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Israel’s promotion of colonial plunder

December 9, 2016 at 10:00 am

Israel continues to exploit regional problems in order to maintain its foreign policy that allows it to divert attention away from the colonisation of Palestine. Western countries are perpetually enticed by military and surveillance technology. Food security – a basic necessity which Palestinians are deprived of – has been utilised by Israel to lure leaders of African countries into closer ties. Hence, Israel has now invited ministers and officials from West African countries to a three-day conference which started on Tuesday in Jerusalem.

The conference, “Enhancing sustainable agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid regions”, has been hailed by the Israeli foreign ministry as being held “against a backdrop of warming relations between West Africa and Israel, and constitutes fertile ground for the further development of relations both on political and economic levels.”

It is not the first time that Israel has played upon a primary concern for African nations in order to establish support for diplomatic endeavours. Last September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon hosted an event promoting “Israeli innovation and technologies in Africa”, with Danon describing the event as an opportunity to experience “a taste of the real face of Israel” that is competent in technological innovations.

Last July, the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) signed a joint declaration of cooperation in agriculture, de-desertification, water, education and health. It is pertinent to note that every area alluded to in this declaration has been perfected by Israel at the expense of the Palestinians, who have been deprived of the slightest shard of relief due to incessant colonial expansion and theft of resources.

Such cooperation also strengthens Israel’s promulgated myths regarding the alleged barren land and making the desert bloom. Since the initial colonial plunder, both premises have been incorporated into the rhetoric of leaders who seek to justify their countries’ cooperation with Israel while still pledging purported support for Palestine.

Meanwhile, as African leaders glean knowledge of the latest technological advances, B’Tselem has published a brief report outlining the effects of fragmentation and dispossession. The report, “Expel and exploit: the Israel practice of taking over rural Palestinian land”, describes how three villages in the Nablus district which relied upon agriculture for a livelihood, were gradually deprived of farming due to settlement expansion and dispossession. In the immediate aftermath of the signing of the Oslo Accords, the villages were physically separated from the land used for agriculture, translating into a loss of land as well as water.

In conclusion, B’Tselem has articulated with clarity the permanent structure of Israel’s expansion: “Israel’s policy clearly demonstrates that the state does not view the occupation, fast approaching the half-century mark, as temporary.” This pertinent observation is regularly shunned by most leaders and diplomats. African leaders, however, would do well to ponder their simultaneous exploitation by Israel and complicity against Palestinians by accepting invitations and participating in seminars which flaunt the oppression of the indigenous population under the auspices of technological innovations.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.