Ina Porth: Appalled by article promoting Israel as ‘apartheid’ state

Tables with arts and crafts activities and information about the deshelving campaign were available at The Campaign for an Apartheid-Free River Valley Co-op’s teach-in held Sunday at the Easthampton River Valley Co-op.

Tables with arts and crafts activities and information about the deshelving campaign were available at The Campaign for an Apartheid-Free River Valley Co-op’s teach-in held Sunday at the Easthampton River Valley Co-op. STAFF PHOTO/ALEXA LEWIS

Published: 09-09-2024 10:41 AM

I love the local news but was a bit astonished by the Gazette’s decision to publish the story [“Pushing for an ‘apartheid-free’ store,” Aug. 27] on the top half of the front page. This is news? No, this is more redefining of what “apartheid” and what Zionism is. It does nothing to stem the rise in antisemitism.

Israel is not an apartheid state. It practices none of the behavior that South Africa did by denying rights to its citizens. Israel is a pluralistic and democratic society with equal rights and access to education for all. There are 2.1 million Arab citizens of Israel, and they make up 21.1% of the population, and 18% of students pursuing an undergraduate degree.

Arabic, like Hebrew, is an official language in Israel. Judaism, Islam and Christianity are all official religions with freedom to pray and belief as one chooses. Arab citizens, including women, have full rights to vote in Israel.

There are currently 10 Arab members elected to the Knesset and an Arab-Israeli serving on the Supreme Court of Israel. There are no signs that say “Jews-Only” anywhere. Arab citizens hold prominent jobs, run businesses, attend schools and universities in Israel. Every hospital in Israel has both Jewish and Arab doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel.

Israel is the only country in the Middle East to allow civil partnerships and there are protections for the LGBTQ community.

If the River Valley Co-op member-owners and others want to boycott Israeli products, then it should be fair. They should not sell cherry tomatoes or produce irrigated by drip irrigation, both developed in Israel. No one should be allowed to enter the stores with a cellphone because those components were most likely developed in Israel. The computer systems used in the stores should also be removed as most likely the R&D for them came from Israel.

On the day when the Israeli special forces rescued a hostage held for for 326 days, a hostage who is an Israeli Bedouin, I find it appalling that the Gazette should help to promote the idea of Israel as an apartheid state.

Ina Porth

Hadley