Remember when Jimmy Carter accused Israel of apartheid-like policies? The usual suspects - hello AIPAC! - and the Israeli government excoriated him. Not even remotely true, let alone comparable to what went on in South Africa, they exclaimed. What was not explained was how come some 20% of the Arab population in Israel is discriminated against or why there are, for instance, motorways exclusively for Israelis.
So, what would Israelis say when one of their best and most articulate journalists and commentators accuses Israel of apartheid-like policies?
"Some people think it's enough if we make the lives of the Palestinians in the territories miserable to get them to leave, and many have in fact left. An Israeli success: According to the Civil Administration, about a quarter of a million Palestinians voluntarily left the West Bank in the bloody years 2000-2007. But that's not enough, so various and sundry administrative means were added to make the dream come true.
Anyone who says "it's not apartheid" is invited to reply: Why is an Israeli allowed to leave his country for the rest of his life, and nobody suggests that his citizenship be revoked, while a Palestinian, a native son, is not allowed to do so? Why is an Israeli allowed to marry a foreigner and receive a residency permit for her, while a Palestinian is not allowed to marry his former neighbor who lives in Jordan? Isn't that apartheid? Over the years I have documented endless pitiful tragedies of families that were torn apart, whose sons and daughters were not permitted to live in the West Bank or Gaza due to draconian rules - for Palestinians only."
The entire piece in Haaretz by Gideon Levy "Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, or, democratic Israel at work" is well worth reading - here.
So, what would Israelis say when one of their best and most articulate journalists and commentators accuses Israel of apartheid-like policies?
"Some people think it's enough if we make the lives of the Palestinians in the territories miserable to get them to leave, and many have in fact left. An Israeli success: According to the Civil Administration, about a quarter of a million Palestinians voluntarily left the West Bank in the bloody years 2000-2007. But that's not enough, so various and sundry administrative means were added to make the dream come true.
Anyone who says "it's not apartheid" is invited to reply: Why is an Israeli allowed to leave his country for the rest of his life, and nobody suggests that his citizenship be revoked, while a Palestinian, a native son, is not allowed to do so? Why is an Israeli allowed to marry a foreigner and receive a residency permit for her, while a Palestinian is not allowed to marry his former neighbor who lives in Jordan? Isn't that apartheid? Over the years I have documented endless pitiful tragedies of families that were torn apart, whose sons and daughters were not permitted to live in the West Bank or Gaza due to draconian rules - for Palestinians only."
The entire piece in Haaretz by Gideon Levy "Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, or, democratic Israel at work" is well worth reading - here.
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