In 1967 Israel launched a preemptive war against Jordan, Egypt, and Syria and within 6 days captured lands from all three countries. The international community rejected the capturing and occupying of the lands and through a number of UN resolutions declared that the occupation was wrong. Since then Egypt and Jordan signed peace treaties with Israel but the lands stayed under occupation.

In particular, both the Palestinians and the Syrian of Golan Heights stayed under the Israeli occupation to this day.

Today one of the world powers, Russia decided to invade its neighbor Ukraine. The international community quickly rose up and condemned the invasion and the potential occupations of Ukraine. In a blatant and hypocritical voice, the world is rejecting the Russian aggression on Ukraine.

As a Palestinian, I cannot condone any nation occupying another nation, no if and buts about it. As a Palestinian, I am also amazed at the willingness of the very same nations that have either condoned, supported or even encouraged to say Russia cannot occupy Ukraine. They have even allowed Israel, an occupying country, to be an “honest broker” in mediating some sort of settlement between them.

The US which is spearheading the charge in thwarting the Russian invasion also lacks the moral right to harshly criticize the Russians when its history is full of unwarranted and fabricated reasons when it had invaded Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan to name some.

It’s high time that nations like the US and Israel that claim to be defenders of democracy and the rule of law look into the mirror. The people of the world are not naive or ignorant that they do not see this hypocrisy, they do see it.  

Russia is wrong for invading its neighbor, Israel is wrong for occupying and subjugating the Palestinian people, the US is wrong for invading and trying to occupy and or control the leaders of other countries. Until there is consistency between the rhetoric and the actions of stronger nations, espousing justice, and the rule of law consistently, more nations like Russia and Israel will continue to do as they please as long as they have the military power to do it.

The world needs to be a better place for all humans, to live in security and peace and not under the threat of the gun. Nations that are strong and espouse democracy and the rule of law need to lead by example. We are beyond the age of “do as I say, not what I do”.

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Samuel Kuttab is a Palestinian American businessman living in Philadelphia, PA.