What is apartheid and why do some accuse Israel of it? | Start Here

Summary

This script discusses the term 'apartheid', historically associated with South Africa, and its contemporary application to describe Israel's treatment of Palestinians. It outlines South Africa's apartheid era, characterized by racial segregation and subjugation, and draws parallels with Israel's policies towards Palestinians. Key points include accusations by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch of Israel's apartheid-like practices, the Israeli government's rejection of these claims, and the debate over whether these practices constitute a crime against humanity as defined by international law.

Takeaways

• 😐 The term 'apartheid', historically associated with South Africa, is increasingly used to describe Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
• 📜 Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused Israel of apartheid, citing international law and extensive reports documenting crimes against humanity.
• 🏛 Apartheid in South Africa was a system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the National Party from the 1940s to 1994, leading to the marginalization and oppression of the black majority.
• 📊 The South African apartheid system was characterized by laws that classified individuals into racial groups, segregated communities, and restricted the movement and rights of non-whites.
• 🌟 Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress played pivotal roles in the resistance against apartheid in South Africa, leading to its eventual dismantling and the advent of a democratic South Africa.
• 🌐 The international community played a significant role in the fall of apartheid in South Africa through protests, economic sanctions, and diplomatic pressure.
• 🏞 Human rights organizations argue that Israel maintains a system of domination and oppression in the Palestinian territories, with Israeli settlers enjoying superior legal status compared to Palestinians.
• 🚦 The Israeli government and its supporters refute the apartheid label, asserting that all citizens, including Palestinian citizens of Israel, have equal rights under the law.
• 🏡 Amnesty International contends that Palestinian citizens of Israel face rights violations, such as home demolitions and evictions, which contribute to a broader system of Palestinian oppression.
• 🌍 The debate over whether Israel's policies constitute apartheid is gaining traction globally, with some drawing parallels to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and calling for similar international action.

Q & A

What does the term 'apartheid' originally refer to?

The term 'apartheid' originally refers to the system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa, where a white minority ruled over and exploited the indigenous black population.

What does the word 'apartheid' mean in Afrikaans?

The word 'apartheid' means 'separateness' in Afrikaans.

How did apartheid manifest in South Africa during the National Party's rule?

Apartheid in South Africa under the National Party's rule manifested through laws that classified people into racial groups and segregated them in every aspect of life, including education, housing, and public spaces.

What was the role of the 'population registration Act' in apartheid South Africa?

The 'population registration Act' was central to apartheid legislation as it provided a legal definition of race, which was used to enforce segregation and determine where people could live, be educated, and work.

How did the apartheid system in South Africa end?

Apartheid in South Africa ended in 1994 after decades of internal resistance, international pressure, and sanctions, culminating in the release of Nelson Mandela and the country's first free elections.

What is the international legal definition of apartheid as a crime against humanity?

Apartheid is defined as a crime against humanity under international law as inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group over any other racial group and systematically oppressing them.

Why are some human rights organizations accusing Israel of apartheid?

Some human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, accuse Israel of apartheid due to what they perceive as a system of oppression and domination that prioritizes Israeli Jews over Palestinians.

How do the Israeli government and its supporters respond to the apartheid accusations?

The Israeli government and its supporters reject the apartheid label, arguing that Israel is a democracy where all citizens, including Palestinian citizens, have equal rights and are subject to the same laws.

What are the key differences between the apartheid systems in South Africa and the situation in Israel and Palestine as described by human rights organizations?

While South African apartheid was characterized by a comprehensive legal system enforcing racial segregation, the situation in Israel and Palestine involves a complex set of laws and policies that some human rights organizations argue amount to a system of domination and oppression, particularly in the occupied territories.

How do some rights groups argue that the situation in Israel and Palestine meets the criteria for apartheid under international law?

Some rights groups argue that the situation meets the criteria for apartheid because they see a system of domination by one group over others being implemented through law, with elements of dehumanizing the oppressed groups, particularly in the occupied territories.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The Evolution of the Term 'Apartheid'

This paragraph discusses the historical and contemporary usage of the term 'apartheid,' traditionally associated with South Africa's racial segregation policies. It notes the increasing application of the term to describe Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused Israel of apartheid, citing international law and alleging crimes against humanity. The Israeli government, however, denies these accusations. The paragraph sets the stage for a deeper exploration of apartheid's meaning, its historical context in South Africa, and its contemporary relevance in discussions about Israel and Palestine.

05:02

📜 The History and Impact of Apartheid in South Africa

This paragraph delves into the history of apartheid in South Africa, detailing the policies that enforced racial segregation and subjugation of the black majority by the white minority. It outlines the legislative framework that classified people into racial groups and the consequences of these classifications, such as forced relocation to bantustans, pass laws, and segregated public facilities. The paragraph also discusses the resistance and international pressure that eventually led to the end of apartheid in 1994, with Nelson Mandela's release from prison and subsequent election as president marking a significant turning point.

10:03

🏛️ The Legal Definition and Contemporary Application of Apartheid

The final paragraph explores the legal definition of apartheid as a crime against humanity, established under international law. It discusses the criteria for determining apartheid, including systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over another. The paragraph then applies this definition to the situation in Israel and Palestine, examining the arguments made by human rights organizations that Israel's treatment of Palestinians constitutes apartheid. It contrasts the experiences of Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, highlighting disparities in legal status, movement, and resource allocation. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging the debate over whether Israel's policies meet the criteria for apartheid, a question that remains subject to legal and political debate.

Keywords

💡Apartheid

Apartheid refers to a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was legally enforced by the South African government from 1948 until the early 1990s. In the video, the term is used to describe a comparison being made between South Africa's historical racial policies and the current treatment of Palestinians by Israel. The script discusses how the word has evolved to be used in the context of Israel, with human rights organizations accusing Israel of apartheid-like practices.

💡Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a global human rights organization that investigates and campaigns against human rights abuses. In the script, Amnesty International is mentioned as having accused Israel of being in an apartheid state, highlighting its role in the discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the use of the term apartheid in this context.

💡Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights worldwide. The script references a report by Human Rights Watch that accuses Israeli authorities of committing crimes against humanity, which is likened to apartheid, thus connecting the organization's findings to the broader theme of the video.

💡International Law

International law refers to the body of rules, norms, and standards recognized and enforced by the international community. The video discusses how apartheid has been defined under international law, with the United Nations adopting the apartheid convention in 1973, which plays a crucial role in understanding the accusations leveled against Israel.

💡Settlements

Settlements in the context of the video refer to Israeli communities established in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are considered occupied territories. The script points out that these settlements are part of the alleged system of apartheid, with settlers receiving preferential treatment under the law compared to Palestinians living in the same areas.

💡Domination

Domination, as used in the video, refers to the control or influence exerted by one group over another, often in a manner that is oppressive or exploitative. It is a key element in the definition of apartheid under international law, and the script discusses how human rights organizations argue that Israel's treatment of Palestinians constitutes a form of domination.

💡Territorial Fragmentation

Territorial fragmentation is a term used in the video to describe the division of Palestinian territories into non-contiguous areas, which is seen as a strategy that hinders the establishment of a viable Palestinian state and reinforces Israeli control. This concept is integral to understanding the accusations of apartheid, as it illustrates the spatial separation and control mechanisms in place.

💡Bantustans

Bantustans were areas designated for black South Africans during apartheid in South Africa, where they were forced to live in impoverished conditions. The video uses this term to draw a parallel with the situation of Palestinians in the West Bank, suggesting that the Israeli government's policies are reminiscent of South Africa's past racial segregation practices.

💡International Criminal Court (ICC)

The International Criminal Court is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague in the Netherlands. The video mentions the ICC in relation to the Rome Statute, which underpins the court and includes apartheid as a crime against humanity. This reference situates the debate on Israel's actions within the framework of international justice.

💡Two-State Solution

The two-state solution is a term used to describe a proposed resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that would involve the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel. The video script briefly mentions this concept, indicating that it is a key topic in discussions about the future of the region and the resolution of the conflict.

Highlights

Amnesty International accuses Israel of being in an apartheid state.

The term apartheid is increasingly used to describe Israel's treatment of Palestinians.

Apartheid in South Africa was characterized by laws that segregated and subjugated the black majority.

The apartheid policy in South Africa was aimed at maintaining white minority rule.

International law now defines apartheid as a crime against humanity.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have published extensive reports accusing Israel of apartheid.

The Israeli government rejects the apartheid label and asserts that Israel is a democracy with equal rights for all citizens.

Rights groups argue that Israeli settlers in the West Bank have superior legal status compared to Palestinians.

There are separate justice systems for Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Palestinians face restrictions on movement and access to resources, unlike Israeli settlers.

The concept of apartheid has evolved beyond its South African origins to describe systemic discrimination.

Some groups argue that apartheid is not only happening in the occupied territories but also within Israel.

The Israeli government and its supporters claim that all citizens, including Palestinian Israelis, have equal rights.

Amnesty International contends that Palestinian citizens of Israel face rights violations within a broader system of oppression.

The debate over Israel and apartheid is gaining attention in international diplomacy and public opinion.

The South African government has drawn parallels between its own apartheid past and Israel's policies.

The question of whether Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid is ultimately a matter for international courts to decide.

Transcripts

let's talk about

[Applause]

apartheid for a long time the word was

only associated with South

Africa but more and more people are

using it to describe Israel's treatment

of Palestinians let's talk about the a

word Amnesty International has accused

Israel of being in apartheid state we

call it apartheid because it is apar

under international law Human Rights

Watch has released a report that says

isra authorities are committing crimes

against humanity of apte but the Israeli

government completely rejects the

label so what does apartheid actually

mean what did it look like in South

Africa and why is the word being brought

up in the context of

Israel let's start with South Africa's

story since the 60 00s the territory

that's now South Africa was under Dutch

and then British colonial rule for

centuries you had a white minority

ruling over and exploiting the

indigenous black population who were the

majority from the early 1900s there were

laws that essentially forced the black

population to live in impoverished areas

known as reserves but in 1948 a new

government led by the National Party

came to power they took segregation even

further under a policy they called

aparte the word means separateness in

Africans how they've um promoted a um

aparted to the South African population

was that unless um the white Community

was solid on every single aspect of

segregation there would eventually be a

situation where they would be

overwhelmed by the black majority over

the following decades under the

apartheid policy the National Party

introduced a bunch of laws they covered

every aspect of life but were all

essentially aimed at the same thing

keeping the white minority in power and

the black population subjugated one of

the main laws classified people into

four racial groups native that was the

term for black people colored for those

of mixed race Asian that was applied to

people of Indian Heritage or white the

population registration Act was uh

Central to the legislation because that

would allow you to have a clear legal

definition of who belonged to what race

and therefore you could begin to say who

should be schooled where who should live

where who can marry whom and rules about

who could live where were a big part of

how apartheid operated black South

Africans were forced to live in rural

areas called bantustans or homelands

these made up 133% of the total land

even though black South Africans were at

least 75% of the population there were

other laws

too black South Africans had to carry a

special pass if they wanted to travel

outside side of the bantos to go to work

for example and were fined or arrested

if they didn't have the right

paperwork public communities were also

segregated non-whites were banned from

certain Parks beaches and

transport the education systems were

different too you had your Bunch

education and basically this would be a

form of Education where they teach you

how to do gardening how to do um cooking

they weren't allowed to say study maths

and signs there's a very rich literature

um on the black um South African

experience under aart and the

overwhelming

Central aspect of that is the experience

of being made a stranger or an alien in

the land of your birth by a immigrant

settler Community apartheid finally

ended in 1994 but it took

decades there was opposition from the

start with mass protests and Civil

Disobedience campaigns led by black

activists and the African National

Congress orc that's the party of Nelson

Mandela which has dominated South

African politics in the post-apartheid

era as the resistance movement grew

through the 60s and 70s the South

African government responded with

[Music]

