The conflicts in the Middle East are far more complex today than they have ever been before. While the physical, destructive violence is what attracts the most attention, it is far from being the most important aspect of this issue. The sheer amount of misleading and/or false information that is being spread ensures that massive parts of society remain ignorant of the reality of the situation in the Middle East. This ignorance is propagated by the media’s careless use of loaded terms when reporting on and discussing the possibility of a two-state solution in Israel.
Take the word ‘apartheid’, for example. This word is thrown around frequently in the debate surrounding Israel. The term was first used to describe the South African regime prior to Nelson Mandela’s presidency. This term was used to describe the ways in which the white minority segregated and oppressed the black majority of the South African population. If you were not white, you were not allowed to vote nor were you able to demand equal rights. You were discriminated against based on your color and in turn deprived of basic rights handed to you for the soul reason of being white. The blacks were under constant fear of being whipped or executed and denied education.
The main reason why ‘apartheid’ is the most misused term for the current situation is the fact that the Arabs have been given an opportunity at signing a two-state solution, which would in turn grant them their own state. They have turned down this offer on multiple occasions.
The Muslims living in the West Bank do not have the same restrictions as the blacks in South Africa had. They possess the right to vote and attend university. Many of them attend universities outside the West Bank, including Israeli universities. They are even more liberated than others in Muslim countries. While those living in the West Bank do not live in an apartheid regime, it must be clear that their living conditions are not ideal. Palestinian women frequently have no choice but to give birth at checkpoints instead of hospitals because the soldiers fear ulterior motives. Those living this conflict on a daily basis are entrapped in a vicious circle; if the soldiers are too cautious in allowing people through, they can be made to look like the villains. However, if they are too lax at the checkpoints, they may make a fatal mistake that could take the lives of countless innocent people.
This summer I was given the incredible opportunity of visiting the security fence—which generates so much media attention—alongside the architect of the structure, Danny Tirza.
Danny Tirza explained the history of the security fence, its necessity and its effects. The fence was built with the sole purpose of decreasing terror acts after a bloody March in 2002. 139 citizens were murdered in one month due to terrorist activity and thus the need for a temporary security fence was felt by many and so it was built. Tirza explained how the idea behind the fence was a way to manage the terror with the hope of one day no longer needing it and ultimately being able to take it down. Tirza acknowledged that divider is not a long-term strategy to achieving peace, but rather a transitory solution to a long-term problem.
He continued to say that Israel has stressed the fact that the fence is solely a security line and not a political borderline. This means that if there would be a peace agreement the route of the fence would be changed; and lines would be redrawn with Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. This did not sound like apartheid to me.
Being brought to such a controversial landmark in and of itself was unfathomable. However, being accompanied by a man who devoted the large majority of his life to protecting our Jewish state and ensuring our safety was humbling, to say the least.
In Judaism we are taught the power of our words. We are taught at a very young age how our words carry meaning and must be spoken cautiously. It is a skill that Jews and non-Jews alike must acquire and improve on daily. The situation in Israel and the West Bank is one that deserves less badgering and more understanding. Understanding a two-state solution and understanding the use of loaded and misleading vocabulary and how detrimental it can be in the hope of one day having peace is crucial. We must educate ourselves and choose our words carefully because our words and our advocacy for our land is our strongest ally.