By: Mali Rozen

January 2022

Israel and the United Nations (UN) have had a precarious relationship over the decades. Ironically, the very body that stipulated the need for partitioning then-British Mandate Palestine into a Jewish State and an Arab State (Resolution 181, 1947) is the same one that, today, challenges Israel's legitimacy at every turn. The UN has passed more resolutions condemning Israel than any other country in the world. And it looks like things are only about to get more strained this coming year.

Israel's Foreign Minister (and Prime Minister-elect), Yair Lapid, recently was quoted saying that, in his estimation, Israel will be accused by the UN of conducting a policy of apartheid against the Palestinian Arabs. While Israel being accused of practicing apartheid is nothing new, what is particularly concerning is that the UN has never officially accused Israel of this. If they were to do so, Lapid foresees Israel first being excluded from sporting and cultural events, which could set the stage for future economic sanctions against the Jewish State. That could prove disastrous on many levels.

Does Israel Exercise an Apartheid Policy Towards the Palestinians?

In short, no, it does not. Tragically, the word "apartheid" gets thrown around recklessly in regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is a false comparison to South Africa's real system of apartheid, in which the white minority ruled the country and practiced systemic discrimination against its black citizens. Black South Africans could not intermarry with white South Africans; they could not hold positions in the government; they could not have certain professions, or study at universities. This is nowhere near the case in Israel, where Arab citizens are free to do all of the above. For Palestinian Arabs, who are not citizens of Israel and are self-governed by the Palestinian Authority & Hamas, accusing Israel of apartheid does not even meet the simple criteria of the basic definition of apartheid, because it requires systemic discrimination against citizens. (For more on this topic, please refer to the numerous articles we have published below).

"Apartheid" is actually a smoke screen for the mistreatment of the Palestinian Arabs by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas, which rules Gaza. If these entities were actually interested in improving the lives of their people, they would renounce terror and instead foster economic growth, education, and business opportunities. The Palestinian people suffer at the hands of their elected officials and Israel should not be blamed for this sad truth. While Israel does not always act justly towards the Palestinian Arabs, and criticism is fair when warranted, it is absolutely dishonest to accuse Israel of apartheid.

Yair Lapid does see the need, however, to more deeply engage with the Palestinians in order to combat the false accusation of apartheid. Over the past twelve years, under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel did not do much by way of advancing talks with the Palestinian Authority. Lapid seeks to change this. Whether or not he can yield promising results is yet to be seen.

Why the obsession with Israel?

So, why is the UN seemingly obsessed with Israel and its supposed "apartheid" treatment of Palestinian Arabs? Why does the UN not devote a fraction of its time and resources to actual human rights abuses (like in Syria, for example, or North Korea, or China)? I suggest that the answer is twofold: in the natural, there is a certain envy of what Israel has been able to accomplish in just 70 short years, which has bred a sort of deep contempt. Israel is the phoenix that rose from the ashes of over two millennia of attempted annihilation of the Jewish people. And we are still here.

In the supernatural, Scripture tells us that Israel will eventually become totally isolated from any political ally, and that all nations will come against her:

"I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to wage war. The city shall be captured, the houses ransacked and the women ravished. Half of the city will be exiled but the remainder of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then Adonai will go forth and fight against those nations as He fights in a day of battle."

Zechariah 14:2-3 TLV

In addition to the coming isolation, the prophet Zechariah also describes the obsession with annihilating the Jewish nation as a kind of drunkenness or reeling:

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples when they besiege Jerusalem as well as Judah. 

Zechariah 12:2 TLV

While we should be disturbed by what we see happening in terms of growing anti-Semitism, and the rising hatred against Israel, we should not forget that God will accomplish His plan however necessary, and we should not panic. As dark and difficult as things will get for Israel, we should always remember that God's plan will not be thwarted.

What can you do about it?

So, what can be done on a practical level to combat the apartheid libel against Israel? First, we can speak up in our immediate circles of influence and share resources that intelligently and clearly explain why it is false. Second, we can let our governing officials know how important their support of Israel is, with hopes of helping to influence pro-Israel policies. Third, we can be active voices in support of Israel, whether that be through social media or attending pro-Israel rallies, for example. And lastly, we can pray for the Holy Spirit's wisdom in understanding what is really happening, to have the courage to stand for the truth, and for strength for the Jewish people, as we know difficult times lie ahead.

Let's be encouraged to keep fighting for the truth, and never give up on loving what He loves:

From afar Adonai appeared to me.
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love.
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
Again I will build you,
so you will be rebuilt, virgin Israel!                                                                                                Jeremiah 31:2-3 (TLV)

Sources:

1) https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byirw00gnf

2) Please see our many resources on this subject at:

            https://hope4israel.org/category/anti-semitism/

            https://hope4israel.org/category/israel/

3) The Hypocrisy of the UN: https://youtu.be/6bTqAlqYRDQ

4) Faking Justice: The BDS Movement https://youtu.be/MixNCtCCnHc