By Prof. Dr. İsmail ŞAHİN
The famous English author Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is widely regarded as one of the greatest classics of science fiction. The novel tells the story of a young Swiss scientist, Victor Frankensteinobsessed with unlocking the secret of life. After a series of scientific experiments, Victor assembles various human body parts to create a giant, human-like being.
Yet, instead of triumph, Victor is horrified by his creation, an unnerving, grotesque figure. Rejected and unloved from the very moment of its birth, the creature turns bitter and vengeful, killing Victor’s loved ones one by one in an attempt to punish him.
When viewed in its entirety, the creature’s story strikingly parallels that of Israel. Let us now explore these unsettling similarities.
Artificially created and assembled: Israel and Frankenstein’s creature
First, Frankenstein’s creature, Israel is artificial—assembled, rather than organically formed. In this sense, Israel can be seen as an artificial state, as it did not emerge naturally from a shared social, geographical, or historical unity. Its establishment was shaped instead by international political planning and coercive migration policies.
The majority of Israel’s founding population was not indigenous to the region; rather, Jewish immigrants from Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and North Africa were brought together under a newly constructed “Israeli” identity.
This national identity was imposed from above, rather than arising organically from within. Thus, much like Victor Frankenstein’s creation, the State of Israel was not the outcome of a natural historical evolution, but rather a product of deliberate international political engineering.
Unpredictable and aggressive by design
Israel’s establishment as an “artificial state” has inevitably shaped its character, political behavior, and security strategies. The defining challenge of such states is their persistent struggle for legitimacy and security. Since they are not part of a natural process, they often face difficulties in gaining broad acceptance.
For this reason, they place great importance on power, power diplomacy, and forming strategic alliances with stronger actors. Legitimacy, when not achieved naturally, is either manufactured through power or replaced by it. Feeling constantly encircled and in danger, Israel has consistently prioritized strength above all else. Its history offers numerous concrete examples of this enduring pattern.
From its very founding, Israel—like Frankenstein’s creature—has felt isolated, unwanted, and under constant threat, and it has responded with aggression. Both are alien and incompatible with their surroundings.
Just as the creature was never accepted from the moment it was born, Israel too, since its establishment, has not been accepted or recognized by many states, particularly the Arab countries of the region. Naturally, this sense of isolation and being ignored has created a constant defensive reflex at Israel’s core.
As with Frankenstein’s creature, Israel, in the face of rejection and exclusion, has turned to violence on the one hand, and resorted to power to prove its existence on the other hand. In doing so, it has spread fear and destruction to its surroundings. Thus, aggression and violence can be seen as natural outcomes of Israel’s artificial origins.
Beyond control: Israel’s unpredictable nature
Another striking similarity between Israel and Frankenstein’s creature is that both have spiraled out of control. As the creature slipped from Frankenstein’s grasp and began harming those around it, similarly, Israel has gone far beyond its founding goal of creating a “safe homeland for the Jewish people” and has transformed into a regional occupying power.
In the process, it has not only inflicted suffering on its neighbors through repeated massacres but has also caused significant harm to the very powers that created and supported it, including the United States and Western public opinion. This is evident in the surge of anti-Israel sentiment that has intensified across the international arena since October 7.
The creature brought neither peace nor stability to its surroundings; instead, it spread fear and destruction. In much the same way, Israel—through its occupation and annexation policies in Palestine, its interference in the internal affairs of neighboring states, its incitement of minority groups, and its threats to territorial integrity—has entrenched a cycle of tension and conflict across the region.
Just as Frankenstein’s creature exceeded the limits of its existence and became uncontrollable, Israel too has moved beyond its founding purpose, evolving into an unpredictable actor defined by its relentless reliance on force and aggression.
A threat to Its own existence
While these factors may seem to work in Israel’s favor initially, in the long term they are likely to backfire. Like Frankenstein’s creature, Israel is, in effect, harming itself. Its constant reliance on force creates a security paradox: over time, aggression deepens hostilities and undermines its own safety.
Furthermore, Tel Aviv’s excessive assertiveness fuels anti-Israel sentiment internationally, resulting in severe global isolation. In this way, Israel’s strategy to protect its existence simultaneously fosters conditions that could ultimately threaten that very existence.
In Frankenstein, the creature turned against the very person who gave it life. Similarly, Israel—through its aggressive policies—is increasingly losing legitimacy among the Western powers that created and supported it.
Just as the creature was cast out from society, Israel now faces the risk of isolation both regionally and globally due to its hardline policies. Opposition to Israel is therefore not limited to the Arab or Islamic world; it is growing even more significantly within the West.
This dynamic, in turn, fuels Israel’s growing resentment toward the West. A concrete example of this anger is reflected in Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s open threat to France, following French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement in September to recognize the State of Palestine and make an official statement at the United Nations General Assembly.
A symbol of fear and outrage
In the novel, Frankenstein’s creature became a symbol of fear and anger. Similarly, Israel—due to its actions in Palestine—is increasingly seen as a symbol of global protest, resistance, and outrage. Its campaigns often target anyone in its path—guilty or innocent, young or old, armed or unarmed—and destroy essential infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and shelters. Unsurprisingly, these actions reinforce the perception of Israel as an unjust and aggressive actor, making it the focal point of international anger.
Frankenstein’s creature, trapped in a cycle of violence, ultimately destroyed itself. Israel may be heading down a similar path. Its constant reliance on force not only heightens internal security vulnerabilities but also creates conditions that, over time, threaten its very existence.
As a result, Israel risks losing its international legitimacy. If it continues to pursue security through aggression and occupation, it could, much like Frankenstein’s creature, become an actor that engineers its own demise.
