Akashma Online News

By Akashma News

Introduction: The Line Between Truth and Accusation

In the modern age of journalism, reporting on Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian territories often comes with a dangerous label: anti-Semitism. The accusation is frequently used to silence critics, whether they are journalists, human rights organizations, or even Jewish scholars who question Israeli state actions. But is exposing war crimes, settler violence, and military oppression truly an act of prejudice against Jewish people, or is it a necessary pursuit of truth and accountability?

Beyond this, a more fundamental question remains: Has history provided justice to the Palestinian people, who have faced decades of displacement, occupation, and systemic oppression? The answers lie in a century-long pattern of colonial ambition, international complicity, and an unwavering Palestinian resistance against historical injustice.

The Settler Question: Criticism or Hate Speech?

The Israeli government and pro-Zionist organizations often frame criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic. In 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted a controversial definition of anti-Semitism that includes “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.” This definition has since been weaponized to silence activists, scholars, and even Jewish critics who oppose Israel’s apartheid policies.

However, major human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and B’Tselem (an Israeli NGO), have all independently concluded that Israel is committing crimes of apartheid. These reports document how Israel’s government enforces segregation, land seizures, and military oppression against Palestinians. If leading global watchdogs can make these claims without being anti-Semitic, why is the same standard not applied to journalists and activists?

Settler Violence and State Backing

One of the most egregious aspects of Israeli policy is the state-backed expansion of illegal settlements. The Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly prohibits an occupying power from transferring its population into occupied territory, making all Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.

Yet, as of 2024, over 700,000 Israeli settlers live in these illegal enclaves. Reports from the United Nations, Al-Haq, and Breaking the Silence (a group of former Israeli soldiers) document systematic violence against Palestinians by settlers, often with the protection—or direct assistance—of the Israeli military.

This violence includes:

Forcible land seizures and home demolitions.

Arson attacks, such as the 2015 firebombing in Duma that killed an 18-month-old Palestinian baby and his parents.

Live fire against Palestinian civilians, frequently ignored or excused by Israeli courts.


Labeling these documented crimes as “anti-Semitic propaganda” serves only to shield perpetrators from accountability. As investigative journalists, our duty is to report the truth, not cater to political narratives that suppress it.

Historical Dispossession: The “Jewish Dream” and Palestinian Reality

From Balfour to the Nakba: How Palestine Was Stolen

The roots of Palestinian dispossession date back to 1917, when British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued the Balfour Declaration, promising British support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This declaration was made without consulting the 95% majority Palestinian population, who suddenly found their fate being decided by a foreign power and a Zionist movement led by figures like Lord Rothschild and Chaim Weizmann.

When the British Mandate took control of Palestine in 1920, Zionist paramilitary groups—the Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi (Stern Gang)—began violently seizing Palestinian land. These groups conducted terrorist operations, including bombings and assassinations, against both Palestinians and the British.

By 1947, despite Jews owning only 6% of the land, the United Nations partition plan allocated 55% of Palestine to the Jewish population, fueling Palestinian resistance. The response from Zionist militias was ruthless:

The Nakba (1948): Ethnic Cleansing and Massacres

During the war following the unilateral declaration of Israel’s statehood in May 1948, Zionist militias executed a calculated campaign of ethnic cleansing. Israeli historian Ilan Pappé, in his book The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, documents how 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled, and over 500 villages were destroyed in a deliberate effort to erase Palestinian presence.

Massacres such as Deir Yassin (April 9, 1948), where over 100 Palestinian men, women, and children were slaughtered, served as psychological warfare to drive out more Palestinians. Survivors recall scenes of rape, executions, and mutilations—horrors reminiscent of other colonial genocides.

By the time the war ended, Israel controlled 78% of historic Palestine, far beyond the UN’s partition allotment. The remaining 22%—the West Bank and Gaza Strip—came under Jordanian and Egyptian control, only to be occupied by Israel in 1967.

The 1967 War and Ongoing Occupation

Following Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War (1967), it occupied the remaining Palestinian territories. Since then, Israel has implemented a military regime over millions of Palestinians, depriving them of basic human rights. The occupation continues to this day, with:

2.2 million Gazans living under a near-total blockade, described by the UN as an “open-air prison.”

Over 500 military checkpoints in the West Bank restricting Palestinian movement.

Apartheid laws that grant Israeli settlers full rights while denying them to native Palestinians.

Has History Delivered Justice?

Despite numerous UN resolutions condemning Israeli actions, little has changed. The U.S. veto power at the UN Security Council ensures Israel remains shielded from international law.

Meanwhile, Palestinians remain stateless, refugees in their own homeland or scattered across the world. No reparations, no right of return, and no accountability have been offered to the victims of Zionist colonization.

Even attempts to hold Israel legally accountable have been crushed. In 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into Israeli war crimes, but faced severe pushback from Western governments. In contrast, these same nations demand justice for Ukraine against Russia, exposing the double standard in international law.

The Fight for Justice Continues

Despite Israel’s military and political power, the Palestinian resistance—both armed and non-violent—continues. Movements such as:

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), which pressures companies and institutions to cut ties with Israeli apartheid.

Legal challenges at the ICC and UN bodies.

Grassroots resistance in occupied territories, where Palestinians fight back against home demolitions, settler violence, and military oppression.

Conclusion: A Call for Unbiased Journalism

To expose Israel’s crimes is not to be anti-Semitic—it is to uphold the principles of journalism and human rights. The real issue is not religious identity, but settler colonialism, military occupation, and ethnic cleansing.

History has failed Palestine, but the future remains unwritten. Journalists, historians, and activists must continue to document, expose, and challenge the forces that seek to erase the Palestinian people. The world ignored the Nakba in 1948. Will it ignore the ongoing Nakba today?

About the Author: Marivel Guzman

Marivel Guzman is an investigative journalist and photographer with a fervent dedication to uncovering the truth and advocating for social justice. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Sacramento, where she honed her skills in journalism and developed a passion for storytelling.

Throughout her career, Guzman has contributed to various reputable publications, including Lariat News, Orange Coast Report, and The State Hornet. Her work delves into complex socio-political issues, aiming to shed light on underreported stories and marginalized communities. She is also the founder of Akashma Online News, a platform she has used since 2007 to research, analyze, and document pressing global issues.

In addition to her journalistic endeavors, Guzman has served as a proof editor for the Baluchistan Red Crescent quarterly magazine and volunteers as a photographer for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), capturing the resilience and struggles of displaced populations.

Guzman’s commitment to social activism extends beyond traditional journalism. She maintains a political blog where she explores pressing global issues and engages readers in thoughtful discourse. Her poetry, reflecting themes of solitude, resilience, and hope, has been featured in Akashma Online News, offering readers a glimpse into her introspective and creative perspective.

Her dedication to investigative reporting is further enriched by her extensive worldwide travels, which have provided her with profound cultural insights and a global perspective on issues of human rights, colonialism, and justice. These experiences deeply inform her writing, allowing her to engage with diverse narratives and historical contexts.

Currently based in Orange County, California, Guzman continues to leverage her investigative skills and passion for storytelling to inform, inspire, and provoke thought among her audience. Her unwavering dedication to truth and justice remains at the core of her work, as she strives to amplify the voices of those who are often unheard.