Beyond Apartheid and Genocide -- Justice for the Movement for Black Lives
and Palestine
Wednesday, 07 September 2016 00:00 By Noura Khouri, teleSUR | Op-Ed
A recent statement issued by the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of 60
grassroots organizations, describes Israel as "an apartheid state with over
50 laws on the books that sanction discrimination against the Palestinian
people." Progressive organizations from all over the world have endorsed the
platform, to end state violence and genocide against Black people.
Recognizing this as a shared experience with Palestinians, what has
generated the greatest backlash are the words "genocide" and "apartheid" to
describe Israel's actions towards Palestinians, and its support for BDS.
This has led Jewish groups of all stripes to reject the statement outright,
"We were stunned and outraged by the erroneous and egregious claims of
genocide and apartheid" the Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative movement
said.
The Anti-Defamation League supposed mission statement is to stand against
"all forms of bigotry, defend democratic ideals and protect civil rights for
all," CEO Jonathan Greenblatt had this to say, "Whatever one's position on
the relationship between Israel, its Palestinian citizens, and the residents
in the West Bank and Gaza, it's repellent and completely inaccurate to label
Israel's policy as 'genocide'."
To say that occupation exists best in the dark explains the controversy
surrounding use of the words "genocide" and "apartheid." It also explains
what's a simple fact to those on the receiving end of the reality on the
ground, causes so much confusion and strife to those who are not.
The irony should not be lost on us that the same people opposed to the use
of "genocide" and "apartheid" are the same people justifying, therefore
perpetuating and complicit in, the crimes in Palestine.
Similarly in the US, police are not held accountable and their supporters
are in deep denial of the state violence and countless crimes against Black
people taking place in their name. All those making justifications and
denunciations, who are outraged -- not at the violence itself -- but at
those like Colin Kaepernick and others that choose to no longer stand for
symbols of this centuries-old and ongoing oppression, are too directly
complicit.
When generalities are made, distinctions are muddled, and even those with
the best intentions are left to interpret meanings or are completely
confused by the insidious details of the system at work. Regardless of one's
opinion on how to frame the political situation, according to the United
Nations General Assembly definition under article 1: "apartheid is a crime
against humanity; and acts resulting from the policies and practices of
apartheid and similar policies and practices equal racial segregation and
discrimination."
In other words apartheid in South Africa (where the reprehensible system
originated) literally meant 'apart' 'hood' and was the official policy of
economically, legally and politically segregating and oppressing the
non-white population. These practices can be seen from within Israel itself,
where the parallels more accurately represent apartheid.
Yet in the West Bank and Gaza, a far more accelerated process is in place,
more accurately reflecting a slow, but very real genocide. Under
international law genocide is: "any of the following acts committed with
intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or
religious group such as: killing members of the group; causing serious
bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on
the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical
destruction in whole or in part . as well as forcible transfer." All of
which are routine practices, or mowing the lawn, as Israeli lawmakers
bluntly put it, every few years.
Still to the outside world, they must walk the line of upholding the
appearance of a democracy, while maintaining its racist nature. Thus, the
conflict ultimately becomes, a war of public opinion. Perhaps Israel's main
success in battle lies in its public relations campaign.
Since 1948, Israeli leaders have engaged in the world's most cunning public
relations campaign. As they must have known then, the key to success on the
battlefield was how to disguise the fact that Europe's Jews facing transfer,
persecution and genocide, were to flee directly to a land where they would
commit transfer, persecution and genocide against millions of Palestinians
to this day.
A recent public relations stunt designed to make the Israeli government
appear to show compassion (for animals) and win global support, is this
article titled Israel helps evacuate animals as "world's worst zoo" in Gaza
closes. A Vienna-based animal rights group Four Paws states: "Due to poor
conditions and the lack of ability to continue proper care for the animals
in the zoo of Khan Yunis, we were asked to assist and coordinate the
transfer of these animals to zoos in Israel and around the world," implying
Palestinian "savages" can't even take care of animals.
Meanwhile no mention is made of the decade long completely debilitating
siege, lack of access to food, clean water and building supplies, or
indiscriminate bombings. Adding "All the while there were sounds of
explosions in the background, reminding us where we are and what the animals
had to endure," proudly prioritizing the rescue and safety of zoo animals
over the besieged people of Gaza!
Even supporters of a 'two-state solution' point to Palestinians within
Israel who are allowed to vote, as an example a functioning democracy.
Adding to the profound confusion, is that from the outside it appears to be
one of the most multi-racial places on earth, although violence and racism
against Black Jews in Israeli society is well-documented.
