Properties belonging to Islamic endowments were converted into synagogues and settlement projects. Under the pretext of archaeological excavations, many historic Muslim structures were demolished. The West either ignored this cultural destruction or labeled it as "modernization."
Occupation Rebranded as Settlement
After 1967, Israel began establishing Jewish settlements on the occupied territories. By 1977, more than 30 settlements had been built in the West Bank and 4 in Gaza. Around 50,000 Jews had been settled in East Jerusalem.
Over 10,000 Egyptians were displaced from the Sinai Peninsula; villages and mosques were demolished. More than 100,000 Syrians were expelled from the Golan Heights. By 1968, 75,000 Palestinians had been deported from Gaza. The West legitimized this process by framing it as a "land for peace" initiative.
A Victory of Civilization?
According to Massad, the West views Israel's aggression as a "victory of civilization." The Daily Telegraph described the 1967 War as a "victory of civilization," while Le Monde wrote that Europe was "freed from the burden of the Holocaust" thanks to Israel.
The forced displacement of Palestinians, the destruction of their villages, and the looting of their homes found no place in these narratives.
So-Called Negotiations, Actual Annexation
Although Israel claimed to the West that it was holding the occupied territories as "leverage for peace," in reality it annexed these areas. Palestinians in East Jerusalem were displaced and their properties confiscated. In contrast, Palestinian properties seized in West Jerusalem in 1948 were never returned.
In 1980, the Israeli government officially annexed East Jerusalem. Palestinian neighborhoods were erased through excavations, historic buildings were demolished under the name of "archaeological sites," and the demographic structure was altered with new settlements.
The West's Silent Approval
According to Prof. Massad, the West's frequent silence in the face of Israel's occupation, displacement policies, war crimes, and cultural destruction reflects modern colonialism. While the West defends every Israeli attack on Palestinians as "self-defense," it labels Palestinian resistance as "terrorism."
Massad summarizes his article with the following sentence: "Even as Israel massacres its victims, it is portrayed by the West as a victim itself. This is not just hypocrisy—it is the modern face of colonialism."
