Israel’s existence is often defended as a form of Jewish self-determination or decolonization, but its roots lie in colonialism, argued political activist Joti Brar on the Russian Sputnik news agency. The Balfour Declaration in 1917 marked a pivotal moment in the West’s approval of a Jewish state in the Levant, but historians note its antisemitic undertones.
Brar views US support for Israel during Gaza’s military actions as a desperate attempt to maintain a stronghold in the Middle East. She emphasizes how Israel serves as an outpost for Anglo-American imperialism to control the region’s resources, especially oil.
The surge in Jewish migration to Palestine post-Balfour Declaration led to the formation of violent paramilitary groups targeting Palestinian natives. These groups later evolved into the Israeli Defense Forces, further marginalizing non-Jewish residents and drawing international condemnation as an apartheid state.
Brar highlighted the strategic importance of oil in the region and how Western imperialism relies on Israel to maintain control. This partnership, Brar explains, is essential for Western powers to uphold their economies and influence in the Middle East.