Also in South Africa as with Jim Crow, the practice of racism was much
easier to identify due to separate laws for "whites" and "non-whites." Yet
in Israel, despite the color of your skin, your status under law is
determined by if you are Jewish, whether you are religious or not, or
non-Jewish.
The struggle for justice is universal and one need not be Palestinian or
Black to see the truth, as documented in this debate about zionism by
Israeli Rogel Alpher, "Zionism Today is an Illusion", "The problem is that
most Jewish eyes in Israel are blind to the apartheid, and to the fact that
the occupation and apartheid will necessarily lead to the creation of a
binational state -- one that is, in essence, anti-Zionist. Anyone ever
expecting Israel to end the occupation, either voluntarily or via
international pressure, needs to think again."
Ultimately, under all human rights and international law standards, an
occupied and oppressed people have the right to resist and fight back, by
any means necessary.
After decades of waiting for a political solution that will ease the
insanity they are faced with due to lack of political will, Palestinians,
BLM and our supporters are done hoping for an arbitrary end to the illusion
of democracy. Towards that end the Movement for Black Lives has declared its
support for Boycott Divestment Sanctions. And #Arabs4BlackLives has
responded affirming its unequivocal support and its will to divest
economically from police terror and militarism.
It is due time for those on the front lines to define in our own terms and
to claim our rights, as recognized in theory by all standards -- and call
for the end of the acquiescence of apartheid and genocide, in part and in
full -- both in the US, in historic Palestine and beyond.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not
be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
NOURA KHOURI
Noura Khouri is a Palestinian in the diaspora from the Bay Area and has
worked for the past two decades as a human rights activist, campaign
strategist and a community organizer. Noura was born in Michigan where her
parents fled after the 1967 war, and they moved to the Bay Area when she was
6 years old. She has lived in occupied Palestine and Egypt and is currently
working with Just World Books and Civility NOW. She can be reached at
right2return@xxxxxxxxx.
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Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Beyond Apartheid and Genocide -- Justice for the Movement for Black Lives
and Palestine
Wednesday, 07 September 2016 00:00 By Noura Khouri, teleSUR | Op-Ed
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reference not valid.Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Error! Hyperlink
reference not valid.
. A recent statement issued by the Movement for Black Lives, a
coalition of 60 grassroots organizations, describes Israel as "an apartheid
state with over 50 laws on the books that sanction discrimination against
the Palestinian people." Progressive organizations from all over the world
have endorsed the platform, to end state violence and genocide against Black
people.
. Recognizing this as a shared experience with Palestinians, what has
generated the greatest backlash are the words "genocide" and "apartheid" to
describe Israel's actions towards Palestinians, and its support for BDS.
This has led Jewish groups of all stripes to reject the statement outright,
"We were stunned and outraged by the erroneous and egregious claims of
genocide and apartheid" the Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative movement
said.
The Anti-Defamation League supposed mission statement is to stand against
"all forms of bigotry, defend democratic ideals and protect civil rights for
all," CEO Jonathan Greenblatt had this to say, "Whatever one's position on
the relationship between Israel, its Palestinian citizens, and the residents
in the West Bank and Gaza, it's repellent and completely inaccurate to label
Israel's policy as 'genocide'."
To say that occupation exists best in the dark explains the controversy
surrounding use of the words "genocide" and "apartheid." It also explains
what's a simple fact to those on the receiving end of the reality on the
ground, causes so much confusion and strife to those who are not.
The irony should not be lost on us that the same people opposed to the use
of "genocide" and "apartheid" are the same people justifying, therefore
perpetuating and complicit in, the crimes in Palestine.
Similarly in the US, police are not held accountable and their supporters
are in deep denial of the state violence and countless crimes against Black
people taking place in their name. All those making justifications and
denunciations, who are outraged -- not at the violence itself -- but at
those like Colin Kaepernick and others that choose to no longer stand for
symbols of this centuries-old and ongoing oppression, are too directly
complicit.
When generalities are made, distinctions are muddled, and even those with
the best intentions are left to interpret meanings or are completely
confused by the insidious details of the system at work. Regardless of one's
opinion on how to frame the political situation, according to the United
Nations General Assembly definition under article 1: "apartheid is a crime
against humanity; and acts resulting from the policies and practices of
apartheid and similar policies and practices equal racial segregation and
discrimination."
