Evaluate the following quote and then compare and contrast Apartheid South Africa with Modern Israel/Palestine. “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” –Nelson Mandela
While the white minority ruled in South Africa, the black majority suffered through centuries of torturous racial inequalities. Unfortunately in 1948, matters developed into a more strict and systematic policy called Apartheid. It was through this policy that the white government implemented political and territorial laws that divided the black population from the rest of society. In present day, apartheid is used to described similar systems that are used in other countries around the globe. One of the countries presently known as an apartheid nation is Israel, as its treatment towards Palestinians share several similarities to South Africa’s history of mistreatment towards the black population. Similarly, Nelson Mandela’s statement “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians” directly correlates to how Israel is an apartheid nation that Mandela wished to relieve from its violent, unjust state. Modern day Israel and apartheid Africa’s second-class citizens equally share inadequate economic opportunities and unfair land distributions.
During Apartheid South Africa, the black population was economically ostracized by the white minority government. After apartheid was established, discrimination altered employment amongst black citizens. The South African government’s policies reserved the rights to higher ranked jobs for the white race. Not only were jobs eliminated for the black race, but their wages were also decreased significantly, making economic success rates next to impossible for the black race. Similarly, since Israel took over the homeland of Palestinians, the inequality in regard to economic injustice reflects the apartheid state of South Africa. For instance, in Gaza, the Israeli blockade has virtually eliminated citizens access into Israel for occupations and even basic necessities. It has drastically impacted the Palestinians economy while 40 % of Gaza people rest unemployed and 80% rely on government aid. These statistics exemplify how inequitable and separate the lives amongst Palestinians and Israeli’s were. Apartheid is defined as the domination of one racial group taking power over another. Both Africa and Israel have committed apartheid manoevers resulting in one’s economy being severely lessened.
Not only was the separation of wealth amongst the different ethnicities divided but the land was also distributed unfairly. Apartheid also means to live “apart”, which is exactly how the black South Africans existed and how the Palestinians still exist to this day. When the apartheid system was initiated, the group areas act in South Africa of 1950 separated racial groups to different Bantustans around the country. These areas were impoverished, undesirable homelands separated by ethnic tribes. Moreover, the separation of land in the Middle East occurred in a more drastic manner. Although Palestinians owned the majority of the land before 1946, they quickly took over the country and segregated Palestinians to specific areas. During the war of 1948, they continued to capture the remainder of historic Palestine, “leaving Palestinians with only 22% of their original land” (SAhistory, 2014), and the Palestinians who remained in the country were forced to live under military dictatorship for several years. To this day, Israel consists of many military checkpoints that diminish free travel, and since they own all air rights, boarders and resources, Palestinians live in poverty with a horrible economy. Jewish people enjoy countless amounts of rights and privileges that Palestinians are denied from. Palestinians are unable to move freely and are denied from many educational and healthcare facilities. South Africa’s Apartheid resembles the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict through their uneven distributions of land and dictatorship of the country.
Apartheid South Africa shares many similarities to the Israel/Palestine conflicts that are still happening to this day. In South Africa, the black race’s rights were demolished, due to discrimination, resulting with a plummeted economy. The Palestinians are currently involved in a similar situation. Several citizens do not have access into Israel and are therefore unable to work at all. Unemployment rates are high, and many people rely on government aid to survive. Moreover, both acts of Apartheid resulted in the different races living separately due to racism and a fight for the “homeland”. Africans were placed in Bantustands throughout the country, while Israel took over their country and segregated Palestinians to only minuscule parts, denying them of their rights on the way. The historical Apartheid South Africa and the present day Israel/Palestine conflicts resemble each in many aspects, but mainly through their economic issues and uneven land distribution.
While the white minority ruled in South Africa, the black majority suffered through centuries of torturous racial inequalities. Unfortunately in 1948, matters developed into a more strict and systematic policy called Apartheid. It was through this policy that the white government implemented political and territorial laws that divided the black population from the rest of society. In present day, apartheid is used to described similar systems that are used in other countries around the globe. One of the countries presently known as an apartheid nation is Israel, as its treatment towards Palestinians share several similarities to South Africa’s history of mistreatment towards the black population. Similarly, Nelson Mandela’s statement “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians” directly correlates to how Israel is an apartheid nation that Mandela wished to relieve from its violent, unjust state. Modern day Israel and apartheid Africa’s second-class citizens equally share inadequate economic opportunities and unfair land distributions.
During Apartheid South Africa, the black population was economically ostracized by the white minority government. After apartheid was established, discrimination altered employment amongst black citizens. The South African government’s policies reserved the rights to higher ranked jobs for the white race. Not only were jobs eliminated for the black race, but their wages were also decreased significantly, making economic success rates next to impossible for the black race. Similarly, since Israel took over the homeland of Palestinians, the inequality in regard to economic injustice reflects the apartheid state of South Africa. For instance, in Gaza, the Israeli blockade has virtually eliminated citizens access into Israel for occupations and even basic necessities. It has drastically impacted the Palestinians economy while 40 % of Gaza people rest unemployed and 80% rely on government aid. These statistics exemplify how inequitable and separate the lives amongst Palestinians and Israeli’s were. Apartheid is defined as the domination of one racial group taking power over another. Both Africa and Israel have committed apartheid manoevers resulting in one’s economy being severely lessened.
Not only was the separation of wealth amongst the different ethnicities divided but the land was also distributed unfairly. Apartheid also means to live “apart”, which is exactly how the black South Africans existed and how the Palestinians still exist to this day. When the apartheid system was initiated, the group areas act in South Africa of 1950 separated racial groups to different Bantustans around the country. These areas were impoverished, undesirable homelands separated by ethnic tribes. Moreover, the separation of land in the Middle East occurred in a more drastic manner. Although Palestinians owned the majority of the land before 1946, they quickly took over the country and segregated Palestinians to specific areas. During the war of 1948, they continued to capture the remainder of historic Palestine, “leaving Palestinians with only 22% of their original land” (SAhistory, 2014), and the Palestinians who remained in the country were forced to live under military dictatorship for several years. To this day, Israel consists of many military checkpoints that diminish free travel, and since they own all air rights, boarders and resources, Palestinians live in poverty with a horrible economy. Jewish people enjoy countless amounts of rights and privileges that Palestinians are denied from. Palestinians are unable to move freely and are denied from many educational and healthcare facilities. South Africa’s Apartheid resembles the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict through their uneven distributions of land and dictatorship of the country.
Apartheid South Africa shares many similarities to the Israel/Palestine conflicts that are still happening to this day. In South Africa, the black race’s rights were demolished, due to discrimination, resulting with a plummeted economy. The Palestinians are currently involved in a similar situation. Several citizens do not have access into Israel and are therefore unable to work at all. Unemployment rates are high, and many people rely on government aid to survive. Moreover, both acts of Apartheid resulted in the different races living separately due to racism and a fight for the “homeland”. Africans were placed in Bantustands throughout the country, while Israel took over their country and segregated Palestinians to only minuscule parts, denying them of their rights on the way. The historical Apartheid South Africa and the present day Israel/Palestine conflicts resemble each in many aspects, but mainly through their economic issues and uneven land distribution.