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The Apartheid Paradigm EASTER GREETINGS Issue 48 - Spring 2008 1 ISSUE 48 • SPRING 2008 ORNERSTONE CA QUARTERLY PUBLICATION BY SABEEL ECUMENICAL LIBERATION THEOLOGY CENTER JERUSALEM THE APARTHEID PARADIGM by: Naim Ateek Greetings to you in this Easter season! As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that the message of peace proclaimed by Christ will grow in your hearts and in your communities. In our Palestinian context, following this message of peace means standing up to the injustices of a system of oppression that many are comparing to the system of apartheid in South Africa. A growing number of peace activists - Palestinians, Israeli Jews, and expatriates have been courageously stating that Israel is already practicing Hafrada and Nishool, i.e. an Israeli form of “apartheid” vis-â-vis the Palestinians who live under its occupation. Photo by Meta Floor Last October 26-27, 2007, Friends of Sabeel - New IN THIS ISSUE England organized a regional conference at Old South Christian Church, Boston, MA to examine this topic. The Apartheid Paradigm 1 The theme of the conference was The Apartheid by: Naim Ateek paradigm: how does it apply to Palestine-Israel? In spite of Realizing God’s Dream 4 strong opposition by pro-Israel American groups, by: Bishop Desmond Tutu approximately one thousand people attended not only A Biblical Framework 7 from the region of New England but from other regions by: David Wildman of the United States as well as Canada and beyond. A Exclusive Identity 8 number of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish speakers - by: Farid Esack religious and secular - gave valuable presentations. The ACRI Report 10 keynote speaker was Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Occupation, Apartheid, and Colonialism 11 former Anglican Archbishop of the Province of Southern by: John Dugard Africa. In this issue of Cornerstone, we present some of the presentations and highlights of that conference. Domination, Inequality, and Apartheid 14 by: Anat Biletzki Continued >> Sabeel Statement on Gaza 18 2 Issue 48 - Spring 2008 It is important to emphasize that the conflict is no longer be- THE APAR “tween Israel and the Palestinians. It “ is between the forces of peace and HOW DOES IT justice in Israel and Palestine and those of violence and domination We believe that it is God’s mandate for every one of us to cry out whenever injustice is done and whenever God’s children are oppressed. We have always It is apparent that the 1967 Israeli conscience everywhere need to do condemned the injustice and oppression occupation of the West Bank and the everything they can to stop it. This of the Israeli occupation. It is evil and it Gaza Strip has undergone at least must be done not only for the sake must end. We have always condemned three different stages. It began with of the Palestinians but for the sake violence and terrorism whether coming an Israeli policy of control of the of Israel itself. from the government of Israel and its Palestinians. After the 1987 intifada army or from extremist Palestinian a gradual shift began to take place. The grim realities of Hafrada and groups. At the same time, we always With the increasing escalation of Nishool highlighted by this issue are declared that peace is knocking at the Palestinian resistance, both violent not good news for Palestinians or door. We believe that Israel can enjoy and nonviolent, the objective Israelis. However, as Sabeel board peace and security if and when it takes a became no longer a policy of control member Jonathan Kuttab has good look at itself, recognizes the grave injustice it has committed against the but of suppression and humiliation. written, “precisely in this dark hour Palestinians and implements international This is evident in the demolition of of despair, the message of Easter law. We believe that it is possible for Palestinian homes, the continued needs to be proclaimed again: Christ Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace confiscation of Palestinian land, the will not remain in the tomb, nor will side by side. To this end we strive and building and expansion of Jewish evil and oppression have the last work. settlements, the inhuman treatment word. Christ rose again on the third of Palestinians at checkpoints, the day with a glorious triumph over the Tragically, the government of Israel is not building of “Israeli-only” roads, forces of evil and darkness, and over listening to the voice of peace and reason. policies of collective punishment, death itself, proclaiming to the whole It is important to emphasize that the the building of the apartheid wall, world a new era and the victory of conflict is no longer between Israel and and Israel’s disregard for good over evil. The message of the Palestinians. It is between the forces