|
... more
An Apartheid State or the Greatest Lie Ever Told?
Summary ... It takes real chutzpah to attach the South African apartheid label to the democratic Jewish State of Israel. For the boot is truly on the other foot. Unlike the Judenrein Arab countries of the Middle East, the Jewish State neither believes in nor does it practice major nor minor racial apartheid. The way the Arabs use "Israeli apartheid" one might think they were protesting because Israel does not permit Arabs in their midst. Of course the very contrary is true. Some 20 percent of Israeli citizens are Arab — it is the Arabs who do not allow Jews in their midst.
Apartheid in South Africa was based on race and color. It was the whites (the "Europeans") versus the "non-Europeans" (blacks, coloreds [mixed race], Indians, Malays, and Chinese). All suffered from the legalized deprivation decreed by a South African government determined to impose white domination on the rest.
There is only one valid way to judge whether Israel is an apartheid state — as alleged by Palestinians in particular and Islamists in general — not to overlook self-hating Jews and anti-Semites, is to consider the practical applications. If there is a match then Israel would be guilty and expected to expunge the practices in question. If there isn't Israel's many enemies should be deeply ashamed and apologetic.
The philosophy of apartheid was encapsulated in the slogan of the ruling National Party which came into power in 1948: "Die kafir op sy plek en die koolie uit die land" summed up the racist political ideology of the new government. "The kafir (indigenous blacks) in his place and the koolie (Indian) out of the country." Needless to say, 'kafir' and 'koolie' were derogatory appellations.
Israel's Reverse Apartheid
It must be manifestly clear to anyone except an ignoramus that Israel has no color or racial problem. Israel's Ethiopian Jews now numbers 105,000 Ethiopian Jews and we plan to absorb some 10,000 more. Unlike apartheid South Africa which wanted to expell its Indians, Israel has welcomed 60,000 (brown-skinned) Indian Jews. And more continue to trickle in.
All, including Circassian, Druze, Kurds, Armenians, Arabs, Beduin, and non-Jewish citizens of the Jewish State, have equal rights. While no Black or Indian was ever permitted to be a member of Parliament in South Africa, 11 Arabs were elected to Israel's 17th Knesset (Parliament) in 2006. Many Druze and Beduin Arabs serve in Israel's army.
Indeed there is not the slightest resemblance to the practices of South African apartheid here in democratic Israel. If ever a lie has been deliberately repeated and magnified to damage Israel, this is a prime example of Dr. Goebbels' axiom that nothing is more effective than a big lie, incessantly repeated.
The apartheid lie is one of several concocted by Palestinians to publicize their cause. Readers and viewers are led by the nose because their lies are so effective in promoting their policies. However the practice of apartheid is totally inapplicable to Israel as the following 15 refutations make abundantly clear:
Fifteen Apartheid Refutations
- Blacks, Coloreds, Indians, Malays and Chinese were legally classified as "Non-Europeans" and did not have the vote in apartheid South Africa. Neither in Municipal, Provincial nor Government elections.
Israel's Arab citizens, some 20% of the population, have enjoyed equal voting rights from day one. Eleven Arabs presently sit in Israel's Knesset.
- Non-Europeans exclusively had to carry a "Pass Book". Employers had to sign the pass books monthly. Pass book infringements by blacks led to jail sentences and often to deportation to the black homelands. (Identity books of a quite different type were introduced for Europeans about 1976.)
All citizens and legal residents of Israel carry a regular identity card as required by law.
- Job Reservation Laws kept non-Europeans from a wide range of jobs.
No discrimination of this kind has ever existed in Israel's Jewish democratic State.
- There was free education for whites till matriculation. Not so for blacks whose educational prowess was strictly limited by an oppressive Bantu Education Act.
All school going children in Israel are entitled to publicly subsidized education till matriculation. There are neither racial nor color distinctions.
- Only one university was established for Blacks in South Africa, at Fort Hare.
In addition to several Arab universities which Israel established in the predominantly Arab areas, Arab students may and do study at any university in Israel.
- Black-white sex was a serious jail time crime. Sex detectives were even employed to catch offending parties in flagrante delicto.
Legal sex apartheid in democratic Israel? You have to be joking.
- Medical services for non-Europeans were both restricted and segregated.
Arab citizens are members of all the major Medical Service Organizations and also benefit, equally, from government subsidized medical services.
