But, one question remains: How would it be racist against ‘Palestinians’ if service on a bus line operating in the West Bank was for ‘Palestinians only’? That is, how could Palestinians be victims of racism if service on a public transportation system was denied to Jews?
Typically, the canards employed by those who assault Israel’s legitimacy are framed in the opposite manner, with suggestions that public accommodations in Israel are restricted to prevent non-Jews from using them. A great example of such a false claim, advanced by Haaretz and definitively refuted by CAMERA, was the myth of “Jews only” roads in Israel.
While there are no “Jews only” roads in Israel, there are areas within the state for “Palestinians only.”
Put another way, is this sign racist?
Sign warning Israelis not to enter a Palestinian town
First, it would obviously be extremely dangerous for an Israeli Jew to enter Palestinians cities in Area A. It’s also prohibited by the IDF. When I went on a media tour of Ramallah in 2011 I was required to sign a document essentially stating that I understood the risk involved and that the Israeli government was not responsible for my safety.
Palestinian cities such as Ramallah are practically for “Palestinians only.”
Whilst the future of the new bus lines which are the focus of the latest anti-Israel media storm may be in doubt, let’s be clear about two things:
First, contrary to claims made in the media, there are no ‘Palestinian only’ bus lines.
If, completely hypothetically, there were such buses, it beggars the imagination how policies which excluded Jewish passengers could be characterized as racist against Palestinians.
The latest row demonstrates that when it comes to reporting on Israel, facts and moral logic are necessarily subservient to sensationalist anti-Zionist narratives.
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