Profits of Occupation
Reports detail dozens of Palestinians injured in a recent wave of attacks by Israeli settlers across the occupied West Bank, incidents often framed by mainstream outlets as isolated acts of vigilantism. Such reporting frequently sidesteps the systemic nature of these aggressions, which consistently coincide with directives from Netanyahu's government to further cement control over Palestinian
territories. This pattern is hardly new. Since the 1967 occupation, the number of illegal Israeli settlements has exploded, housing over 700,000 settlers today. These settlements, illegal under international law, receive billions in direct and indirect subsidies from the Israeli government, including infrastructure development and security. Crucially, a significant portion of this state funding is
indirectly bolstered by the annual $3.8 billion in military aid the United States provides to Israel, money that frees up domestic resources for the settlement enterprise. The current violence serves a clear purpose: demoralize Palestinian communities and render their lives untenable, facilitating further land confiscation. This mirrors historical tactics, such as the initial displacement of
750,000 Palestinians during the 1948 Nakba, where violence paved the way for territorial claims. When US officials issue tepid condemnations while simultaneously increasing military aid and blocking UN resolutions, they are not merely observing; they are enabling. The narrative of 'settler violence' as an unfortunate side effect obscures the calculated financial and political architecture behind