The awakening: Why the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is about more than borders - opinion

David Ben-Basat argues that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not primarily about borders but about the legitimacy of a Jewish state. He cites the October 7 massacre as a turning point, claims Hamas's ideology denies Israel's right to exist, and criticizes Western framing. He also discusses Qatar's role and Al Jazeera's influence in shaping global opinion, asserting Israel lags in public diplomacy. He concludes that a political settlement requires Palestinian acceptance of Israel's permanence, which the massacre negates.

In this opinion piece, David Ben-Basat argues that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is fundamentally about the legitimacy of a Jewish state, not just borders. He contends that the Oslo Accords were built on a territorial premise that has been shattered by the October 7 massacre. The author asserts that Hamas's ideology, which denies Israel's right to exist, has gained significant influence in Palestinian society, and that this is the core issue. He criticizes the West for interpreting the conflict through familiar concepts like borders and sovereignty, which fail to explain the intensity of hatred and the celebration of armed struggle. Ben-Basat also discusses the role of Qatar and Al Jazeera in shaping global public opinion, arguing that Israel is losing the information war because it relies on outdated methods. He concludes that a political settlement is only possible if Palestinians genuinely accept Israel's existence, which he believes the October 7 events demonstrate they do not. The piece is a call for Israel to abandon illusions and recognize that the conflict is existential.