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I was among eight South African editors, policy analysts and scholars who went on a study tour to Israel and the Palestinian territories from 6-15 February this year.
The ostensible purpose was to investigate the impact of innovation and technology on socio-economic development, but one of the key questions in my mind was: is Israel an apartheid, racist state, as is widely claimed in South Africa?
One of our early stops was Eshkol, which overlooks Gaza. Despite the sporadic rocket fire from Hamas, Eshkol’s border crossing at Kerem Shalom, through which goods are delivered to the Strip, remained open.
In fact, Israel delivers essential services — including water and electricity — to both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, despite the tensions.
This happens even though the Palestinian territories owe millions of dollars to the Israel Electric Corporation and Mekorot, Israel’s national water company.
Israel has also been supporting the reconstruction activities in Gaza, and to this end it allows in materials from Europe and elsewhere, despite the security risks posed by this generosity.
I was shocked to note that despite the attacks, Israel is more helpful towards Gaza and the West Bank than many Muslim countries in the Middle East. Egypt, for one, has completely closed its border with Gaza. But still, Fatah and Hamas are quick to blame Israel for all their misfortunes.
Israel has, on several occasions, advanced millions of dollars to the West Bank after severe overspending by the PA. At one point Israel tried to apply for an IMF loan on behalf of the PA worth $1 bn.
Israel is aware that peaceful solutions cannot be achieved while Palestinians live in poverty and has undertaken several initiatives to boost economic growth. Thousands of Gaza residents have been going to Israel to receive medical care, and Israel has helped fund schools, hospitals and sanitation facilities in Gaza.
There are no discriminatory laws in Israel and while there are certain practices that may be interpreted as segregation, in fact they are not. One is the tendency for Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish children go to different schools. Although this is not ideal, the government does not prevent Arab children from attending the predominantly Jewish schools: it seems there is tacit acceptance of this arrangement among both communities.
In the Knesset, the official languages are Arabic and Hebrew, but the Israeli-Arab MKs mostly address the house in Hebrew. This is an indication that there are no major racial divisions in Israel.
The quality of life and civil liberties enjoyed by Israeli-Arabs are far better than in much of the Middle East. It is on this premise that they have accepted the statehood of Israel.
Unfortunately, due to propaganda and unprincipled leadership, the majority of ordinary people in the territories still yearn for Jews to leave the region or “be pushed to the sea”.
This is the challenge facing Israel. It is all the more remarkable, therefore, that any allegation of ‘apartheid state’ can be so easily refuted.
Dagada is a South African academic, analyst and consultant. @Rabelani_Dagada
