I can no longer
defend Israel
At 5 years old, I went with my family on my first trip to
Israel. That trip, and every subsequent trip, has left me with a sense of pride
and love for the State of Israel.
Despite Israel’s social issues (for example the integration
of immigrants, and the influx of illegal migrants) and despite the lack of
progress being made with the ‘peace process’, I have always admired Israel for
its pluralistic, multi cultural society, and it’s socially sensitive policies.
Coming from South Africa, and growing up in Apartheid South
Africa, Israel has represented for me, everything that Apartheid South Africa
was not.
If the State of Israel was West, Apartheid South Africa was
East. There was no link, connection or association between the two. And I loved
that about my visits to Israel.
Despite knowing that they will probably be deported as
illegal immigrants, I have long admired the black Muslim refugees who have
risked their lives, trying to make their way to Israel.
I respect people like Simon Deng, a black Sudanese former
slave, and leading human rights activist, who despite the opposition to his
views, rallies in support of Israel as a free, democratic state, where all
religions are protected, and racial, as well as religious, discrimination is
outlawed.
I have loved the State of Israel as a country where members
of parliament included Muslims, Jews, Christians and Druze. Members of
parliament are light skinned and dark skinned. Members of parliament speak
Arabic, Hebrew, English and Yiddish.
Israel’s Declaration of Independence makes it clear that the
State of Israel:
“will ensure complete equality of social and political
rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will
guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it
will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions.”
The Declaration of Independence goes on, to call on all
inhabitants of the State to help build the State, as equal members of the
State. This is stated as follows:
“WE APPEAL - in the very midst of the onslaught launched
against us now for months - to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to
preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of
full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and
permanent institution”.
This diversity was not what I grew up with in Apartheid
South Africa.
Since Jerusalem’s re-unification in 1967, Israel has
guaranteed access to all holy sites for all religions. Further, the Israel government
embarked on multiple projects aimed at restoring Muslim, Christian and Jewish
holy sites.
I have always loved the fact that Israel is a melting pot of
races, nationalities and religions. In many ways, for me, Jerusalem represented
the light that could combat Pretoria’s darkness.
Jerusalem’s many
faces, with its plethora of Mosques, Churches and Synagogues has been, for most
of my life, an inspiration. I have long felt that Jerusalem is a city where one
can experience the true nature of the State of Israel. A state where religious
freedom is enshrined. A state where citizens are equal before the law,
irrespective of race, gender or religion.
I love travelling on Jerusalem buses. I love seeing an
Ultra Orthodox man, decked out in his typical garb, hat, long coat, long side
curls and all. And opposite him, a devout Muslim woman, decked out in her
beautiful, colourful hijab and both travel together peacefully, sometimes
engaging in conversation, sometime sitting quietly, as both cultures and religions
value the beauty of modesty.
They sit on that same bus, as equal citizens of the State of
Israel. Free to associate. Free to practice their religions. Free to travel on
public buses.
I love that sight
But Israel’s detractors have highlighted the ‘Apartheid’ nature
of the State of Israel. While Israel endeavours to find a peaceful solution and
settlement with the Palestinians, Israel’s detractors continue to maintain the
stance that Israel is an Apartheid state.
The BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanction) campaign has its
supporters wearing T-shirts with the words 'Israeli Apartheid Stinks'.
Israel’s detractors use the failures of the peace process as
weapons against a State that claims to enshrine human rights and protect all
citizens.
Despite the State of Israel’s declaration of independence,
and the laws that govern the land, the BDS movement states that:
“Israel was
established by the Zionist movement over 60 years ago with the intention and
effect of achieving the permanent removal en masse of the indigenous,
predominantly Arab population of Palestine for the purpose of Jewish
colonization and development of a “Jewish state.””
The anti-Israel lobby is strong. That lobby makes use of
emotive terms like ‘Apartheid Israel’. They confuse issues and they confuse the
public. They use the lack of progress in the peace process as a basis to
mislead the public about Israel’s value and respect for human rights. Those
values and respect are inherent not only in Israeli law, but in large parts of Israeli
society too. The anti-Israel lobby dismisses these facts, and promotes
fallacies. The BDS movement draws attention away from pressing issues in the
world, and demonizes Israel.
Simon Deng, a black Sudanese former slave, has
said:
“The people who
suffer most from the UN anti-Israel policy are not the Israelis but all those
people who the UN ignores in order to tell its big lie against Israel: we, the
victims of Arab/Muslim abuse: women, ethnic minorities, religious minorities,
homosexuals, in the Arab/Muslim world. These are the biggest victims of UN
Israel hatred”
When talking
about and debating the issues that face Israel, I try and take as an objective
a stance as possible. I review the facts, the figures, the comments, the
realities.
Sadly, my love of
Israel is challenged. When I see refugees being beaten in Tel Aviv, I am
saddened by the way some Israeli thugs can act. That makes an impression on me.
But what makes an even greater, positive impression on me, is seeing how the
Israeli authorities deal with those thugs, and ensure that any person
challenging another’s human dignity gets severely punished.
When I see slow
progress on the peace process, and the difficulty in finding a solution to the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, I am saddened. Then I recall the great sacrifices
Israel makes to achieve peace, like its willingness to dismantle settlements in
Gaza, and expel all Jews living there, in the hope the Palestinians will make
bold moves too, towards peace.
I make my best
effort to view Israel’s policies and existence in an honest, open and fair
manner. The same way a true and upright judge would treat proceedings in a
court case.
A judge would
review facts. A judge would listen to both arguments. A judge would review the
prosecution’s case and the defense’s case equally, with an open mind, and an
eagerness to ensure that justice prevails. A judge does not rely on conjecture,
false accusations, weak analogies and wild associations. A judge does not get
swayed by emotive language, but keeps his mind sharp, focusing on what is
presented before him, challenging all lines of reasoning.
Israel has many
detractors. For years, people have been making claims against the State of
Israel. Israel has been pursued in legal courts, as well as in the courts of
public opinion.
And in those
courts of public opinion, I have always been willing to defend Israel. To
present the facts. To tell my stories. To share my experiences. To be honest
about Israel’s flaws, and to be proud of its accomplishments.
I have treated
the court of public opinion as I would a court of law.
Sadly, the
prosecution fails to do the same. The prosecution fails to bring facts and
relies on conjecture and false associations. Like a skilful magician’s sleight
of hand, Israel’s detractors focus the public’s attention solely on Israel’s
negative aspects, while ignoring the good that far outweighs the bad. The BDS,
and others, use of emotive language, like “Apartheid Israel” ignores the facts
on the ground, and misleads in the most disgusting of ways, making a mockery of
those who suffered under the atrocities of Apartheid South Africa.
When presenting
its case, the anti Israel lobby continues to ignore the intellectual and honest
debate that the topic requires. Facts are replaced with fallacies, ignorance is
exploited and all the good that Israel does is disregarded.
Such a position
does not make for an open and honest debate. Such a method of argument does not
make for an environment where mutual respect is guaranteed, and where the focus
is on positive resolutions to conflict.
I used to enjoy
defending Israel. I used to love presenting my case in an objective, respectful
and courteous manner.
I like being open to debate. Presenting facts. Defending Israel. Acting like a defence team in a court of law. Defending with a measure of dignity, decorum, and rationality.
But when the prosecution, the anti Israel and BDS lobby, prosecutes Israel by presenting its case in a salacious, unsavory and repulsive manner, I can no longer defend Israel.
There is no point in even trying
