Opinion
'Apartheid' is not just a word
Yossi Shain
Published: 25.02.14, 09:57
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1. Why is Israel counted as an Apartheid state?
Sasha   (02.25.14)
The answer to this question is never mentioned by Yossi. He avoids the occupation alltogether, instead pretending the label of Apartheid is coming out of thin air. He didn't even use the word "occupation" once in his hysterial screed. So now you understand why you are losing the PR battle? You refuse to face reality.
2. Goldstone´s remark stems from lack of knowledge
Yeoshua F. ,   N.Y   (02.25.14)
I respect Richard Goldstone ,he knows South Africa, but he simply isn´t familiar enough with the Palestinian issue. The truth of the matter is : There IS Apartheid in Israel according to the criteria set by the 1998 Rome statute - which Israel signed but didn´t ratify - by the way. Let´s take a look at his comment and substitute ¨black¨ for ¨Palestinian¨ : - Palestinians have no right to vote for their own state, use Jewish beaches, live in Jewish-only areas or even be there without a ¨pass¨. - Palestinians have been critically injured. needed medical assistance, dragged from military vehicles and left to die on the road. - Mothers giving birth in checkpoints. who needed to be evacuated to hospitals have lost their babies. I can go on for hours giving examples of barbaric acts, all of which can be backed by official reports and archived newspaper articles. Goldstone´s defense of Israel in this case stems from innocent ignorance of the Palestinian issue and from his own ¨denial reflex¨, not wanting to believe his own Jewish people are capable of such atrocities.
3. important to teach in schools
steve ,   NYC   (02.25.14)
Important to teach
4. If not "Apartheid" then what?
J ,   Tel Aviv   (02.25.14)
The truth is, any other term to describe the policies of occupation would still mean there's something inherently wrong with it. I'm so annoyed that we're so focused what is the correct terminology to use versus what is the right thing to do!
5. How many Jews live in 'palestine" None
BUILD BABY BUILD!!!! ,   United States   (02.25.14)
how many pals live in Israel? End of story. The only 'apartheid' comes from the pals who assassinate Jews for a living and as their means of 'communication' which is just more lying cheap publicity. NO state for the pals, REMOVAL FOR ALL pals !!!! KEEP BUILDING !!!
6. Apartheid is not just a word.
tiki ,   belgium   (02.25.14)
No it's the narrative of the Jew haters to set Israel the Jewish state, apart from the rest of the world, like the Jews were set apart throughout the centuries. To hear from Mr. Goldstone of all people that "the Palestinians need an independent state" is the same misguided conclusion as "Israel is an apartheid state" for they are both based on lies!
7. apartheid yes there is
Leon ,   Rijssen Netherlands   (02.25.14)
There is instituionalised racism, racist regulation and racist policy so yes you have apartheid in your country. And the world should fight it with all it's might. That means tanks and airplanes towards the westbank and kicking all the settlers out who don't want to file for palestinian citicenship.
8. This Article Is A Sad Joke
World Citizen ,   the world   (02.25.14)
You can spread this propaganda around to the intellectually challenged and some of the usual hasbarem that post to this site but anyone who looks at the situation of the indigenous population of the West Bank and East Jerusalem know it's a bald-faced lie. Your illegal occupation of Palestine and rule of the Palestinians living there is the very definition of apartheid. By making claims otherwise makes Israelis look insanely delusional. Maybe your country has reached this terminal state. I hope not but if so your country is doomed.
9. Not Apartheid but potentially getting there
PEM ,   Israel   (02.25.14)
I lived in South Africa during tge Apartheid era, and was witness to countless incidents resulting from this cruel system. Let us clarify this issue once and for all: The use of the word Apartheid today is to exploit the emotiveness of the word in an attempt deligitmize Israel's policies. The biggest difference between Apartheid in SA and what goes on in Israel, is that in SA, they passed laws of RACIAL SEPARATION which were a part of the CONSTITUTION. This is definitely not the case in Israel. In truth although there may be prejudice and even some discrimination in Israel towards Arabs ( or, if you like, Palestinians), it comes nowhere near what Apartheid was. The discrimination is not legally enforced by the goverment. The opposite is true: the government makes an effort to integrate minority representation in government jobs etc. We are witness to Palestinian Israeli sportsmen, singers, scientists doctors and models representing Israel and holding high positions in their professions. This would never happen in SA. All this is true today within the "green line" of "Israel proper". Beyond the green line, in the West Bank, things are different, although even there, it is still not Apartheid, and the restrictions by and large are imposed in order to prevent terrorist mass murder by the Palestinians, who exploit Israe's goodwill and their own civilian population to infiltrate Israel in order to commit their dastardly deeds. However, the POTENTIAL for Israel becoming an Apartheid state exists and we need to be very careful we do not go down that disastrous road. I shall briefly ealborate: If Israel annexes the West Bank, which the right wing wants us to do, we will be faced with a demographic dilemma - do we give the Palestinans living there the right to vote? If we do give them the vote, Israel will be in jeopardy of losing the Jewish majority. If we decide to not allow them to vote, we will be on the way to becoming an Apartheid state, because a law will have to be passed. Enforced transfer of Palestinians is out of the question and unconscionable. Add to that restrictions of movement at checkpoints and on travelling on certain roads - and in areas where there are Jewish settlements, and the situation would become very similar. There you have it. So, we have to be very careful. We would no longer be able to deny this accusation. Therefore, it is imperative NOT to annex the West Bank and to genuinely attempt to come to some kind of settlement with the Palestinians.