international law. A growing number Easter, for Palestinians, as well as for of peace and justice in Israel and Palestine of individuals and groups believe the poor and oppressed everywhere, and those of violence and domination. We are working together as Palestinians and that the suppression is now giving is that God is sovereign in the affairs Israelis, as Jews, Muslims, and Christians way to Hafrada and Nishool - an of the world. No matter how dark that are on one side, the side of justice Israeli form of apartheid. things appear on ‘Sad Friday,’ [the and international law, and against all those Arabic word for Good Friday is jum’a who are on the side of oppression and This issue of Cornerstone is al hazini which means ‘Sad Friday’] domination. intended to help readers become Easter is coming and with it the aware of this grave danger that promise, hope, and certainty of Today, the government of Israel is guided threatens the lives of all the people resurrection-the victory of life over by a blind obsession for Palestinian land of Palestine-Israel. People of death.” Issue 48 - Spring 2008 3 RTHEID PARADIGM APPLY TO PALESTINE-ISRAEL? by: Naim Ateek For some time now, I have been advocating the use of a Hebrew word as a way of describing the Israeli form of apartheid. The word “hafrada” is already used in Israel to indicate the separation desired by the government of Israel and others. In fact, in the Israeli media the wall is referred to as the “hafrada” barrier, i.e. the separation barrier, not the security barrier as it is often referred to in the West. The Israeli public, therefore, is self-identifying a policy of separation. In Afrikaans, the word apartheid literally means separation, though in South Africa it eventually acquired a more sinister and racist connotation. Photo by Meta Floor Meta Photo by “Hafrada”-separation-today expresses racism in the minds and lives of many and by a deep desire to ethnically cleanse The article quotes Alon saying: “The IDF Israeli Jews towards Palestinians and the Palestinians and force them to leave is setting a route for the fence that will Arabs. Already hafrada is conjuring up the territory. What our people are not enable the establishment of a racist attitudes and not simply a desire experiencing is not mere occupation; it is Palestinian state and is allowing itself to for separation. now suppression and de-humanization. evade High Court orders to change the In other words, the racism of the route”. He claims that the Israeli army ‘is During the last 40 years, we have had a government of Israel has become more carrying out an apartheid policy’ which number of visitors from South Africa obviously clear. That is why for quite is emptying Hebron of Arabs, setting up including Archbishop Tutu and many some time, even Israeli Jewish writers have roadblocks without anyone knowing others. While witnessing life under been using the word apartheid to describe where and how many, Judaizing the occupation, most of them have what Israel is doing. Jordan Valley, and cooperating openly and commented that what they saw in blatantly with the settlers. Palestine was far worse than what they As an example one can cite a recent experienced under apartheid. One such interview in Ha’aretz with Haggai Alon, President Carter did not haphazardly use South African human rights expert, John who was a senior adviser to Amer Peretz the word apartheid in the title of his book, Dugard, has said: Many aspects of at the Ministry of Defense. Alon Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. I am sure Israel’s occupation surpass those of the described his job as ensuring that the he was under pressure to change it. But apartheid regime. Israel’s large-scale official statements made by the Israeli he chose to keep it because he knew what destruction of Palestinian homes, government regarding its policy toward was happening on the ground under the leveling of agricultural lands, military the Palestinians were in fact implemented. Israeli occupation. incursions and targeted assassination of 4 Issue 48 - Spring 2008 REALIZING G FOR TH WHENEVER I am asked if I am optimistic about an end to the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict, I say that I am not. Optimism requires clear signs that things are changing - meaningful words and unambiguous actions that point to real progress. I do not yet hear enough meaningful words, nor do I yet see enough unambiguous deeds to justify optimism. However, that does not mean I am Photo by Meta Floor Meta Photo by without hope. I am a Christian. I am constrained by my faith to hope against Palestinians far exceed any similar From my perspective of faith, this racism hope, placing my trust in things as yet practices in apartheid South Africa. No and all forms of racism are a crime against unseen.
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