New Study Challenges Genocide, Apartheid Claims Against Israel

A new research paper published on SSRN by Philippe Karpe and Gunther Jikeli challenges the accusations of genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism leveled against Israel. After analyzing the specific legal and historical criteria for each charge, the authors concluded that the evidence does not support claims of genocide or apartheid. They also found that settler colonialism is an inadequate descriptor for the history of Israel and Zionism.

The study acknowledges discrimination and inequality within Israeli society but argues these do not meet the definition of apartheid. The researchers point to the participation of Arab citizens in national elections, their representation in the Knesset, and their access to the court system as evidence against such a classification. Regarding the West Bank, they contend that differences in administrative status and regimes do not demonstrate a systematic intent to maintain racial domination.

Concerning Gaza, Karpe and Jikeli examined restrictions on humanitarian aid and the destruction of a fertility clinic. They differentiated the severity of these actions from the intent to destroy a group, which is a legal requirement for genocide, and found no evidence of such intent. The authors also recognized that settler colonialism might explain some aspects of settlement expansion but stated it fails to encompass the broader history of Zionism, including the historical Jewish connection to the land and the reception of Jewish refugees.

The study's authors advocate for evaluating each accusation based on its distinct criteria, rather than using the terms interchangeably. They emphasize that their conclusions represent their findings and are not legal judgments.