Here is another blog entry from a few years back (just shy of seven years ago) that I never quite got around to posting, for some reason or other. Not sure why it never got posted, although I think that I meant to write more extensively on the subject and, if memory serves correctly, it was going to be one of a series of related blog entries exploring the topic. It just never quite came to materialize.
This one deals with more controversial matters than some others, as it examines whether or not Israel is inching closer to qualifying as an apartheid state. To my understanding, there is considerable debate and criticism regarding the treatment of the Palestinians within Israel itself. But somehow here, in the United States, where almost every political discussion on virtually any topic tends to be quite dumbed down, any criticisms of Israel, particularly it's treatment of Palestinians, automatically qualifies the person doing the criticizing of charges of anti-Semitism. Former President Jimmy Carter came under serious fire, even garnering significant protests during his book tour when he dared to criticize the treatment of Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territory. I believe that this was the only time that Carter was ever labeled an anti-Semite, and anyone who knows or is familiar with Carter, what he writes and says, and how he generally conducts himself, will likely feel that such allegations are, frankly, ridiculous. Even Bernie Sanders came under fire and was alleged to be anti-Semitic, even though he himself is Jewish.
Still, I do not believe that this world ever improves by people remaining timid because of fear of receiving criticism. So, I am posting this blog entry now, some years after it was originally supposed to be (or should have been) published. It is about FW DeKlerk, the former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, suggesting that Israel was coming closer and closer to qualifying as an apartheid state. Here is the original blog entry, unaltered:
The comparisons to the situation that appears to be developing more and more in Israel presently with that which existed in South Africa during the days of apartheid seem to be growing with time.
John Kerry, the present Secretary of State under President Obama, warned that Israel might be headed in that direction, and he received a ton of criticism for it - particularly from those who defend Israel's actions at all costs. But he was not the only one who warned of such a possibility.
Remember when former President Jimmy Carter was in the midst of enormous controversy because of the title of his book, "Palestine, Peace Not Apartheid"? He did suggest that a de facto (and perhaps, even official) apartheid was a distinct possibility, but rested his hopes on a more promising potential future of a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, and official statehood recognition for Palestine, with a mutual tolerance, of not acceptance, between Israel and Palestine (as well as neighboring states), recognizing the right of each to exist. Still, despite this, and despite President Carter's proven track record of working with both Israel and Egypt to help broker a peace agreement between the two nations, many people began to criticize Carter mercilessly, and some even suggested that he had a "Jewish problem."
In fact, such criticisms have been leveled at pretty much anyone who even hinted at such comparisons, or even was remotely critical of Israel and it's policies and actions. Anyone who has followed this blog regularly would have come across the stories of Roger Waters receiving criticism up to and including insinuations that he was a rabid anti-Semite!
Obviously, not everyone feels that such comparisons are warranted.
Still, it appears that comparisons can be made, or so many people would not be making them so often. President Carter pointed out that there were situations specifically in the occupied territories in the West Bank where a de facto apartheid did exist. Not only were Jewish settlers kept strictly segregated from the Arabic Palestinians in terms of their homes, but they even enjoyed their own roads, which Palestinians were not allowed to traverse. Segregated buses even exist. Those are things that existed, and were widely condemned around the world, in South Africa, during the darkest, most divisive days of apartheid.
And the truth of the matter is that someone who knew the situation in South Africa would know best, right? Perhaps some may criticize President Jimmy Carter and Secretary of State John Kerry for mentioning apartheid, in relation to Israel and/or the occupied territories, but what about those who lived through apartheid in South Africa, and who were among the most vocal leaders and activists to end it there? That was the case with Nelson Mandela, and it is the case with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Now, former President FW DeKlerk, the last white president of South Africa, who helped to bring about the end of apartheid there, is adding his voice, and warning Israel that it is moving towards apartheid, if it does not come to a solution, specifically, a two-state solution, soon. And time is running out, he feels.
Here are some of the quotes from FW DeKlerk, taken from Tia Goldenberg's article, "South Africa's de Klerk: Israel must reach peace" (May 28, 2014), regarding the situation in Israel, and where it might be heading:
"The test will be (does) everybody living then in such a unitary state, will everybody have full political rights?" de Klerk said. "Will everybody enjoy their full human rights? If they will, it's not an apartheid state."
He added: "There will come in Israel a turning point where if the main obstacles at the moment which exist to a successful two-state solution are not removed, the two-state solution will become impossible."
Does that mean that DeKlerk feels that Israel is an apartheid state? No, not at all. In fact, he is quick to point out that it would be "unfair" to suggest that apartheid exists in Israel today. However, he warns, that is indeed a distinct possibility. And if Israel is to avoid that fate, it needs to act now:
"The two-state solution might be the best one," de Klerk said. "You'll have to move fast. See the window of opportunity. Jump through it. It might close."
Interesting stuff, as the last white president of apartheid South Africa identifies Israel as inching ever closer to an apartheid-style state.
All of the quotes that I used in this blog entry were taken from this article (see link below):
South Africa's de Klerk: Israel must reach peace by Tia Goldenberg, May 28, 2014:
http://news.yahoo.com/south-africas-klerk-israel-must-reach-peace-134724414.html
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