Apartheid and Settler Colonialism: Tools from the Past Used by Israel Today
In the past year, at least three respected human rights monitoring organizations have identified Israeli practices against Palestinians as apartheid: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and B’Tselem (the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights). Apartheid is any policy that is founded on the idea of separating people based on racial or ethnic criteria. It is important to note that these practices are systematic efforts by the Israeli government, not simply actions due to the ingrained prejudice of a few bigots.
Settler colonialism is a system of oppression that aims to displace a population of a nation (oftentimes indigenous people) and replace it with a new settler population. Against the expressed wishes of the United States early this summer Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Finance Minister, announced plans to double the number of settlers in the West Bank from at least 500,000 currently to more than 1,000,000. These settlers live in settlements that are illegal according to international law and built on land belonging to the Palestinians.
Israel is a friend of America. Both settler colonialism and apartheid are anathema to our values as freedom-loving Americans and supporters of democracies around the world. Friends do not allow their friends to commit human rights violations with impunity.
The Palestinian Families and Children Act, or H.R. 3031, would prevent the expenditure of your tax dollars in support of these practices. Contact your representative.
Michigan District IV Residents: Take a stand HERE
All Others: Take your stand at https://nwttac.dci-palestine.org/united_states.
Equal Human Rights For All The Peoples Of Israel-Palestine