Many in the international community argue Israel is a colonizing nation in the establishment of either the nation itself, its settlements in the Palestinian territories, or both. European, African, and Middle Eastern Jews migrated to a land already inhabited by peoples and established a state that often excludes the peoples who were present before their arrival. In constructing settlements, Israel constructed towns under Israeli rule in sovereign Palestinian territories.

Whether the nation of Israel or its settlements in the Palestinian territories are actually colonies is the subject of much scholarly and political debate. Many Israelis argue that they are not a colonizing nation, but rather, that they originally migrated to Palestine with the consent of Arab Palestinians and purchased land legally, and that Palestinians accused Zionists of colonizing only after the Zionists developed barren land and brought economic prosperity to the region. Zionists migrated to Palestine for survival, not to conquer the region. Further, the state of Israel was created by the United Nations, not by Zionist conquest.

Israelis defend their Palestinian occupying settlements as necessary for security—to extend Israel’s borders and protect it from Hezbollah rockets. Israelis contend the settlements are not a colonialist expansionist enterprise of conquest but necessary establishments to create a military security buffer between Israel and hostile forces.