When it comes to selling a product, most marketers and advertisers will tell you that it is all about how you package, position and sell it. Slick branding or packaging and a sexy catchphrase help the greater public buy yours over your competitors. Brand Britney has amassed more wealth through the coverage of her alleged demise than over her meteoric rise to fame. Nowhere in the fight for public opinion is this more apparent than the “Israel is an Apartheid State” analogy. This statement is the seductive byline in helping to convince people to “Buy this product and you too can paint Israel as a pariah state, divest economically and academically and call into question the existence of this sovereign and democratic entity.” Graduates of the Joseph Goebbels School of Public Relations are pulling out all the stops to place their product in the global political consciousness.
Those of us who lived through the Apartheid era and also know a thing or two about Israeli society, know that not only does this dangerous analogy denigrate the crime that was Apartheid and mock the suffering of its victims but it also shows a complete lack of understanding and ignorance about the conflict in the Middle East. Comparing Israel to Apartheid South Africa is blatant Antisemitism and ignorance.
The conference’s intent was to explore worldwide racism and intolerance but instead spiraled into a festival of Israel bashing and Antisemitism that resulted in both the Israeli and American delegations to walk out in protest.
It is politically incorrect to be anti-semitic and I am sure that some of Israel’s greatest detractors’ best friends are Jewish. However it is decidedly more palatable to be anti-Zionist. The axiom seems to be “we love your Jewish traditions, Mazel Tov! Gefilte fish! It is just your racist Zionist ideology we disagree with.” As if the two can be remotely separate! So what does this have to do with comparing Israel to Apartheid South Africa and where on earth does this ridiculous analogy originate from?
Ironically the analogy came to light at the height of Apartheid in 1975. The United Nations passed a resolution sponsored by the Former Soviet Union equating Zionism with Racism. This has since been refuted but the seeds were planted for this nefarious campaign. The idea gained momentum and accelerated worldwide after the UN Conference on Racism that was held in Durban 2001. The conference’s intent was to explore worldwide racism and intolerance but instead spiraled into a festival of Israel bashing and Antisemitism that resulted in both the Israeli and American delegations to walk out in protest.
The fact that the launching pad of such a campaign took place in once-pariah South Africa is a bitter irony that is not unnoticed. The symbolism of the quest to package and treat Israel the same way that South Africa was treated and therefore call into question her legitimacy as a state is not lost on us. Strange that nobody ever questions the legitimacy of existence for countries like Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia and even during the Apartheid years, nobody questioned the existence of South Africa as a country. Only Israel is singled out for this kind of judgment.
Israel is singled out for opprobrium and is the chief scapegoat for all of the world’s ills. From the crimes of practicing Apartheid to the Mossad allegedly having caused the Asian Tsunami, there is not an incident that hasn’t been blamed on Israel.
If we sit and compare Israeli and Apartheid legislation law for law, this comparison is shown to be ridiculous, Oh but wait, that is the fundamental difference! 1948 was the birth year of Apartheid South Africa but it was also the birth year of democratic Israel. Israel’s Declaration of Independence advocated inclusiveness for all her citizens – a concept unheard of in that neighborhood. It is easy to make grand comparisons but we tend to forget definition behind catchy slogans. Apartheid was state sanctioned laws of discrimination and forced removals that made it possible for a white minority to rule and subjugate the black majority.
In making the case for Israel the role of cause and effect is irrefutable. Is there a separation fence? Yes, because in an effort to eradicate terror attacks on her citizens, Israel has erected a barrier after all, fences can be torn down but lives never replaced. Only the Palestinians hold the key to tearing down the barrier by ensuring a sustainable peace. What about checkpoints? And separate roads? Aren’t these the tools favored by Apartheid practitioners? No, they are the mechanisms used by a sovereign country to fulfill its most important mandate – the protection of its citizens.
Trying to mete out the same justice to Israel that was administered to Apartheid South Africa not only robs both sides of national determination but denies sincere peace loving people their dignity.
Israel’s critics are confident that their competitive product comes in a glossier packaging, don’t be fooled by glitter and sparkle. Buy brand Israel, it may not be as seductive but morally, ethically, democratically and intellectually, it is by far the superior product.
Factzone: The truth about Kim Jong Il Kim Jong Il, the leader of the free world, has decided to move on to more fertile grounds, leaving with us just the memories of 8-color rainbows, singing Korean women and couple of nuclear weapons. But who was this man whose next ambition would have been to get the next Nobel Peace prize? Here are just a few facts you should know about.
World governments charged with criminal negligence (in response to Megaupload case) EARTH (thecheers.org) - Federal authorities of the universe have charged the governments of all the countries in the world as well as the operators actually in power in these countries with operating a criminal enterprise, the Galaxy warriors announced Today.
