What does it take to end occupation?

According to the head of Israel’s internal security service Shin Bet, Yoram Cohen, Palestinian resistance actions, mostly “lone-wolf” attacks, have increased by 50 per cent each year since 2012, reaching over 1,800 from 683.

At a briefing before the Israeli Knesset’s foreign affairs and defence committee, Yoram also said that since last summer’s Israeli war on Gaza, which left over 2,000 dead, more than a quarter of them children, Hamas has stepped up efforts to rebuild its military capacity for, he believes, a renewed round of violence against Israel.

To his credit, the security chief mentioned the economic hardships the 50 days of war brought about to the beleaguered Gazans as a reason for Hamas’ attempt to rebuild tunnels, develop and produce new rockets and increase training for its naval and ground forces.

With peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis dead and Hamas’ status somewhat diminished by the lack of progress in rebuilding the strip, it should come as no surprise to the Israelis that seething Gazans will try to find a way out.

Nor should they be surprised that Palestinians in the West Bank will also decide they have had enough of poverty, humiliation, inability to move around freely, like all human beings, and do something about it.

For now, lone-wolf attacks are sending signals. The BDS movement is growing — of course criticised and criminalised by the rightwing Israeli government even though it is a peaceful attempt at waking it up from its stubbornness and complacency.

But desperate people often resort to desperate acts, a fact that cannot escape even Benjamin Netanyahu’s clique.

Whether Palestinians will resort to another uprising is a fact simply decided by Israel.

Palestinians seem resigned to the fact that there will be no peace as long as Israel clings to its defiant, belligerent course. As such, what options do they have against the occupation?

Full rights for Palestinians in an independent state is Israel’s only guarantee that there will be no more violence against it.

Perhaps the Shin Bet chief can talk sense into Israeli leaders, convince them that there is but one effective way to end Palestinian violence and that is by reaching a peace deal with them as soon as possible.