Israel has no right in law to exist

JVL Introduction

How often are those of us opposed to the barbourous acts committed by Israel asked “but do you believe Israel has a right to exist?” It is used as a sort of “gotcha” in interview after interview. Many of us simply say that a) Israel does exist and it is recognised as a State by the international community and b) while people have the right to exist, states do not; and some come and some go as the geopolitical situation changes.

As this article makes clear there is no such thing as a legal right for a state to exist. The insistence on recognising a right that does not actually exist is used to silence pro Palestinian voices and arguments. In Germany there is even a policy committing Germany to support the existence of Israel but “a formal declaration of Israel’s “right to exist” is required to acquire German citizenship. (No such declaration of Germany’s right to exist is required).”

Outlined here are some of the many ways in which Israel does not have a “right to exist” even beyond the general position vis a via States compared with people. Israel has time and time again violated international law from the Nakba and ever since.  In addition, this is also a State without borders, even the Green Line is an armistice line and not a border (and, of course, not even the borders outlined in the partition plan approved by the UN, since when more land has been taken under Israeli control and such “territorial acquisitions resulting from the threat or use of force impose obligations of non-recognition on all states”

This article was originally published by Mondoweis on Tue 14 Jul 2026. Read the original here.