First I’d like to publish a popular definition of the South African term ‘apartheid’.
“Apartheid was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party Government in South Africa between 1948 and 1994, under which the rights of the majority 'non-white' inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and minority rule by white people was maintained.”
“Racial segregation in South Africa began in colonial times, but apartheid as an official policy was introduced following the general election of 1948. New legislation classified inhabitants into racial groups ("black", "white", "coloured", and "Indian"), and residential areas were segregated, sometimes by means of forced removals. From 1958, black people were deprived of their citizenship, legally becoming citizens of one of ten tribally based self-governing homelands called ‘bantustans’, four of which became nominally independent states. The government segregated education, medical care, and other public services, and provided black people with services inferior to those of white people”
Well, this most definitely bears no resemblance to anything I’ve ever witnessed in Israel.
- I’ve no picture of the big smiley Arab lady who took up almost two seats on the bus from Karmiel to Acco when we travelled there last October.
- I can’t show you the smart Arab diners from local villages who frequent the local bars and restaurants in Karmiel.
- Nor do I have jolly snaps of Arab fellow customers at the local branches of the Supersol and Yaish supermarkets.
- Nor yet can I prove the truth of the kindly conversation I had with the woman in strict Moslem dress in the corridor of the trauma unit at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital.
- I am unable even to show you the group of Arab women enjoying yesterday’s sunshine in Karmiel’s Galilee Park.
- Nor even shots of our Arab neighbours going about their daily business in the apartments near mine.
But I can show you the following which I invite all the Israel haters to read, mark and digest:
All good wishes for Shabbat Shalom v’Purim Sameach to Jewish readers and a happy weekend to everyone else! There is no apartheid on this blog from Israel!
msniw
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