Making the Case for Israel Part V: Is Israel an Apartheid State?

Since the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th, Israel has also been the target of many false accusations, especially on American college campuses. One accusation being promoted is that Israel is, “an apartheid state.” Is there any basis for this accusation? The short answer is no.

Apartheid, as it was practiced in South Africa, was a system of racial separation. To claim that Israel is an apartheid state is a false accusation. The very idea goes against Jewish values, and it has no basis in the reality of life in Israel.

Let’s put this into perspective. When you talk about the Arabs of Palestine or the Palestinians, there are four categories.

First, there are the 2 million Arab citizens of Israel usually referred to as Arab Israelis. They make up about 21% of the population of Israel and they enjoy full civil and political rights in Israel.

Arab-Israelis vote in Israel’s elections, serve in the Knesset, attend Israeli universities, and work in almost every sector of Israeli society. Arab-Israelis have served on Israel’s Supreme Court, work as doctors and nurses in Israeli hospitals, and serve in the Israeli police.

One example of a leading Arab Israeli figure is the Director General of Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya: Dr. Masad Barhoum, a Christian-Arab citizen of Israel (pictured below).

Although Arab Israelis are not required to serve in the IDF, many Americans would be surprised to know that today there are about 1,000 Arab Israelis now serving in the IDF as volunteers. Several Arab-Israeli civilians were recognized for their heroism on October 7th for saving the lives of Jews.

Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, the reality of the situation of the Arab citizens of Israel became noticeably clear.

Israeli-Arab activist Muhammad Zoabi wrote just a few weeks after Hamas’ attack, “On Oct. 7, it was that same exposure that made us feel more Israeli than ever — when we saw … the footage of the mass murder … it triggered a deep sense of solidarity from the Arab community, bolstering a shared sense of being Israeli.”

Then there are over 3 million Arab residents of the West Bank usually referred to as the Palestinians. Most of them live under the rule of the Palestinian Authority (PA) based in Ramallah that is currently headed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas. They have their own autonomous government and police force.

Each day, tens of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank come to work in Israel, go shopping in Israeli malls, and many come for special treatment in Israeli hospitals.

Another category includes the 350,000 Arab residents of East Jerusalem who live within the boundaries of the Municipality of Jerusalem. They make up around 37 percent of the capital’s population, are given the status of permanent residents of Israel, and can apply for Israeli citizenship, and many have done so.

As permanent residents of Israel, the Arab residents of East Jerusalem pay taxes and are entitled to Israeli state benefits like healthcare and social security. They can work anywhere in Israel and study at any Israeli university. Although they cannot vote in national elections, they can in Jerusalem’s municipal elections.

The truth is that Jerusalem is a much more integrated society than anyone can imagine.

The Arabs of East Jerusalem not only study at the Hebrew University, but also work in the Israeli hospitals of Jerusalem, especially Hadassah and Shaare Tzedek. And of course, they receive equal medical treatment in those hospitals. Also, many of them work in the management of the hotels of Jerusalem.

For those who have visited Jerusalem, the upscale Mamila Mall, just outside the walls of the Old City, is a good example of the integrated daily life of Jerusalem. You would only know who is Arab or who is Jewish if you spoke the languages.

Finally, there are the 2.1 million Arabs of Gaza who live under the brutal rule of Hamas. Since Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel, these citizens’ situation is difficult.

The war that Hamas started on October 7th was the fifth since they took control over Gaza in 2007 after violently expelling the Palestinian Authority.

Instead of dedicating resources to the improvement of civilian life, Hamas has channeled enormous resources to building rockets to fire at Israel. They have dug hundreds of miles of tunnels underneath Gaza to serve Hamas and its war for the destruction of Israel.

The truth is that the Arab citizens of Israel enjoy more civil and political rights than anyone in the Middle East. The residents of the West Bank who live under the control of the Palestinian Authority would be happy if they had all the civil rights and the high standard of living enjoyed by their fellow Arabs who live in Israel.

As for the Palestinians of Gaza, once Israel has removed Hamas from power, there is the potential for them to have a much better future.

The claim that Israel is an “apartheid state” is one more false accusation that has been promoted in Western societies to demonize Israel and question its right to exist. Israel has proven that it is the only true democracy in the Middle East that provides equal rights for minorities where Arabs and Jews can coexist in peace and prosperity.

Bob Feferman
Community Relations Director
Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley