‘Palestinian Only’ Buses in Israel: The Big Lies are Back
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Afikim bus in Israel
Photo Credit: Yori Yanover
The new bus lines are not, as the misleading headlines suggest, only for Arab Palestinians, the restriction they have is that they only stop at Arab towns in the territories, where – few would disagree – Jews with or without special identification would not dare go for fear – a legitimate one – of physical violence. The fact remains that any Israeli citizens, Jewish, Christian or Zoroastrians, who live in the “Jewish” towns, were able to and did use the pre-existing bus lines.
Now that we have some actual facts in front of us, let’s go back to the issue of borders. The primary responsibility of any sovereign nation is the protection of its citizens. Israel, you may have noticed, has been under relentless attack from its Arab neighbors since it was re-born in 1948.
And let’s add into the mix the fact that one of the most “effective” forms of terrorism during the uprisings was the use of suicide bombers on Israeli buses. Hundreds of Israelis were killed and thousands were injured in a few dozen different bus bombings, all of which were perpetrated by Israel-hating Arabs from Israel’s neighborhood. And those were just the attacks that took place on buses or in bus stations. Those numbers don’t include the many times that number of Israelis murdered or wounded by terrorists who infiltrated Israel via its buses for the exclusive purpose of murdering or assisting in the murder of Jews.
Yisrael Medad, a citizen of Shilo and occasional spokesperson for the Yesha communities, told The Jewish Press that the issue is purely this: for someone with a blue identification card (i.e. a citizen of Israel), there is no problem. And there are plenty of non-Jewish citizens of Israel – at least 20 percent, in fact.
Anyone with an orange identification card (i.e. not a citizen of Israel), however, must go through security procedures in order to get on to a bus going into the sovereign state of Israel. Whether that happens when everyone is boarding the bus, or it happens when the bus arrives at a checkpoint, it must happen for security reasons and if an orange card holder – whether from Tahiti or Tulkarem – does not have the requisite evidence, they can’t get on the bus. This is the case with any entry into Israel: Ben Gurion if by air, or border crossings if by road.
Medad also pointed out there have been repeated efforts by agitators to paint Israel as an Apartheid state with an Apartheid transportation system – none of which has been based on reality. Not so long ago a stunt was attempted by what some clever public relations specialists dubbed the “freedom riders.”
“WEST BANK” “FREEDOM RIDERS”
On November 15, 2011, six Arab Palestinians boarded a bus at the psagot junction in Shomron (“West Bank”) amid great media fanfare. They called themselves the “West Bank Freedom Riders.” The media gullibly latched on to the label, and watched, flashed their cameras and gleefully scribbled their stories of racial segregation. When the six refused to show their identification documents at the Chizma checkpoint entrance to Jerusalem, they finally were forcibly removed and temporarily detained.
But here’s the rub: the real freedom riders, the people who actually risked life and limb – and sometimes lost both – to help overcome Jim Crow racism in Mississippi and Alabama and places like that were seeking equal rights for American citizens, not trying to extend privileges reserved for citizens – ones who present no security risk – to non-citizens.
What’s more, as Medad pointed out to The Jewish Press, the six Arabs were not denied the opportunity to ride the bus, they were simply not allowed past a checkpoint into Jerusalem because they refused to show identification. Anyone refusing to show identification would have been treated the same way.
One of the many ironies in this latest attack on Israel’s morality is that the efforts, like mushrooms in the dark, have grown and mutated. For a long time there was a repeated insistence that there are “Jews Only” roads in Israel. Amira Hass, of the hard left Haaretz, was one of the primary dispensers of that tall tale. Of course there are no “Jews only” roads in Israel, just as there are no Jews only buses or even ‘Palestinian only’ buses in Israel. But if you tell a big lie often enough, well, Goebbels was the master and look where that took us.
tell a friendAbout the Author: Lori Lowenthal Marcus is the US correspondent for The Jewish Press. She is a recovered lawyer who previously practiced First Amendment law and taught in Philadelphia-area graduate and law schools.
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No Responses to “‘Palestinian Only’ Buses in Israel: The Big Lies are Back”
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The people complaining about the buses are the same people who complained about the Jerusalem tram and how it was bringing Arabs from East Jerusalem into the West! We can't win. As for ID, I thought they had dropped the old "pass laws" crap years ago but here it is again. In Israel EVERYONE has to carry ID all the time. And who is to blame for that? The Arabs of course, without the bus bombings it would not be necessary. They know that, of course, it is only the foreign antisemites who make political capital out of it.
Why obfuscate Jew hatred with facts. Haaretz and Yediot are going bankrupt – that's fact – and are lashing out as they seek a wider jihadi / Anti-Jew audience with age old canards.
The scourge of the self hating Jew is universal. They rear their ugly head in every country in their self loathing hatred for Israel!! Yes, the Jews control the media (in the sense that so many Jews work in the media) and then use it to attack Israel! So beyond sick!!
…not trying to extend privileges reserved for citizens,ones who present no security risk, to non-citizens.
I participated in the Civil Rights movement in the American south in the '60's where many Jewish American led the protest of the despicable treatment of blacks. If they witnessed the apartheid system in place right now in Israel, they would be on the front lines in protest. Tikkun Olam ?Where are you.?
The only aparthied in israel is from leftist Jews who would rather kiss the butt of Arabs than admit that the Jewish state is trying to tho do the best it can in a dangerous world.
I have to assume that Joseph is senile! How else could he call Israel apartheid!?
No surprise in the attacks on Jews by the ubber left kapos. Apartheid in Israel? That must explain why, when Israeli Ararbs are polled about being ruled by the PA, they vehemntly open up in opposition. A Black Jew now Miss Israel. Druze in the higher echelons of Tzahal! Arabs knowing Israel is the ONLY country with a large Muslim population where the Arabs have such extensive and guaranteed freedoms. Gays openly accepted and part of society.
Simple fact is that Joseph is naught more then yet another methodist that projects his own racism and pretends it is the Jews so he can absolve himself of the true guilt his 'church' perpetuates. Go pretend to be a Christian in a muslim state and let;'s see how long before you get stoned
Ron Kall joseph is the typical Jew hating methodist projecting his own racism
Fred Weiser joseph is NOT Jewish!
50,000 Africans now live in Tel Aviv. They came for safety and sanctuary. I find it fascinating that 50,000 Black Africans get Israeli help (Egypt had turned water hoses on them years ago) yet Israel is called "Apartheid" country. The Arabs preach, teach, hatred of Jews, perpetrate violence against Israelis (and others around the world) and they get a pass. What hateful deliberate lies from hate-filled people dominate the news. Disgusting.
The arabs made sure Israel was stuck with 50,000 Africans who are a major drain on Israel, because they know later they can find a way to accuse Israel of racism or whatever, regarding some aspect of the Africans treatment in israel. Allowing them in was and is another major mistake by Israel!!