Analyzing the False Accusations against Israel, Part III: Apartheid and the Security FenceApartheid. People throw that word around without really understanding what it means. First of all, Arabs in Israel are full citizens who have the right to vote, including women who, in many Arab nations do not possess this same right. And not only can they vote, but they can also run for public office, and many have. There are Arabs serving in the Knesset, or Israeli Parliament, and some have served as Cabinet members, Ambassadors and on the Supreme Court. Certain Arab Knesset members have even criticized Israel, but if they were blacks in South Africa under Apartheid, they would have been killed for such a thing.
Arabs are allowed the freedom of speech and can and do actually protest. They live wherever they want and cannot be discriminated against in their places of employment. If they are arrested, they get a fair trial, and while Jewish Israelis are required to serve in the military, Arabs do not have to fulfill this same requirement. Despite this, many volunteer for it, perhaps because they love their country. In recent poll results, the majority of Arabs answered that not only do they consider Israel to be home but that they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, including in other Arab and/or Muslim countries. And finally, Arabic is an official language in Israel. It certainly would not be taken into consideration if it were Apartheid.
Most people like to use the security fence as an example of Apartheid. But Apartheid has nothing to do with it. This fence was put into place in order to protect Israeli citizens from the constant terror attacks which had been occurring and would continue to occur if not for the fence. It has provided protection for them and has severely limited these attacks. Why is it Apartheid? Because Arabs now have to walk a little bit further? Nonsense. Terrorists ruin everything. Because of terrorists there is now stricter airport security. Is it inconvenient? Yes. Is it necessary? Yes. If that hassle allows me to live because they caught a terrorist before he boarded my plane, then I’ll take the hassle, thank you very much.
The security fence has saved lives. This is a fact which cannot be denied. Israel’s goal is peace, which is precisely why the security fence has been built, to protect its citizens from terrorist violence.
“In the 11 months between the erection of the first segment at the beginning of August 2003 and the end of June 2004, the Samaria-based terrorist groups have succeeded in carrying out only three atrocities within Israel. All three occurred in the first half of 2003, during which 26 Israelis were murdered and 76 wounded. (In two of the cases, the terrorists infiltrated via areas in Samaria where the fence was not yet completed. In the third, a female terrorist entered through the Barta’a crossing using a Jordanian passport.)
In contrast, during the 34 months from the beginning of the violence in September 2000 until the construction of the first continuous segment of the anti-terrorist fence at the end of July 2003, between Salem and Elkana in Samaria, Samaria-based terrorists carried out 73 atrocities (suicide bombings, shootings, car bombings) within Israel (including Jerusalem) in which 293 Israelis were killed and 1950 wounded.
A comparison of the above data shows a decrease of slightly more than 90% in the number of attacks: from an average of 26 attacks a year before the fence, to three attacks after erection of the anti-terrorist fence. This means a decrease of more than 70% in the number of Israelis murdered: from an average of 103 slain per year before the fence to 28 after erection of the fence. Similarly, this means a drop of more than 85% in the number of wounded: from an average of 688 a year before the fence to 83 wounded per year after it was built.
While the number of attacks dropped sharply, the number of attempted attacks that were foiled in various stages of preparation since the erection of the anti-terrorist fence in August 2003 remained high. During this period, the security forces prevented dozens of attacks by Samaria-based terrorist groups in the final stages of preparation. As a result of the arrests of terrorists and heads of cells, 24 explosive belts and bombs were discovered.â€
Furthermore, between Israel and the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority there is no natural or man made barrier. This enables the almost unhindered entry of Palestinian terrorists into Israel. During the last three years, [this was from 2004], 117 Palestinian terrorists took advantage of it, entered into Israel and in the act of blowing themselves up murdered 477 people- Jews, Arabs and Christians and wounded thousands of others. In contrast, the security fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip that has existed since 1996 has proven its effectiveness and the vast majority of terrorist attempts have been discovered and thwarted.
In other words, terrorists continue to get in where there is no fence, but where there is a fence, their attempts are thwarted.
The security fence:
1. Does not establish a border of any kind.
2. Does not annex any Palestinian lands to Israel.
3. Does not change the legal status of any Palestinians.
4. Does not prevent Palestinians from going about their lives.
“The security fence currently being built between the Palestinians in the West Bank and Israeli population centers is a defensive measure. It is designed to prevent terrorists from carrying out attacks in Israel. Its path was chosen in accordance with security and topographic considerations, while making every effort to minimize disruption to the daily lives of the local Palestinian population.â€
If Palestinian land owners wish to dispute the location of the fence, it is built in moveable sections and can be moved if the land owners take their case to court, and the court decides in their favor. In which case, that section of the fence is then moved. Doesn’t sound like Apartheid to me.
In summary, 90% less attacks; 70% less senseless deaths; 85% less wounded. The fence has proven itself to be extremely effective as a much needed security measure, and its existence has nothing to do with Apartheid and everything to do with preventing terrorism. Now if the terrorists consider this a burden, they can call it Apartheid all they want, but that doesn’t make it true. It is inconvenient for terrorists, but Israel protecting its citizens against this violence is not Apartheid. It is no different from any other country in the world which makes protecting its citizens a priority. Israel should not be judged differently simply because it is the Jewish State. The charge of Apartheid is an ugly accusation and a false one at that.
http://chersonandmolschky.com/2013/06/22/analyzing-false-accusations-israel-part-iii-apartheid-security-fence/