violence we had young people coming

together um standing in Union against

what was happening and so on and during

that time you had people just murdered

being shot at and so on over time the

anti-ar movement also gained support

internationally there were student

protests in lots of countries South

African sports teams came under pressure

when they played abroad feelings about

recent tragedies in South Africa are

naturally running very strong just now

the country was banned for major

sporting events including the Olympics

it was all part of a bigger campaign to

isolate South Africa politically and

economically there was a un arms embargo

boycots and sanctions by the late 80s

major Western governments like the US

and UK had joined in too and those are

just some examples among a whole web of

internal and external factors that

eventually pushed South Africa's

government to change course whilst none

of them by in and off themselves were

able to overthrow the government

they were able to create a situation of

indemic Crisis which the aparted

government realized it could not get out

of at some point it became too costly to

continue this racial segregation and

that and other factors didn't contribute

to towards this move towards democracy

that happened in the 1990s and this was

a huge

moment when Nelson Mandela was released

from prison he was one of the main

anti-apartheid leaders and had been

locked up for 27 years for his

opposition to the government when South

Africa's first free elections were held

in 1994 he became president another huge

moment the people of South Africa have

spoken in this election they want

change and change is what they will

get so that was the story of a partid in

South Africa the short version anyway

the South African experience explains

the root of the word but the concept of

apartheid has evolved for many people

aparti uh means similarity to South

Africa that is no longer the case today

apartheid is a clearly defined legal

term that's because apartheid has been

established as a crime against humanity

under international law in 1973 the

United Nations adopted what's known as

the apartheid convention it defines

apartheid as inhuman acts committed for

the purpose of establishing and

maintaining Domination by one racial

group over any other racial group and

systematically oppressing them and in

1998 apartheid was included in the Rome

statute the treaty that underpins the

international criminal court and it uses

similar language is there a system of

Domination by one group over others is

law being used to Implement that system

are there elements of dehumanizing the

oppressed groups and if all the elements

exist then the crime exists and in

recent years that conclusion that the

crime of AP partite exists is one that

many human rights organizations have

come to in relation to Israel's

treatment of Palestinians they include

Palestinian groups Israeli groups and

two big International ones Human Rights

Watch and Amnesty International who've

both published investig that are

hundreds of pages long the core

accusation is that the Israeli

government maintains a system of

Oppression and domination that

prioritizes Israeli Jews over

Palestinians now all of them have

reached their conclusion in slightly

different ways and they differ over

exactly where they think AP parte is

happening let's look at the map you've

got Israel here and then the Palestinian

territories which are under Israeli

military occupation meaning Israel has

ultimate authority over this whole area

now some groups including amnesty argue

that AP partite is happening in Israel

itself as well as the occupied

territories we'll get back to that other

groups like Human Rights Watch say the

term apartheid only applies in the

occupied territories here are some of

the things they point

to there are 700,000 Israeli settlers

living in the West Bank in East

Jerusalem and the Israeli government has

granted them a superior status under the

law as compared to Palestinians living

in the same territory that's how Human

Rights Watch puts it it's things like

separate Justice systems settlers are

subject to Israeli civil law

Palestinians are typically subject to

Israeli military law the Israeli

military writes the regulations and the

rules which determine how and where you

build how and where you

travel uh how and where you conduct your

normal business your economy how much

water uh you are allowed it's two

different worlds the Arabs live under

military occupation while the

Israelis

are

enjoying the Palestinian land which they

live on but at the same time they

enjoying all the Privileges that you can

get by being an Israeli citizen

Palestinians can't move around in the

way Israelis can in the West Bank they

have to pass through military

checkpoints they often need special

permits and are banned from using

certain roads we have a Palestinian

dedicated app that shows the route that

Palestinians can take when they want to

go from one place to another they also

can't travel freely between the West

Bank and Gaza even before the recent War

Israel had a total blockade on the Gaza

Strip and this is all part of what the

rights groups call territorial

fragmentation because while Israeli

territory is contiguous I IE it's one

chunk of land Palestinians have been

pushed into a patchwork of territory the

Israeli organization B selum says this

separates the Palestinians into distinct

groups which helps Israel promote Jewish

Supremacy and thwarts criticism and

resistance so there is quite a lot of

agreement among rights groups that

Israel is practicing a partide here less

so on whether the criteria for a partide

is met in Israel itself the Israeli

government and others say that all

Israel citizens have equal rights

including Palestinian citizens of Israel

who make up about 20% of the

population there is forly a democracy

Democratic regime Jews and Arabs have

the same rights they can be elected

there is even an Arab judge in the

Supreme Court so actually there is some

discrimination of course between Arabs

and Jews inside Israel but

basically uh according to the Israeli

law there should be no discrimination on

the basis of race religion gender so

forth others say that in practice it's

not so clear-cut amnesty for example

argues that Palestinians citizens of

Israel do face considerable rights

violations including things like home

demolitions and forced evictions and

they say because those violations are

happening in the context of the wider

system of domination and oppression of

Palestinians the apartheid criteria are

met people began to say

well this system of apartheid doesn't

only exist in the West Bank for settlers

versus Arabs but it's really part and

parcel of the entire enire system of

Israel in all the areas under its

control even though it is uh applied in

different ways now the Israeli

government has called groups like

amnesty delusional for making the

accusation of apartheid and say they're

fueling anti-Semitism Israel isn't

perfect but we are a democracy committed

to international law open to criticism I

hate to use the argument that if Israel

was wasn't a Jewish State no one at

amnesty would dare make such a claim

against it but in this case there's

simply no other explanation criticizing

the government

for uh practicing apart hiide is

becoming not politically correct in

Israel you will not find it in the

mainstream media even in the Academia

professors are very careful about using

a

part but asking the question is Israel a

paride is more legitimate yes outside of

Israel especially in the context of

what's happening in Gaza that question

is getting more and more attention for

example some people are drawing

parallels between the pro Palestine

movement and the campaigns to isolate

South Africa during its apartheid era

South Africa's government itself is

making a link it referred to apartheid

at the un's highest court where it's ing

a case against Israel for another

International crime genocide which

Israel also denies we as South Africans

sense see hear and feel to our core the

in inhumane discriminatory policies and

practices of the Israeli regime as an

even more extreme form of the appetite

that was institutionalized against black

people in my country so the label of a

partide is being attached to Israel and

in the court of public opinion and

international diplomacy labels can be

powerful ultimately though the legal

question of whether Israel's guilty of

the crime of apartheid is one for an

international Court to

decide check out our episode on the

two-state solution between Israel and

Palestine our full playlist of episodes

is here and if there is a topic that you

want us to explain let us know in the

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