Jerusalem Post op-ed advocates for territorial conquest of S. Lebanon

By Janna Kadri
Source: The Jerusalem Post
18 Nov 2024 18:43

Michael Freund, an American-born Israeli political figure of German descent, believes that southern Lebanon is historically part of "Israel" and that the Jewish people have deep-rooted connections to the area.

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Civil defense workers check the site of a building that collapsed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Hadath, south of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP)

A recent opinion piece in The Jerusalem Post, titled "Southern Lebanon is Actually Northern Israel," exemplifies yet another attempt to legitimize expansionist ambitions through what can only be described as Zionist propaganda.

The article undermines Lebanon's sovereignty while distorting Judaism by weaponizing it to rationalize territorial conquest.

"Historically speaking, southern Lebanon is in fact northern Israel, and the roots of the Jewish people in the area run deep. Whether or not this can or should be translated now into a political reality is a far more complex question, but there is simply no denying our connection to the land," writes Michael Freund, an American-born Israeli political figure of German descent.

Zionism: A distortion of Judaism's peaceful core

Freund's argument reflects the dangers of Zionism as an ideology that conflates political goals with religious identity.

By selectively interpreting biblical texts to claim southern Lebanon as part of "Israel," this rhetoric exploits Judaism's spiritual values to validate aggression and colonization. Judaism, which champions compassion, coexistence, and justice, is being misappropriated as a tool to justify the expansionist policies of an apartheid regime.

This misuse of faith not only distorts Judaism's core principles but also alienates many Jewish communities worldwide. Countless Jewish voices have consistently opposed the use of their religion to endorse violence and oppression, serving as a reminder that Zionism is a political project—not a religious imperative.

Colonial fantasies masked as biblical promises

Freund's argument leans heavily on selective biblical references to claim that cities like Sidon and Tyre were promised to the Jewish people. This approach mirrors colonial practices of using religion to justify conquest, ignoring centuries of shared history and coexistence in the region. It erases the rights and histories of the people who have lived in southern Lebanon for generations.

The invocation of "divine promises" as a basis for modern political ambitions aligns with settler-colonial frameworks seen globally, from the Americas to South Africa. These ideologies have historically caused immense suffering and displacement, and Zionism is no exception. Freund's piece continues this tradition of framing territorial expansion as "restoration," while overlooking the violent dispossession it entails.

The article further ignores the realities of Israeli aggression, including the occupation of southern Lebanon and the displacement of Palestinians. Given its aggressive nature as an apartheid regime, the ethnic cleansing of indigenous Arabs is a precondition to maintaining and expanding "Israel's" settler-colonial project.

However, Resistance movements in Lebanon and Palestine have arisen as direct responses to such actions, challenging the narrative that "Israel's" expansion is a "defensive necessity."

The decline of Zionism

Freund's closing claim that "today's dreams shape tomorrow's reality" encapsulates the dangerous ambitions of Zionist ideology. However, these "dreams" are crumbling. Zionism is decaying, not only due to the persistent efforts of resistance movements in Lebanon and Palestine but also because "Israel" is increasingly isolated on the global stage.

The regime’s genocidal assault on Gaza, aggression toward Lebanon, and systematic oppression of Palestinians have led to widespread condemnation. Countries around the world are severing trade ties and distancing themselves from "Israel", recognizing that its actions violate principles of justice and human rights. This growing global solidarity against "Israel's" policies exposes Zionism for what it truly is: a crumbling ideology rooted in colonial violence and expansion.

As the world continues to turn away from "Israel's" oppressive actions, the dream of unchecked expansion in Lebanon and beyond is fading, leaving behind the undeniable truth that justice and resistance are winning.