Gus > Israel's right to be racist.
Outstanding article which sets out quite clearly what the whole dispute is about -- the right of Israel to impose racist laws in a world which considers racism to be anathema and the right to be anti-democratic in a world where democracy is championed as the only acceptable political solution. Furthermore, for the state of Israel to "exist", crimes of colonialism, particularly ethnic cleansing, have to be decriminalized in the eyes of all concerned.
Frankly, as an assimilated, self-hating Jew (by definition), I cannot accept the Zionist argument, compelling as it may be, that Jews need special treatment in this world. Indeed, as a white South African who still lives in South Africa and is prepared to make his home there under black rule, I have heard them all before and also seen the results of this "special pleading" argument which is, if Jews have the right to legally discriminate against others then so does everyone else -- and it doesn't end with religion.
Actually, this is the fundamental and existential question which every single person has to decide for himself -- should every definable group be exclusive, and with its own laws, and kept apart from every other group, if necessary in a ghetto, or should we all be free to mix with one another as we please and be treated equally under the laws, both local and international? |