- Hospitals were largely segregated or had segregated wards. White hospitals were on a par with any in the western world. Black hospitals were under-funded, under-staffed, and few. Ambulances were also segregated. A 'white' ambulance could not take a black person to hospital.
Not the Israeli way. Israeli Arabs get full citizen benefits and treatment in all Magen David Ambulances and State hospitals.
- Non-Europeans "could not be employed in any of the skilled trades; they cannot become engineers, accountants or pharmacists. . .. The Civil Service is closed to non-Europeans, as are also the technical colleges and most of the universities. They may not use the libraries, cinemas, public transport, public conveniences, post offices . . .." [From Prof. Deborah Posel's The Making of Apartheid.]
Arabs can do everything in Israel which non-Europeans in South Africa could not.
- For many decades blacks had to observe a 9 p.m. curfew or face arrest, jail sentences and deportation.
Absolutely unheard of in democratic Israel.
- No mixed sport was allowed – by law.
No such law ever in democratic Israel.
- Parks and recreational areas provided benches for people to rest. Benches were painted with "Europeans Only" signs. I never saw a bench marked for non-Europeans nor a park.
An unimaginable insult in democratic Israel.
- Non-Europeans were not permitted to use the main entrance to buildings. They had to use the "tradesmen's" entrance at back.
An unheard of apartheid stricture in democratic Israel.
- Black South Africans received about half the State pension allocated to whites. They were forbidden membership in trade unions (until the 1980s). Strikes were banned and strikers severely repressed.
No such discrimination in democratic Israel. Not only are pensions allocated equally to all citizens but Arabs benefit fully from monthly child allowances to parents of large families. Because of polygamy Arabs have the largest families.
- Libraries, public swimming pools and beaches were racially segregated. Even so there were practically no pools or libraries for blacks.
No such segregation ever in democratic Israel.
Arab Judenrein Ideology
The way the Arabs use "Israeli apartheid" one might think they were protesting because Israel does not permit Arabs in their midst. Of course the very contrary is true. Some 20 percent of our citizens are Arab — it is the Arabs who do not suffer [permit] Jews in their midst. Many a Jew who has strayed into an Arab city, or taken a chance on doing business there, has been cruelly murdered. To ensure, no doubt, that Israelis do not misinterpret the mission of the Arab's pure Judenrein nazi ideology.
The "Apartheid” Wall — A No Brainer
Last but by no means least, we must not overlook the use of "apartheid wall/fence" — the most often repeated and deliberate misuse of the apartheid calumny. South African apartheid never needed security walls, fences or barriers. For the simple reason that the whites never faced anything like Palestinian/Jihadi/suicide terrorism! Did you know that?
The Arabs deceitfully imply that the wall covers the full length of Israel's anti-terrorist barrier. The unpalatable fact is that it does not. The barrier is less than 5 per cent wall. Wall is mainly erected to prevent terrorist sharp shooters killing Israelis living opposite built–up Arab areas.
It takes real chutzpah to attach the South African apartheid label to the democratic Jewish State of Israel. For the boot is truly on the other foot. Unlike the Judenrein Arab countries of the Middle East, the Jewish State neither believes in nor does it practice major nor minor racial apartheid.
Inclined to be practical, Israelis will not however, hold their collective breath for an apology or admission of shame from our enemies.
[ Published: March 10, 2007 / Original: January 22, 2006]
In Depth Analysis
Where is Palestine?
Where, exactly, might another Palestinian state arise? "Another," because Jordan, constituting two-thirds of Mandatory Palestine, with a "Palestinian" majority population, already is a de facto Palestinian state. And although several international documents clearly state the boundaries of Israel, Netanyahu seems more than happy to change them and give land to Israel's sworn enemies.
Israeli Attack on Iran Won't Follow the American Script
Since Israel's exact capabilities are known only to a handful of senior government officials, it's impossible to predict exactly what an Israeli strike against Iran would look like. But based on past experience, one can confidently predict that it won't resemble the US blueprint. Israel is quite capable of dealing with situations with its limited resources and without provoking massive retaliation.
Is the Peace Treaty Between Israel and Egypt Finished?
The deterioration in relations between Israel and Egypt should serve as a reminder to all that the new generation in the Arab world is not marching toward moderation, particularly when it comes to making peace with Israel or even recognizing its right to exist.