In other words apartheid in South Africa (where the reprehensible system
originated) literally meant 'apart' 'hood' and was the official policy of
economically, legally and politically segregating and oppressing the
non-white population. These practices can be seen from within Israel itself,
where the parallels more accurately represent apartheid.
Yet in the West Bank and Gaza, a far more accelerated process is in place,
more accurately reflecting a slow, but very real genocide. Under
international law genocide is: "any of the following acts committed with
intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or
religious group such as: killing members of the group; causing serious
bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on
the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical
destruction in whole or in part . as well as forcible transfer." All of
which are routine practices, or mowing the lawn, as Israeli lawmakers
bluntly put it, every few years.
Still to the outside world, they must walk the line of upholding the
appearance of a democracy, while maintaining its racist nature. Thus, the
conflict ultimately becomes, a war of public opinion. Perhaps Israel's main
success in battle lies in its public relations campaign.
Since 1948, Israeli leaders have engaged in the world's most cunning public
relations campaign. As they must have known then, the key to success on the
battlefield was how to disguise the fact that Europe's Jews facing transfer,
persecution and genocide, were to flee directly to a land where they would
commit transfer, persecution and genocide against millions of Palestinians
to this day.
A recent public relations stunt designed to make the Israeli government
appear to show compassion (for animals) and win global support, is this
article titled Israel helps evacuate animals as "world's worst zoo" in Gaza
closes. A Vienna-based animal rights group Four Paws states: "Due to poor
conditions and the lack of ability to continue proper care for the animals
in the zoo of Khan Yunis, we were asked to assist and coordinate the
transfer of these animals to zoos in Israel and around the world," implying
Palestinian "savages" can't even take care of animals.
Meanwhile no mention is made of the decade long completely debilitating
siege, lack of access to food, clean water and building supplies, or
indiscriminate bombings. Adding "All the while there were sounds of
explosions in the background, reminding us where we are and what the animals
had to endure," proudly prioritizing the rescue and safety of zoo animals
over the besieged people of Gaza!
Even supporters of a 'two-state solution' point to Palestinians within
Israel who are allowed to vote, as an example a functioning democracy.
Adding to the profound confusion, is that from the outside it appears to be
one of the most multi-racial places on earth, although violence and racism
against Black Jews in Israeli society is well-documented.
Also in South Africa as with Jim Crow, the practice of racism was much
easier to identify due to separate laws for "whites" and "non-whites." Yet
in Israel, despite the color of your skin, your status under law is
determined by if you are Jewish, whether you are religious or not, or
non-Jewish.
The struggle for justice is universal and one need not be Palestinian or
Black to see the truth, as documented in this debate about zionism by
Israeli Rogel Alpher, "Zionism Today is an Illusion", "The problem is that
most Jewish eyes in Israel are blind to the apartheid, and to the fact that
the occupation and apartheid will necessarily lead to the creation of a
binational state -- one that is, in essence, anti-Zionist. Anyone ever
expecting Israel to end the occupation, either voluntarily or via
international pressure, needs to think again."
Ultimately, under all human rights and international law standards, an
occupied and oppressed people have the right to resist and fight back, by
any means necessary.
After decades of waiting for a political solution that will ease the
insanity they are faced with due to lack of political will, Palestinians,
BLM and our supporters are done hoping for an arbitrary end to the illusion
of democracy. Towards that end the Movement for Black Lives has declared its
support for Boycott Divestment Sanctions. And #Arabs4BlackLives has
responded affirming its unequivocal support and its will to divest
economically from police terror and militarism.
It is due time for those on the front lines to define in our own terms and
to claim our rights, as recognized in theory by all standards -- and call
for the end of the acquiescence of apartheid and genocide, in part and in
full -- both in the US, in historic Palestine and beyond.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not
be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
Noura Khouri
Noura Khouri is a Palestinian in the diaspora from the Bay Area and has
worked for the past two decades as a human rights activist, campaign
strategist and a community organizer. Noura was born in Michigan where her
parents fled after the 1967 war, and they moved to the Bay Area when she was
6 years old. She has lived in occupied Palestine and Egypt and is currently
working with Just World Books and Civility NOW. She can be reached at
right2return@xxxxxxxxx.
Related Stories
Palestinian Journalist: Situation in Gaza Remains the Same; It's Still
Collective Punishment
By Mark Karlin, Truthout | InterviewIsrael Hired PR Firm to Market
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By Sarah Lazare, AlterNet | News AnalysisPalestine's "Prayer for Rain": How
Israel Uses Water as a Weapon of War
By Ramzy Baroud, Speakout | Op-Ed
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