10. Another arab attempt to demonize Israel and Jews.
Alex ,   New York, US   (02.25.14)
11. so basically what you are saying is..
ahmed ,   london   (02.25.14)
"For a peace agreement we need the Palestinian side of course. But it's time for a national disengagement, even if the Palestinians don't cooperate and we are forced to withdraw to security borders unilaterally."...i.e. carry on the occupation, but in a different way? What is a "security" border? And in return, the Palestinians should give up on peaceful resistance to Israeli occupation? You don't like violent resistance (which is justified) and you really, really don't like peaceful resistance (which is right even if not justified). So if there are Jewish academics in Israel who call it an Apartheid state, then they are malicious and anti-Semitic because an Australian Christian said so? The intolerable situation is that Israel is allowed to violently and aggressively challenge the Palestinians through occupation, occassional killing, bombing, building settlements, getting the US to veto it declaring statehood, unilateral decisions deciding resource allocation, blackading Gaza etc. But not a peep is allowed from Palestinians? We can only thank the Spaghetti Monster that Hezbollah did not fall into the trap of the "international community" to "renounce violence" (something which, btw, Israel is not obliged to do) and sit down for "peace talks" which never end and only serve to chip away legitimacy of those opposing Israel and the USA.
12. Nothing worse than "peace deal with Palestinians".
Chaim ,   Israel   (02.25.14)
Absolutely nothing would be worse than a "peace deal with Palestinians". Judea and Samaria belong to Israel and make Israel viable. This is obvious to any literate child capable of reading a map. It is sad to watch leftist Jews, like the author, defend Israel. Their defense is always so apologetic and grovelling. There is no strength in their spirit because they accept much of the false evil "Palestinian" narrative. Predictably their pathetic pleas are rejected by Jew haters, as you can see in the talkbacks above.
13. "Apartheid"
graczek ,   Maryland, USA   (02.25.14)
Apartheid is only the latest in a long series of Zionist crimes, the most heinous of which was the foundation of the illegal state called "Israel" in the first place. The struggle against Zionism will continue until that state is no more and its denizens are expelled, as they were by Divine action in 135 AD.
14. Apartheid confusion
Jack ,   Fort Collins, CO, US   (02.25.14)
A big part of the confusion about Israeli apartheid comes from confusing what goes on in the three different areas under Israeli control. First, in Israel proper, Palestinians theoretically have rights. Without going into the minute details of day to day life, suffice it to say that what actually goes on there is American style Jim Crow, definitely not apartheid. In the occupied West Bank, however, there is real apartheid. Pass laws, no political rights,military incursions, midnight raids, killings, checkpoints where Palestinians are regularly humiliated and harrassed by teenage IDF agents, travel limits, segregated towns, roads, and facilities, etc. This is real apartheid. Finally, in Gaza, there is a large open air prison with every aspect of life from fuel, to commerce, to food and medicine controlled by the IDF guards around the perimeter of the prison. Yes, I have been there and seen all but Gaza, so my comments are based on actual observation.
15. No two social, cultural, political....
Michael ,   Haifa   (02.25.14)
....phenomena are identical. Much of what Israel does in the Occupied Territories is very similar in form, to what was practised in Apartheid South Africa.
16. "Apartheid"
graczek ,   Maryland, USA   (02.25.14)
Apartheid is only the latest in a long series of Zionist crimes, the most heinous of which was the foundation of the illegal state called "Israel" in the first place. The struggle against Zionism will continue until that state is no more and its denizens are expelled, as they were by Divine action in 135 AD.
17. Apartheid is "Oldspeak", Hasbara is "Newspeak", a tool to
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (02.25.14)
...limit freedom of thought.
18. #2 just recycling old LIES
Israeli Grandma   (02.25.14)
Yehoshua, as many of our readers are well aware, your post is just a selection of the propaganda lies circulated in recent years by the enemies of Israel. Of course you "could go on" facts and history are irrelevant to your agenda! I live here and meet Arabs, both Israeli citizens and Arabs from the PA territories almost daily, during hospital visits, in the Jerusalem supermarkets and shopping malls, and I could go on and on too, but cant be bothered to prove what is visible to anyone living in this area.
19. Israel:Only state in MD where Arabs aren't allowed to Harras
Jews.Apartheid ?!   (02.25.14)
20. #4. Claiming Judea/Samaria is right thing to do.
Chaim ,   Israel   (02.25.14)
The "Palestinian" narrative has no legal, moral or historic validity whatsoever. It is simply a ludicrous hoax concocted in response to Israel's glorious liberation of Judea and Samaria in 1967. The right thing to do is to claim our land forever.
21. Ridiculous Israel-Bashers
Jason, Ph.D. ,   Charlotte, USA   (02.25.14)
Most who have actually studied the Arab-Israeli conflict in detail know that the attempt to label Israel as racist is nothing more than insane anti-Israel drivel, and is morally and intellectually bankrupt. I am glad to see people of reason now fighting back on the campuses. I am also pleased to see that pro-Israel sentiment in the U.S. is at an all-time high. Of course, there are racists in every country, including Israel. However, by comparison to its totalitarian neighbors, Israel is a saint. Notice how these Anti-Semites never mention why they have singled out only Israel. So it is ok with them that Saudi Arabia does not allow Jews to live there? Also, these people blame Israel entirely for the 'occupation', ignoring the fact that everyone knows if Israel vacates West Bank territory, this territory will be used to bomb Israel. Remember Gaza?. People like World Citizen are nothing more than hardened propagandists who have wet dreams about Israel being destroyed. They do not respond to facts and rational arguments. But they will go to their graves frustrated over this issue, because we shall overcome by truth, reason, and true morality. Ironically, people pick on Israel because it has been 'too nice'. How many people are boycotting China because of its brutal occupation of Tibet? Few, because China is not afraid to flex its muscles. Israel has muscles too, and it can always use them if its back is against the wall
22. #2 why do you love North Korea?, hatred.. les, hatred, lies
Daniel ,   Netherlands   (02.25.14)
You claim there is no medical care for Palestinians. The granddaughter of Hamas leader was treated in Israeli hospitals, with his own request. AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HAMAS TERRORIST!
23. To 2
linda ,   Paris, France   (02.26.14)
Tsraeli Arabs have the same rights than all Israelis, dont confond with Palestinians from Territories, security mesures. Ehe israeli citizenship was offered to Arabs from East Jerusalem, they didn't accept it..
24. To 14
linda ,   Paris, France   (02.26.14)
If there were not terrorist attacks, learning of Israel and Hewish hate in palestinian schools and medias, denial of Israel's rignt to exist, there were not need of checkpoints etc.
25. to #1 Israelies don't see an occupation since
lili   (02.26.14)
the arabs use to be part of the Israeli state before the first intifada, the arabs never adressed the Israeli parliament but directly began with no warning with viollance riots. the first to deal with the rioters were not the millitery in the first intifada, but the civic police, there was never occupation, Israel still have the arabic population, and do not see them as subjects. And most of them do not want to be part of other place.
26. Israel's apologist
America_Firster ,   NYC, USA   (02.26.14)
It is funny to see how Israel's apologists always label Israel's criticism as anti-semitism. They say People don't criticise China or Saudi Arabia. Well, there is a big difference.. Tibetans are now Chinese citizens....but you want Palestine without the Palestinians. China has not killed more than 6000 children as you have. As far as Saudi A concerned...they are not occupying anyone. They have not violated hundreds of UN resolutions. The point is...Israel is a criminal country. Israeli politicians know it...that's why they don't travel abroad except to certain countries where there lobbies control the government.
27. Indignous offenses.
Luiz F Haddad ,   Niteroi, Brazil   (02.27.14)
The refered offenses against Israel, on considering her a racist State, must be firmly denied. In South Africa, during "Apartheid", the situation was too different; white minority oppressing black majority. The Jewish State is a Democracy, but she needs a written Constitution that assures full rights for all dwellers who want to be citizens, and prove their loyalty.
28. South African under Apartheid
Rinah   (02.27.14)
I had no black South African friends and my heart still aches today. We were kept apart. I loved our domestic workers and treated them with kindness, but we couldn't even share a meal together. That's apartheid! The world obviously doesn't understand the meaning; that's why they accuse Israel! It will do them good to unlearn this bad habit.
29. Yeoshua # 2 -All lies
ChanahS ,   Israel   (02.27.14)
Perhaps you should volunteer at the pediatric oncology department at Tel Hashomer hospital to help care for the Arab children from Gaza being treated there (almost a third of the number of patients). O visit any one of Israels universities (including Ariel in the Shomron) to see how many Arab students there are. Perhaps you should just leave your home once in a while and look around you and GET A LIFE!
30. #26 america
solomon ,   bklyn   (03.01.14)
Arabs are citizens of Israel and want to remain part of Israel more than Tibetans want to remain part of China. Israel has not "killed more than 6000 children". The only occupation was in 1948, when Jordan took over the eastern half of the area. History did not begin in 1949. Israel withdrew from Gaza and was rewarded with rockets and mortars. Facts please, not your blindness which shows as anti-semitism no matter your denial.
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