Emet Blog
Benzion Netanyahu and the All Important UN Clause to Save the Jewish State
Benzion Netanyahu, (father of the current Israeli prime minister) who recently died in Jerusalem at the age of 102, along with Irgun activist Peter Bergson (nephew of Mandatory Palestine Chief Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook), and liberal US Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, drafted an article for inclusion in the United Nations Charter that could yet save the Jewish state. Benzion helped to write the fundamental principle of Zionism — the right of Jewish settlement throughout the Land of Israel — into the United Nations Charter.
Bin Laden Lessons for Israel
The US assassinated bin Laden, tried to kill Hitler, and also hunted and eliminated Saddam Hussein, yet nobody said a word. For every targeted elimination carried out by Israel, it was hit with numerous condemnations and protests, yet the daily US surgical strikes in Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, and Iraq are met with silence. Every time Israel unintentionally harm civilians, the world raises a hue and cry, yet if it happens in Libya, Iraq, Serbia, or Kosovo nobody protests.
Murder at Tomb Illustrates the Future of Jewish Holy Sites in a Palestinian State
On April 24, 2011 Jewish worshipers at Joseph's Tomb were attacked by members of the US-trained PA/PLO police. One person was murdered and several others wounded. Rather than keep the peace and root out the terrorists who are a threat to the safety of both Jews and Arabs, the PA/PLO police have yet again proven themselves to be a group that is willing to commit acts of terrorism themselves. And this is not the first time they have done this at Joseph's Tomb.
Views/Commentary
Those Contradictory Militants
The mainstream media, politicians, and others, prefer to use the term "militant" instead of "terrorist," especially in the case of the Israeli-Arab conflict. Doing so fulfills many different agendas, in addition to furthering the user's cause. Whatever the case may be, the usage generally distorts the story and causes confusion for the reader, which many times is its exact intention. As with much post-1970s journalism, the longer news media use such language, the less they sound like journalists and the more they are heard as political partisans.
Who Will Teach Tolerance to the Muslims?
There was a time when police officers told battered wives that they had to be more understanding of their husbands. Today they tell Americans to be more understanding of Muslims. They do work hard you know. And if they try to car bomb you sometimes, maybe it's because you don't please them anymore.
But There is a G‑d in Israel
The Jewish exiles shall be ingathered only through faith. If they have it, if they truly believe in the existence of the Creator and Guider of history, the G‑d of Israel, they can bring the final redemption today. Far from fearing what the Gentile will do if they do such a thing, let the Jew tremble as he considers the anger of the Almighty if he does not.
Selected Reading
Reconciliation (Unity) Agreement Between Fatah and Hamas
Under the auspices of Egypt, delegations from the Fatah and Hamas terrorist groups met in Cairo on April 27, 2011 to discuss the issues concerning ending the political division and the achievement of national unity. Both political parties mutually agreed that the basis of understanding made during the meeting are committing to both parties in the implementation of the Palestinian National Reconciliation Agreement. This is the basis of understanding agreed upon by Fatah and Hamas.
The Arab Pulse: What Policymakers Can Learn From "Palestinian" Social Media 
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) has released the first-ever study mining the Arabic-language "Palestinian" social media environment to determine Arab public sentiment and its potential impact on US foreign policy. At FDD's direction, the Washington, D.C.-based Web analysis company Constrat viewed approximately 10,000 Arab social media entries between May 3 and August 3, 2010, of which it analyzed approximately 20 percent for relevancy. In the end, the company analyzed 1,788 statements contained within 1,114 unique posts across 996 threads written by 699 authors.
Why Is Israel's Presence in the Territories Still Called "Occupation"?
When an armed force holds territory beyond its own national borders, the term "occupation" is usually used to describe its holding on the land. However, not all the factual situations that we commonly think of as "occupation" fall within the limited scope of the term "occupation" as defined in international law.
Commentaries, Documents, Booklets, and Miscellaneous Materials Relating to the Gaza Strip
These commentaries, documentation, and booklets provide much otherwise unknown information regarding the truth ("emet") about what is really happening in the Arab-occupied/Hamas-controlled Gaza area. Included are weekly and monthly summaries of humanitarian assistance, as well as the infamous Goldstone Report, Israel-related United Nations Resolutions, and miscellaneous materials providing information and analysis of the situation in Gaza.
The History and Meaning of "Palestine" and "Palestinians"
Palestine has never existed . . . as an autonomous entity. There is no language known as Palestinian. There is no distinct Palestinian culture. There has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians. Palestinians are Arabs. PDF Format