Critics say it’s apartheid but what do Israelis and Palestinians think?

DAHLIA SCHEINDLIN: A new survey reveals surprising points of agreement from both sides about the state of the political system

TWO RECENT REPORTS accusing Israel of apartheid against Palestinians have unleashed feverish debate.

Critics claim that by using the charged term “apartheid,” B’Tselem and Human Rights Watch merely provoked partisans, while the two human rights advocacy groups argue that Israel meets substantive criteria. B’Tselem wrote in January, “A regime that uses laws, practices and organized violence to cement the supremacy of one group over another is an apartheid regime.”

The Human Rights Watch study, released last week, used the definition of apartheid under international law: a policy intended to maintain domination of one group over another; systematic oppression of one group by another; and inhumane acts.

What do Israelis and Palestinians themselves think?

In February, B’Tselem commissioned Dr Khalil Shikaki and me to conduct a public opinion study among Israelis and Palestinians about the substance of Israeli policy, beyond the question of what to call it.

Since the mention of “apartheid” could imply far-left attitudes, we asked the direct question with this word near the end of the questionnaire, in order not to influence responses to other questions. Here’s what we found.

Who controls the territory?

Israelis and Palestinians agree on little. But our findings showed significant agreement that Israel is predominantly in control of the whole area from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean. Two-thirds of the entire sample believes that in practice, Israel controls the West Bank (34 percent), or Israel controls it together with the Palestinian Authority, the PA (33 percent). And 23 percent believe that the PA alone controls the West Bank.

FULL STORY Critics say it’s apartheid. Do Israelis and Palestinians think it is? (Washington Post)