Israel’s Continued Use Of Dystopian Technology in The West Bank Raises Concerns

Israeli Army argues these deployments are aimed at “preventing infiltration” at key points and settlement entrances

The Israeli army is reportedly preparing to deploy a series of advanced technological security systems in the occupied West Bank, with many Israeli officials expressing concerns about the region potentially turning into a major battlefield.

According to Israeli Army Radio, these deployments are aimed at “preventing infiltration” at key points and settlement entrances, and include watchtowers and mechanisms capable of firing live ammunition remotely.

The implementation of these systems coincides with the continuation of systematic raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the West Bank, as well as ongoing Israeli settler attacks.

Moreover, Israeli officials have been calling for the annexation of the West Bank, the expansion of illegal settlements, and treating the territory similarly to the Gaza Strip.

With the ongoing conflict in the region, the deployment of advanced technological security systems raises questions about potential human rights violations and a possible escalation in tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

The Ethics and Implications of Israel’s Roeh-Yoreh System

The Roeh-Yoreh system, developed by Rafael Combat Systems, is an advanced weapon system comprising a tower with high-tech surveillance capabilities and a remotely controlled, lethal firing mechanism.

Operated from command centres, the system has been exclusively deployed in the Gaza Strip since 2008, where it is used to target Palestinians who approach the security fence.

Israel’s West Bank Division plans to utilise this system within the region, with the 636th Reconnaissance Unit taking charge of its operation. The deployment is motivated by Israeli concerns about a potential security escalation in the area, including possible large-scale armed operations targeting settlements.

Suleiman Bisharat, an Israeli affairs expert, argues that Israel’s employment of lethal technologies reflects a view that life under Israeli occupation only ceases when death occurs for non-Israeli or non-Jewish individuals.

He believes that Israel, as an occupying state, has come to realise its army members’ limitations and the diminishing ideological conviction behind their actions.

Bisharat suggests that this has driven Israel to develop tools that support its human military component, as seen during the Gaza Strip conflict where Israel relied heavily on artificial intelligence and technology.

Israel’s focus on lethal technology may be a response to the conflict between its purported values and its actions on the ground, as it seeks to protect its soldiers from legal repercussions in international courts.

Nevertheless, the widespread adoption of such technologies underscores the fascist mentality within Israel, which denies Palestinians the basic tools for self-defence and perpetuates the cycle of violence in the region.