Afrasianet - Luay Sawalha - As global tensions over human rights and freedoms escalate, an outright duplicity is unfolding in some Western countries' approach to the Palestinian issue.
While these countries, including the Netherlands, claim to be committed to democratic values and human rights, their positions in support of the Israeli occupation stand in stark contrast to the slogans of freedom and justice they promote. While the West advocates freedom of expression and human rights, continued support for Israel in committing abuses against Palestinians reveals a clear bias towards a political goal that is far from the values of justice.
Recently, the Dutch capital Amsterdam witnessed an escalation in confrontations between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel supporters, leading to security and political tensions. These incidents were not just a clash between different communities, but an indication of the depth of the crisis that Palestinians in the West are experiencing, where they are subjected to constant demonization attempts by pro-Israel lobbies.
One worrying dimension of this duality is the media campaigns waged by pro-Israel lobbies in Europe, where they try to completely marginalize the Palestinian cause, presenting it as a marginal issue, or even an "anti-peace" issue.
In this atmosphere, the Israeli occupation tried to exploit these incidents to advance its political agendas, by accusing the Netherlands of not providing the necessary protection to Israeli citizens. This escalation escalated to the point of issuing military orders from the occupation to prevent Israeli soldiers from traveling to the Netherlands.
But what is particularly worrying is the duality of Western attitudes towards Palestinians, falsely accusing them of anti-Semitism; while the Israeli occupation claims that criticism of it is equivalent to anti-Semitism, history proves that the original Semites are Arabs, including Palestinians who are the true heirs of this heritage.
This false link between anti-Semitism and Palestinians is aimed at covering up the ongoing crime committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, including killing, displacement and Judaization of land.
While some Western countries adopt the slogan "freedom of expression" as a core value in their political systems, it is clear how this freedom is restricted when it comes to expressing a position against the Israeli occupation.
While the West defends freedom of expression globally, it pressures Palestinian activists to curtail their freedoms and even falsely accuses them of anti-Semitism simply for criticizing the Israeli occupation.
These campaigns are not new, but part of an old strategy aimed at suppressing any Palestinian voice that rejects the occupation. But in reality, these campaigns represent a failed attempt to cover up Israel's ongoing violations against the Palestinian people.
In this context, the role of the Netherlands emerges as part of this clear Western bias towards the occupation. While the Netherlands adopts laws that protect freedom of expression, we find that Palestinians who express solidarity with their cause suffer constant targeting!
It is a stark contrast between commitment to democratic principles and the actual application of these principles on the ground, revealing a duplicity of positions and a real lack of credibility in Western policy toward Palestinian rights.
The moment has come for the international community to reassess its position on Palestine and recognize the Palestinians' right to self-determination and to live in freedom and dignity.
The reality clearly shows that Western support for Israel is no longer limited to providing political and economic aid, but also to discrediting the Palestinians, falsely accusing them of anti-Semitism. This media campaign is nothing but an attempt to cover up the crimes committed by the occupation against the Palestinian people, and while the West constantly defends Israel, it turns a blind eye to the crimes committed against the Palestinians, and even makes these crimes part of a distorted narrative that does not reflect the truth.
What is happening in the Netherlands should be seen as part of a larger battle between truth and slander, as the West continues to promote the values of democracy and human rights, while its actual positions indirectly support the continuation of the Israeli occupation. This contradiction reflects the duality of Western policy toward the Palestinians and confirms that political and economic interest trumps stated humanitarian principles.
The moment has come for the international community to reassess its position on Palestine and recognize the right of the Palestinians to self-determination and to live in freedom and dignity. The time has come for the Palestinians to expose this Western duality to the whole world and to strengthen their struggle to expose these hypocritical policies, which seek to hide the truth and distort their just cause.