(Independent-Ireland) Eoghan Harris - Last Thursday, the Teachers' Union of Ireland called for an academic boycott of Israel. The motion, passed unanimously, referred to Israel as an "apartheid state." But there is not the slightest comparison between South Africa and Israel. South African non-whites under apartheid were separated by law. They could not vote, form parties or serve in government. The notion that a non-white woman could give birth in the same hospital as a white South African woman would be literally beyond the imagination of anyone in apartheid South Africa. By contrast, Israeli Arabs, who make up 20% of Israel's population, are full citizens. They can vote, form parties, hold government posts, become civil servants and lawyers. The judge who sentenced a former Israeli prime minister for sexual transgressions was an Arab. Some apartheid. From birth there is no apartheid in Israel. Jewish and Arab babies are born in the same delivery room, looked after by the same doctors and nurses. Jewish and Arab mothers recover side by side in adjoining beds. Some apartheid. To call Israel an apartheid state is an attack on truth. As wrong as teaching that 2+2 makes 5.
2013-05-07 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive