Israel's 'Security Theory' and Its Escalating Violation of International Law and International Legitimacy

Since its inception, the Israeli colony has been based on a settler-colonial project, relying on what it calls the 'Security Theory,' which has transformed occupation, settlement, displacement, and repression into legitimate tools in its political and military discourse. Over time, this theory has ceased to be an expression of security concerns and has evolved into a comprehensive aggressive doctrine that transcends borders and sovereignties, recognizing neither international law nor the constraints of international legitimacy.
Over the past three years, this doctrine has reached its most dangerous peak, especially with the genocide war launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip since October 2023. The Israeli behavior has shifted from managing repressive occupation to a policy of comprehensive destruction, systematic starvation, forced displacement, and direct targeting of civilians and health, educational, and humanitarian infrastructure, in blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions, the rules of international humanitarian law, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The concept of 'Israeli security' has been expanded to practically permit mass killing and the erasure of Palestinian existence itself, under the pretext of 'eliminating threats.' Israel has not only violated Palestinian land but has also expanded the scope of its security doctrine to include infringing on the sovereignty of neighboring Arab countries through repeated aggressions and direct bombings in Syria and Lebanon, without international accountability or deterrence, reflecting its transformation into a state practicing open aggression outside any regulated legal framework.
One of the most dangerous manifestations of this doctrine is the unprecedented escalation of the settlement policy, particularly in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. Successive Israeli governments, especially the most extreme right-wing government in Israel's history, have approved dozens of new settlement plans, including expanding existing settlements, establishing additional settlement outposts, and connecting them with road networks and infrastructure aimed at fragmenting Palestinian land, isolating Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings, and imposing demographic and geographical facts that prevent any future political settlement.
Settlement has evolved from a gradual occupation tool into a central pillar of Israel's security doctrine, presented as a 'preventive' measure, despite being a complete war crime under international law and a direct violation of Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2334. Nevertheless, these policies have not faced any binding punitive measures, but have received explicit American support or complicit political silence, evident in statements by the American ambassador to Israel, who confirmed that his country does not object to the new settlement plans and considers them an internal Israeli matter, in a blatant disregard for the status of Palestinian territories as occupied lands and for international law itself.
This American position is not limited to abstaining from condemnation but constitutes direct political cover for accelerating the creeping annexation project, encouraging Israel to proceed in undermining any realistic possibility of a two-state solution, and transforming temporary occupation into a permanent settler-colonial system based on apartheid, land theft, and excluding the Palestinian people from their right to self-determination.
This Israeli impunity would not have reached this level without the structural flaw in the international system, primarily the repeated use by the United States of the veto power in the Security Council to abort any binding resolution condemning aggression or imposing sanctions, turning the international legitimacy system into a selective one, applied to the weak and disabled before the allies of power.
Despite dozens of resolutions issued by the United Nations General Assembly and despite the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice regarding the crime of genocide in Gaza, Israel continues its open defiance of international law, in a dangerous precedent that undermines the foundations of the international system, empties the concept of international justice of its content, and threatens international peace and security.
Mere verbal condemnation of settlement or aggression is no longer sufficient. International law, if not coupled with real enforcement mechanisms and binding punitive measures, turns into ineffective texts. In the face of this international failure, the Palestinian people's right to resist occupation remains an inherent and guaranteed right, and all forms of resistance to occupation recognized by international law remain legitimate in the face of a racist settler-colonial project.
Likewise, Arab countries whose sovereignty, airspace, and national security are violated have the right to defend themselves and confront Israeli aggressions, based on the principle of legitimate self-defense stipulated in the United Nations Charter, in a way that preserves their security and sovereignty.
In conclusion, continuing to treat Israel as a state above the law does not threaten Palestine alone but threatens the entire international law system and establishes the model of the rogue state that violates rights and sovereignties under the cover of 'security.' Confronting Israel's security theory requires breaking the logic of impunity, activating international accountability tools, and building an independent Arab and international position that restores respect for justice and the rights of peoples, and puts an end to the dominance of power over law.