Israel versus South African apartheid

APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA

Apartheid is an Afrikaner word which means separation. The term came into use in the 1930’s, and from 1948 until 1994 became the official policy of the white South African government. It referred to the system of segregation that was institutionalized to maintain supremacy of the white South Africans over non-the whites. Non-whites were given citizenship in Bantustans, then were systematically deprived of any rights within the state of South Africa. Citizenship and rights in South Africa were primarily reserved for whites.

There were no black doctors, lawyers, or professors in Apartheid South Africa. Blacks were not allowed to visit the malls or sit on the same benches as whites. Separation was based on skin color, and it was without exception. Blacks were kept uneducated and not allowed to live in white civilian areas. There certainly were no black ministers nor members of parliament during Apartheid Rule! Blacks had no civil or social rights. There was no Black vote or representation. Even citizenship was given or denied based on one’s skin color.

Beginning in 1948, South African governments passed laws legalizing segregation and racism based on the color of a person’s skin. Then, in the 1960’s, the International Community began noticing the human rights infringements in South Africa. In 1966, the term “apartheid” was officially declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations General Assembly. The U.N. defined Apartheid as “inhumane acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group over persons of another racial group and systematically oppressing them.” In 1984, the National Security Council adopted a stance against Apartheid as a criminal act. (Click here to access the 1966 and 1984 U.N. resolutions 2202a XXI.)

ISRAEL, ON THE OTHER HAND…

The Arabs of Israel are full citizens. Crucially, they have the right to vote, and Israeli Arab MPs sit in parliament. An Arab judge sits on the country’s highest court; an Arab is chief surgeon at a leading hospital; an Arab commands a brigade of the Israeli army: Israel Defense Force (IDF); and others head university departments. Arab and Jewish babies are born in the same delivery rooms, are attended by the same doctors and nurses, and their mothers recover in adjoining beds. Jews and Arabs travel on the same trains, taxis, and – yes – buses. Universities, theatres, cinemas, beaches, and restaurants are open to all.

Naveed Anjum