Dear Sara:
I often hear the word Apartheid applied to Israel. I do not appreciate this. During 1981 and from 1990 to April of 1994 when South Africa had its first all-race election, I lived in a true Apartheid state. It bears no resemblance to Israel today.
The Palestinians of South Africa were The African National Congress. On any given day, they had a bank balance of $600 million US. They were loved and revered all over the world. (Please compare this to the pariah status of Palestinians in many parts of the world including Iran.) The ANC rarely engaged in violence against civilians, as the Palestinians routinely do.
The ANC understood that a military victory against the white minority government was not a realistic possibility. They could only win by getting world public opinion on their side.
When Nelson Mandela was released from prison, he was kind and magnanimous toward his white opponents. He made it clear that the ANC recognized the right of white people to exist and share South Africa with the black majority. He promised a constitution that would protect the rights of all. He delivered on this promise.
If only the Palestinians would stop being violent and aggressive and start being magnanimous and kind.
Shalom,
-JackW
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