Let's talk about Israeli "apartheid." This lie bothers me because back in the 1980s, when I was in college (yes, I am very, very old), I would march against real apartheid. I once took a bus from Detroit to NYC for a big anti-apartheid rally. I was proud to part of the movement.
In South Africa, apartheid was systematic discrimination against blacks in all areas of society, from education to government to services to where they could live. Black people were truly oppressed under this system.
In Israel, people of all religions, races, colors, and beliefs are an integral part of society, with access to education, the voting booth, party affiliation, and complete freedom of expression and thought.
Separately, Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank live under their own jurisdiction and pick their own rulers ... when they bother to have elections. No, Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank do not vote in Israeli elections just as Canadians do not vote in US elections.
Anecdotally, anybody can point to areas where Israeli democracy is not perfect, just as US democracy is far from perfect. For example, there is systemic discrimination against black people in the United States, but nobody calls it "apartheid." It is not baked into our laws.
In the same way, Israel has to balance its security needs with the freedoms of a participatory democracy. There is a push and pull and Israelis are constantly debating it, as they should. The fact that there is a debate at all indicates there is no "apartheid."
Israeli Arabs have their own political parties and are poised to become part of its ruling coalition. Arabs participate in Israel's robust science and technology sector, in academia, in commerce, and in every walk of life. There are no apartheid laws preventing their success.
To call Israeli society and government "apartheid" is a lie that is easily debunked by simply visiting or even studying its laws. It is a slur invented by those who are interested only in isolating Israel for reasons that have nothing to do with its actual form of government.
The "apartheid" accusation against Israel is an insult to those who suffered and died during actual apartheid in South Africa and to those, like me, who were out in the streets protesting against it.
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