I was sreiously at DefCon 5 until I saw this post. says on 2012-01-28 12:02:47 about NuFsfSpPv
I was sreiously at DefCon 5 until I saw this post.
Isa says on 2010-02-22 12:14:51 about Israel
Israel is such a wonderful country. If the Palestinians want peace then they should stop firing rockets into Israeli cities. Divestment is anti-Semitism in disguise. The Nazis boycotted Jewish shops in the 1930's in Germeny and they tried to do the sme in America. We will not allow it here EVER.
JS says on 2010-02-22 11:59:12 about Israel
Israel should hold on to all th eland west of the Jordan River. It is Jewish land and will remain so. All of North Africa is land that has been forcibily colonized by Muslims. The divestment campaign is anti-Semitism by people who hate Jews in their hearts but are to clever to admit it in public so they use the ruse of anti-ZIonism.
Henk says on 2009-10-26 19:13:37 about Israel and Apartheid
What a sad article this is. Totally defunct of facts in some areas, badly researched in others, and apologistic in other areas as to justify an Israeli position that can no longer be justified.
I also find the attempted connecting between anti-jewish, antisemitism, anti-Zionism and attempts to hold Israel to account for its action as obscene and generally insulting.
The facts of Israel are simple and cannot be denied as they are fact.
Israel invaded and then occupied and still occupies land that does not belong to Israel. Israel has illegally constructed settlements on land that it does not own. Israel has stolen property off their rightfull owners and has failed to return the stolen property. Israel has flauted provisions of international law, UN resolutions and other determinations. In other words, Israel thinks that it can hang onto stolen property and do as it pleases within the region with impunity. Sadly for Israel, those days have now ended and Israel now needs to account for its actions.
The solutions for peace are there for all to see and I would suggest that Israel takes to opportunity to embrace those solution.
As for the grubby suggestion that anyone opposing the Israeli position are graduates of the "Josepth Goebbels School of Public Relations" I would say this. "Madam, your assertions are as disgusting as are some of the other allegations that you make".
In my view, instead of trying to find anti-Jewish, antisemitic and anti-Zionist views in places where they are not and never have been, such views can be found right there in Tel-Aviv, Israel through its own Government
Sorcaress says on 2009-10-26 16:35:10 about Israel
In a word, or two - what a load of crap! To compare Israel to South Africa is just ridiculous, and a total injustice to those who suffered during that period. Israel's position is totally self-inflicted, and I agree its time they gave back the stolen land. That will start to heal a lot of the trouble they are in at the moment.
HC/NZ says on 2009-10-26 15:43:18 about Israel.
I find this article offensive and a total nonsense. While countries such as New Zealand, Australia, the UK and others had sanctions in place against the then South African regime, Israel was still supplying it with weapons.
If Israel really wants a lasting peace, it needs to correct some of its past mistakes including returning currently occupied lands back to those who own the land.
During discussions that I have had over the years, I found that Arab countries would be willing to accept Israel as a nation but that it would have to return to its legitimate borders in order to gain such acceptance.
As to the so-called 'Goebbels'theory? What a load of nonsense. This author is either dreaming or she has absolutely no idea as to what is talking about.
Even some of the most facts as to what took place during various events are totally incorrect.
Really, bring on someone who actually knows what they are talking about.
Ivan says on 2009-10-26 12:30:19 about Israel
I pretty much agree in what you say. It's not just wrong to compare one with the other but it's an insult to those who had suffered due to racism and madness along the years ( including jews on the times of Hitler) but there is one thing that shoul be acknowledged, some times Israel response is far bigger than the original threat. Forcing palestinians to live in ghetos and bombing buildings "just in case" it's also bad. Should any other contry in the world intervene, no. Israel and Palestina must leave weapons aside and talk more. It's hard enough for Israel to be surrounded by all the countries that hate what the stand for, to be mantaining a bomb ready to explode on their backyard
DSE is the world's largest international trade show and conference dedicated to digital signage, interactive technology and digital out-of-home networks and it will be taking place from March 6 to March 9, 2012.
Argonaut Genre:Alternative The band are led by Core Members, Lorna (Vocals & Synths) an...
The Kut Genre:Alternative As three female musicians on the London circuit, questions l...
The Exits Genre:Electronic Genre: Electro / Indie / Rock
Location Portsmouth, South, U...
Trip Effect Genre:Rock A power trio that mashes up alternative/indie/rock with warm...
Jim Scordilis Genre:Rock jimscordilis@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/jimscordil...
Valadis Gaoutsis Genre:Rock Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Valantis-G...
The conference’s intent was to explore worldwide racism and intolerance but instead spiraled into a festival of Israel bashing and Antisemitism that resulted in both the Israeli and American delegations to walk out in protest.
