence breeds violence and revenge fuels revenge.
Under international law, colonial settlements in the West Bank are illegal and Israeli settlers are considered ‘war criminals’. Yet over the years, a section of Israeli society has started to define some settlements as ‘moderate colonies’. In your opinion, can this expression be used? Are there ‘moderate settlers’? Can their connivance to oppression be considered moderate?
The term “moderate colonies” is deeply problematic, especially when used to describe illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Under international law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, the establishment of settlements by an occupying power in the territories it occupies is illegal. This includes the West Bank, which is considered Palestinian territory under occupation. The term “moderate colonies” attempts to obscure the legal and moral implications of these settlements and ignores the fact that they are part of a broader system of occupation, displacement, and dispossession. The idea of “moderate settlers” also carries significant issues. While some individuals within Israeli society may present themselves as more “peaceful” or less ideologically extreme than others, they are still living in settlements that are built on land that belongs to Palestinians, and their presence in these areas contributes to the broader occupation and its oppressive structures. Even if some settlers do not directly engage in violence, they still benefit from an illegal system that dispossesses Palestinians of their land, resources, and rights
There is a narrative that Israel’s existence should be allowed based on the boundary established by the ‘1967 Green Line’, which would be enshrined in UN Resolution 181. Yet this resolution does not stipulate any partition or even agree on those borders, as legally Israel does not exist. As ‘Combatants for Peace’ what is your position on the Green Line?
The Green Line is not an internationally recognized border for Israel. It has served as a practical point of reference in discussions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, as Combatants for Peace, we advocate for a two state solution (on the 1967 border) or any other solution that is agreed upon by both parties.
At this time in history, when genocide is taking place, do you think it is important to participate in the BDS campaign in addition to the boycott of colony products?
The BDS movement is a nonviolent and global effort to hold Israel accountable for its actions, particularly regarding its treatment of Palestinians under occupation, its expansion of illegal settlements, and the systemic discrimination and violations of international law. As a peace activist that chooses nonviolence, this campaign is legitimate as a nonviolent means of resistance. It is important to note that the boycott is not aimed at targeting individual Israelis or Jews, but rather at challenging the policies of the Israeli state that perpetuate the occupation and violate the rights of Palestinians.
Do you believe that pro-Palestinian demonstrations are important peaceful and democratic voices to raise awareness about the systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people?
Nonviolent demonstrations in general are incredibly important as peaceful and democratic voices that help raise awareness about the systematic violations of Palestinian human rights. These demonstrations play a crucial role in drawing attention to the ongoing occupation, displacement, and denial of basic rights faced by Palestinians. They provide a platform for expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, amplifying their voices, and calling for international accountability. But at the same time, pro-Palestine or pro-Israel demonstrations sometimes aim to dehumanize the other and do not support a solution that guarantees that both sides live in freedom and security. It is important for demonstrators to acknowledge the fact that Palestinians are not going anywhere and Israelis are not going anywhere as well. We need to advocate for human rights where everyone from the river to the sea lives in dignity, equality, liberty and justice in what we all consider as our homeland.
In 2003, on a Libyan state-run publication site, Mu’ammar Gaddafi’s ‘White Paper’ came out translated into 15 languages, proposing solutions and proposals for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the creation of a single state called ‘Israetine’. How do you imagine a democratic and peaceful future for the Israeli people and the Palestinian people? What political solution would be best today?
A democratic and peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians requires a solution that upholds justice, equality, and mutual respect for the rights and aspirations of both peoples. While ideas of a single state solution offer a vision of coexistence, such a proposal can be complex and contentious, particularly given the deep historical grievances, the current political realities, and the ongoing violence. The ideal political solution today should focus on ending the occupation, ensuring full equality for both peoples, and recognizing their respective rights to self-determination.
In my view, the most viable and just political solution remains a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. This solution would involve Israel and Palestine existing as two sovereign states living side by side in peace and security, with recognized borders that ensure the protection of the rights of both peoples. The two-state solution is still widely supported in international law and remains the framework most likely to lead to peace, although its realization faces significant obstacles due to continued Israeli settlement expansion, the military occupation, and divisions among Palestinian leadership.
As Combatants for Peace, we advocate for a two state solution or any other solution that the two parties agree on. This solution doesn’t have to mean division, but partnership. It will guarantee security for Israelis and allows them to live without fear of violence and it will guarantee Palestinians their right to statehood and freedom.
