Michele Engelberg
They quote from the testimony given by a staff sergeant of the IDF. In it he tells of being told to direct Arabs on one path and Jews onto another so “there won’t be any friction” between the two groups while walking in Hebron.
JVJP finds this offensive, discriminatory. But perhaps it is true. Perhaps in an area heated with conflict, perhaps different groups walking on different paths would lessen the friction and possibly save lives by reducing unnecessary conflict.
They also equate this to apartheid. They talk about “racism” found among the Jews. And they might be right. The conflict has gone on for so long that there could be racism among individuals. But remember that apartheid was not just racism. Apartheid was a system of laws enforced by the government that controlled South Africa’s black population.
A black person was legally not allowed to live in certain areas, to vote, to travel freely, inter-racial marriage was forbidden, etc. According to Wikipedia: “Non-white political representation was abolished in 1970 and starting in that year black people were deprived citizenship… the government segregated education, medical care, beaches and other public services, providing black people with services that were inferior to those of white people.”
This is not the case in Israel. Arabs and Jews can all vote, can all be educated, can all receive medical care in the same hospital room by the same doctors. This is not apartheid!
Finally, in true pessimist style, JVJP choose to vilify the commander who told the staff sergeant that the paths of the two groups should be different. JVJP say this reminds them of the “old South Africa”.
What about the staff sergeant? What about this IDF soldier who disagreed with the commander (as JVJP do)? He thought it would be easier for the elderly Arabs to walk on the other path and he “exercised his own judgement” and let them.
Why doesn’t’ JVJP exalt him as an example to follow? Why? Because their minds are already made up and Israel/the IDF/“right-wing Jewish Israelis” are always wrong. No matter what.
Johannesburg
nat cheiman
Aug 2, 2016 at 1:55 pm
‘The aggression between palestinians and Jews is the reason for separate paths. Is this simple truth not understood by JVJP?
Inasmuch as many muslim countries are Islamic and EXCLUDE other religions, why can Israel not be exclusively for JEWS? Racism or no racism, the argument about apartheid holds no water because in SA there was a system already in the law books, about discrimination. Not so in Israel.
Where palestinians wear vests ( bomb vests) and stab and kill, it is better to separate JEW & palestinian from each other.
JVJP may consider relocating to Europe, where much is presently being done to placate refugees at the expense of their citizens.
One last word. Sycophantic behaviour is often manifested/ exhibited as a result of a persons determination to safeguard themselves from some sort of persecution. ( JEWS are always persecuted except in Israel)
If JVJP are notcomfortable with being Jewish, convert to Islam or do whatever is expedient.’
BDS WORKS
Aug 2, 2016 at 2:33 pm
‘South African Nobelist JM Coetzee on Israel and apartheid:
‘Apartheid was a system of enforced segregation based on race or ethnicity, put in place by an exclusive, self defined group in order to consolidate colonial conquest particular to cement its hold on the land and natural resources. In Jerusalem and in the West Bank—to speak only of Jerusalem and the West Bank—we’ve seen a system of enforced segregation based on religion and ethnicity, put in place by an exclusive self-defined group to consolidate the colonial conquest, in particular to maintain and indeed extend its hold on the land and its natural resources. Draw your own conclusions.’ ‘