Apartheid Israel: An Uncomfortable Reality
The term "apartheid" has long been associated with the systemic segregation and discrimination that took place in South Africa. However, it is a term that is increasingly being used to describe the situation in Israel, particularly in relation to the treatment of Palestinians. This is a controversial comparison that has sparked heated debates and strong reactions. But is it an accurate one?
In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, Saree Makdisi, a professor of English and comparative literature at UCLA, argues that it is. He points to the numerous ways in which Palestinians are systematically discriminated against and segregated, both within Israel and in the occupied territories. From housing and education to freedom of movement and marriage, Palestinians face a host of restrictions and inequalities that are enshrined in law and enforced by the state.
Makdisi argues that this is not just a matter of individual rights being violated, but of a system that is designed to maintain the domination of one racial group over another. He points to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which defines racial discrimination as any distinction or restriction based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin that impairs the recognition or enjoyment of human rights.
The situation in Israel, Makdisi argues, fits this definition. He points to the fact that Jewish residents of the occupied territories enjoy various rights and privileges denied to their Palestinian neighbors. While the former enjoy the protections of Israeli civil law, the latter are subject to the harsh provisions of military law. Palestinians are subject to arbitrary arrest and detention, and are frequently barred from access to educational or healthcare facilities, religious worship sites, and so on.
Furthermore, Palestinian citizens of Israel must contend with about 50 state laws and bills that either privilege Jews or directly discriminate against the Palestinian minority. One of the key components of Israel’s nationality law, the Law of Return, for example, applies to Jews only, and excludes Palestinians, including Palestinians born in what is now the state of Israel.
Makdisi's argument is that the term "apartheid" does indeed apply to Israel. It is a controversial stance, but one that he argues is backed by facts, data, and international law. The question, he suggests, is not whether the term applies, but why it should cause such an outcry when it is used.
