The Blogs: A Palestinian Insult to Rosa Parks

Segregation and apartheid are the ever running themes surrounding Israel on college campuses in March. Of course Israel is far from an apartheid, as even the most vehement anti-Israel supporters, like Norman Finkelstein, will advocate. However, with the introduction of their new bus lines for Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, clearly without explanation or adequate press-release, the battle is becoming harder and harder to be fought for us college students.

As I scrolled through the headlines today, I saw the likes of “Segregated Buses in Israel,” and “The Palestinians Need a Rosa Parks.” Which grossly missed the point. Israel isn’t trying to block the Palestinians. Rather, they are trying to help them by easing their methods of transportation. Meaning those new buses will only visit the Palestinian territories and will aid them in passing through the checkpoints to reach their jobs in mainland Israel much much quicker and easier. It’s as if the NYC MTA was getting flack for extending the East side subway line for “segregating” the East from the West sides. Such complaints are just simply illogical.

If only Israel would’ve initiated with the press and explained their planned actions. Then maybe some of the international world would have recognized this good deed. For those who always try to pounce on the anti-Israel bandwagon however, of course they would interpret such actions the way they’d like to see them. They will always see Israel as an aggressor and one who promotes racism. So separate buses to them are just the next logical step to continuing an apartheid. To me though, I’m up in arms over the fact that they’re comparing Judea and Samaria to the pre-1960’s South. That’s utterly uncalled for and an insult to the civil rights movement.

Rosa Parks was a hero. The Palestinians don’t need a Rosa Parks. They need an understanding of the situation they’re currently promoting, and one that they’re in. Then they need to be taught a lesson in gratitude to those who help them. With better explanations of its actions, Israel might be able to do both.