The term “Apartheid” is an Afrikaans word meaning “apartness” and specifically applies to the system of racial segregation in place in South Africa between 1948 and 1994. This was a clear, institutional, and legal separation between white, black and mix-raced peoples. There were different benches, beaches, stores, bathrooms, water fountains, schools, etc. It was also an effort by a minority white population to control a majority black population.
In contrast, the attempt to smear Israel as an Apartheid state is clearly a lie. The population of Israel is approximately 9 million, with about 2 million of its citizens being Arab-Israelis. They are not Jewish, and have all the same rights as their Jewish counterparts. They have full civil rights, can run in and vote in elections, receive social assistance, and serve in the army if they choose. There is no institutional racism, no institutional segregation, and nothing that keeps Arabs from participating in Israeli civil society.
There are Arab parties in the Knesset, Arab judges, including those on the Supreme Court, and Arabs who hold positions in high esteem throughout Israel. When asked in polls where they would prefer to live, Arab Israelis always make it clear that they would prefer to live in Israel as their lives in Israel are markedly better than they would be in any other neighbouring Arab state. In fact, a poll conducted in 2021 by the “Palestine News Network” found that 93% of the Palestinians in East Jerusalem prefer to live under an Israeli government rather than a Palestinian one.
This doesn’t mean that life is perfect for Israel’s Arabs, but it is not Apartheid.
The current situation in the West Bank is complex, as it is the outcome of wars and subsequent peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinians. Most Palestinian-Arabs in the West Bank live in an area under the control of the Palestinian government, called the Palestinian Authority. Jews do not have anything resembling equal rights under the Palestinian Authority. For example, selling land to Jews is illegal under Palestinian law.
There are a significant number of Jews in the West Bank, and Israel continues to exercise control over the areas where they live (which are largely, but not entirely, near the Israeli border). This is a controversial situation, including among Jews in Israel.
It’s true that Palestinian Arabs cannot go to Israel from the West Bank without permission. Much like with other international borders, Israel controls who comes into the country.
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