Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 02:01 PM Apr 2013

When Racial Profiling Is A National Policy

Palestinian citizens have many rights in Israel, but they are not equal citizens. Only by removing all discriminatory elements from the legal system will Israel cease to be a democracy of racial profiling.

By Noam Sheizaf |Published April 25, 2013

Following one of his visits to Israel, Jewish-American journalist Jeffrey Goldberg praised last year the ease with which he underwent the security procedures at Ben-Gurion International Airport, compared with the long waits he experienced in U.S terminals. Racial profiling made all the difference: while Israeli Jews and many white Westerners – especially those with Jewish names – are rushed through the lines in Israeli terminals and gates, every person with a Muslim or Arab name or appearance – including Israeli citizens – is subject to long interrogations and searches. Solely by being Jewish, Goldberg is entitled to better treatment than Israeli citizens who actually live here.

Racial profiling at Ben-Gurion has received some attention in recent years because its discriminatory nature is so obvious: at the airport, one can actually see the Arab families being taken to a separate security check. Yet racial profiling is more than just a security technique which aims to make boarding more pleasant for non-Arab passengers. It is – especially under the Netanyahu governments – a national policy.

Recently, Israel has engaged in a dialogue with the American administration in an attempt to be made part of the visa waiver program. The effort reached a dead end because the Israelis wanted to reserve the right to refuse entry to “certain U.S. citizens” – i.e. Muslims – beyond the right to individual refusal which both countries will obviously keep. It even got to the point that AIPAC lobbied Congress to agree to discrimination against its own citizens by a foreign country, with no success.

Last week, the government and Knesset extended the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law, which prevents Palestinian citizens of Israel married to non-citizen Palestinians from living with their spouses in Israel. The law was described as a security measure, but as statements made during the time that the bill was initiated revealed, its real goal was demographic – namely, reducing the number of Palestinians who are entitled to Israeli citizenship, or are even allowed to live in Israel as residents.

MORE...

http://972mag.com/when-racial-profiling-is-a-national-policy/69948/
16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Shaktimaan

(5,397 posts)
5. It's not quite so simple
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 10:45 PM
Apr 2013

Remember, this is a nation where 20% of the population belongs to a nationality that the state is at war with. This results in discrimination, obviously. But without any easy solution.

Here's a good example. In Israel military service is mandatory for Jews and Druze citizens but not Arabs. This is because they'd then be in the position of fighting their own people. Perhaps even their own families sometimes. But by removing this requirement Israel sets Arab citizens apart, both expecting less of them while also using it to reinforce their worst fears regarding questions of loyalty wrt this large minority.

So what's the answer? True equality and possible riots? Or the peaceful, if unequal status quo?

 

bravenak

(34,648 posts)
6. It never is that simple is it.
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 11:02 PM
Apr 2013

May need to end that war. That 20 percent will be more than 50 percent one day. What to do then if there is still a war going on. Have to have a peaceful solution sometime. Why not now? To prevent future carnage? Israelis are simply not breeding fast enough to keep up. One day they will be the minority in their own country, what then?
Retribution by the oppressed against innocent Israelis in the future who had no hand in the occupation.
Lets not let this happen. Lets end it now. It will take years to forge new relationships between Palestinians and Israelis. If it begins now, we can prevent future deaths.

Shaktimaan

(5,397 posts)
7. Over 50%?
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 12:08 AM
Apr 2013
Have to have a peaceful solution sometime. Why not now? To prevent future carnage? Israelis are simply not breeding fast enough to keep up. One day they will be the minority in their own country, what then?


Well, I doubt they'll ever be less than 50%. But that's kind of besides the point isn't it? It's in everyone's best interests to foment peace. And almost everyone desires long term peace. That was never the issue. The problem is the terms.

If Israel leaves the West Bank without a mutually agreed upon settlement, it'll be on its own terms, which the Palestinians are guaranteed to hate as they'll be entirely to their detriment.

I agree that peace fosters equality. So how to make peace? It's just not possible at this point.

King_David

(14,851 posts)
3. 'Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law is the very definition of Apartheid'
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 10:04 PM
Apr 2013

Can not for the life of me discern what on earth that sentence means.

aranthus

(3,385 posts)
9. I'm going out on a limb here,
Sat Apr 27, 2013, 07:26 PM
Apr 2013

but I'll guess that delrem is talking about Israel's Law of Return. Still, a pretty insipid statement.

delrem

(9,688 posts)
12. I know that you know that this is just a small, sad, part of it.
Sun Apr 28, 2013, 03:49 AM
Apr 2013

A larger part is how the Jewish people of Israel use the nationality laws to corral, separate and control non-Jews. The program is most obvious in area C of Israel's territories, Judea and Samaria. It's happening fastest, by far, there. But time after time I read accounts of how non-Jewish "Palestinian Israelis" or whatever is politically correct to call them, are herded like animals by laws that distinguish the Jewish *nationality* as being the only nationality recognized by Israel, as being the only and preeminent nationality of Israel as such, as a Jewish state.

Non-Jews get pushed into dead zones, economic backwaters, and are then blamed for their poverty as if it were that they were a backward people, so their plight is their fault.

This is an essential part of the methodology or colonialist regimes everywhere. Show me a colonialist regime that doesn't follow that pattern, that doesn't whitewash its conscience in that way, and I'll give you a prize. The prize being advice to use that example in a thesis, a doctorate dissertation, showing an anomaly and making your name.

 

shira

(30,109 posts)
13. In your twisted zeal to brand Israel as racist, you pretend there is no war going on....
Sun Apr 28, 2013, 06:50 AM
Apr 2013

...and no hateful forces that are against its very existence. How do you think America's policies would be if it were surrounded by Israel's neighbors and at war the past 80 years with such an enemy?

You think America would be any less "racist"?

Be honest.

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)
14. so Israel has been at war with it's neighbors for 80 years eh?
Sun Apr 28, 2013, 05:38 PM
Apr 2013

quote "How do you think America's policies would be if it were surrounded by Israel's neighbors and at war the past 80 years with such an enemy?"

such an enemy and what enemy is that? Palestinians, Arabs, Muslim's, or a combination of all 3?

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)
16. I was asking you to explain your comment
Sun Apr 28, 2013, 06:31 PM
Apr 2013

but you say that's a "stupid game" ? or is it that you do not wish to explain?

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Israel/Palestine»When Racial Profiling Is ...