The Black List would consist of those who are entitled to none of the above. Any act of violence would place the entire extended family of the perpetrator on the Black List indefinitely, whether or not the perpetrator had been killed. The slightest act of violence in a town or village would put the entire village on the Black List. The involvement of a person in any sort of terrorist activity, including expression of verbal support for violence, would put that person’s family on the Black List.

Black List members would be offered no alternatives for employment and sustenance. They would be provided with bread and water. Their only privilege would be the right to emigrate.

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White List members would stay on the list only if they collaborated with Israel and informed on those Palestinians planning and perpetuating violence. Families whose children throw rocks or curse soldiers would be Black-listed. The lands and property of the extended families of those involved in terrorist violence would be confiscated with no trial, only with a martial hearing or military tribunal. Israel would announce officially and make it clear that should any Palestinian minors be injured or killed while throwing rocks at Jews, Israel would regard their own parents as morally and legally liable for the injuries.

Anyone on the Black List would be permanently curfewed and prohibited from moving about freely, unless it would be to emigrate. No reporters of any sort would be permitted in the areas under martial law. Palestinian sympathizers with terrorist organizations would disappear off the streets in the night, with no explanations offered by Israel. Capital punishment would be applied broadly and readily.

Those on the White List could run for local municipal office. They would need to swear a loyalty oath to non-violence and to the legitimacy of Zionism. They would be monitored. They could speak freely about municipal affairs. The slightest comment suggesting support for violence or questioning the legitimacy of Israel or Israeli martial law would move the elected person to the Black List and result in the forfeit of all municipal powers.

Municipalities that failed to elect White Listers would be shut down and prohibited from providing any municipal services. No schools, no street lights, no garbage collection, no water.

There would be no habeas corpus or ‘due process’ in the territories. The extended families of those engaged in terrorist organizations and activities outside Israel would be black-listed or expelled, with property confiscated.

Of course none of the above is democratic. Neither was the American administration of Japan and Germany. It is not supposed to be liberal; it is supposed to root out fascism violently and forcefully. It is supposed to save Jewish lives.

As democratic institutions imposed upon the Palestinians take root and acquire legitimacy, martial law might be selectively relaxed by Israel in the future. But it would all depend on the Palestinians and their behavior. It will take as long as it takes. The Americans occupied Okinawa for 35 years.

Over time, the Palestinians would be denazified, just as the Germans were. Like them, the Palestinians could gradually be granted limited autonomy in a permanently demilitarized fashion, with no possibility of establishing diplomatic or other relations with non-democratic Arab powers.

Sovereignty would be out of the question and demanding it would move the person to the Black List. Pressures would be put on black-listed families and towns, where emigration is their main viable alternative.

White List membership could be offered to those who join Israel-led and controlled Palestinian militias, or who serve Israel militarily. These militias would be utilized to kill terrorists and suppress Palestinian fascism, somewhat like the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.

Only White-Listed people would serve on public bodies controlling Waqf lands or operating the mosques.

Yes, all the above is mere fantasy today. But sooner or later, this is what Israel will do because there is no other alternative.

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Steven Plaut is a professor at the University of Haifa. He can be contacted at [email protected]