Bulldozing Democracy in Jericho’s Shadow

The recent demolition spree in the Palestinian village of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho, highlights the dangers of Israel’s expansionist policies. These actions are not only trampling land and property but also undermining the rule of law.

Behind the bulldozers’ rumble lies a disturbing dynamic: the blurring of lines between settler ambition and state authority. In Ein al-Duyuk, residents have faced months of harassment, intimidation, and violence from Israeli settlers backed by an increasingly complicit government. This has created a surreal landscape where settlers operate with impunity while Palestinian families pick up the pieces.

The destruction of homes in Ein al-Duyuk follows a familiar pattern: Israel’s strategy of incremental erasure. By fragmenting Palestinian land into smaller parcels and targeting specific areas for “clearing” or “development,” the state can quietly dispossess its population without sparking mass outrage. This tactic has been employed throughout the West Bank, often in tandem with the construction of new settlements.

The Armonot Farm settlement, built on unzoned land by Hanan Herbst, is a prime example of this strategy. The fact that it exists at all is a testament to the government’s willingness to disregard its own rules for an expanded settler presence.

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has played a significant role in promoting “Judeo-centric” heritage parks across the West Bank. His inflammatory rhetoric, coupled with Israeli flag-waving ceremonies at the Hasmonean and Herodian winter palaces, has legitimized violence against Palestinian communities in the eyes of many settlers.

The aftermath of February 10’s eight-hour pogrom, during which dozens of masked settlers descended on Ein al-Duyuk, was particularly egregious. Thirteen Bedouin families were forced from their homes, with their livestock and property seized or destroyed. The atmosphere remained tense for months afterward, punctuated by thefts and uprooted trees.

Today, the ongoing demolition campaign in Ein al-Duyuk makes it clear that this is not just a case of private land disputes between settlers and Palestinians. Rather, it represents a systemic failure of Israeli authorities to uphold their own laws and protect the rights of all citizens – regardless of ethnicity or national origin.

This raises pressing questions about Israel’s democratic credentials: Can a state that allows its settlers to operate with impunity while undermining the rule of law and property rights still claim to be a beacon of democracy in the Middle East?

As we watch this drama unfold, it becomes clear that the bulldozers will not stop until they have erased every last shred of Palestinian presence from these lands. But what about the people? What about their right to remain, to return, and to rebuild – or at least, to be treated as equals under Israeli law?

The answer lies in the corridors of power, where a shift in policy and priorities is desperately needed. Will Israel’s leaders choose to safeguard democracy, or will they continue down this perilous path, bulldozing what remains of it along with Palestinian homes and livelihoods? Only time will tell.

The people of Ein al-Duyuk are not just fighting for their land; they’re fighting for the soul of Israel itself.