Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

shira

(30,109 posts)
40. Yes, bash Israel, give a pass to mass slavery in India & quote from racist Mondoweiss...
Wed Dec 14, 2016, 06:05 AM
Dec 2016

How pathetic, but to play by your rules there's always Australia. Tell me, is Australia developed enough?

Israel, the un-apartheid state – a comparison with Australia
http://www.jpost.com/printarticle.aspx?id=323822

But there is more to the elimination of racism in a society than repealing racist laws and passing laws outlawing racial discrimination. Practical outcomes of successful multi-culturalism and integration of minorities at all levels is the true measure of the elimination of racism in a society.

And it is by this measure that Israel puts Australia and much of the western world to shame.


The practical reality in Israel is that minorities achieve prominent positions at a far higher rate than in Australia. This is true in all areas of society:

• Politics: In Israel, 10 percent of Israel’s Knesset are from Arab minority groups (Christian, Muslim and Druse). This includes over 4% from parties with racially mixed composition. This large representation of minorities has been a consistent feature since the early days of the state. Three members of religious and racial minorities, Nawaf Massalha (Muslim Arab), Salah Tarif and Raleb Majadele (both Druse) have served at ministerial level in the Israeli government, including the later two as Cabinet ministers.

By contrast, only 1.3% of Australia’s current federal Parliament are from religious minorities (one Muslim and two Jews) and this itself is a huge increase from previous Parliaments that often featured less than 0.5% non-Christian representation. While there have been a similar number of Australian Jews who have served as ministers, no other religious minority has been so represented.


• Judiciary: Israel has a judge from the Arab minority serving on its highest court (Salim Joubran). Sadly, Australia has not had a single High Court judge from a racial or religious minority for over 80 years, since Sir Issac Issacs! • Military: Israel has three Druse generals currently (or recently) serving in its defence forces (Major-General Yusef Mishleb and brigadier-generals Imad Fares and Hasson Hasson). Disturbingly, it appears Australia has not had a single general from a religious or racial minority for over 80 years, since Sir John Monash! The legislature, judiciary and military are the key sources of hard power in any society and the success of racial and religious minorities reaching these corridors of power is a litmus test of the true openness and lack of racism in a society. Australia’s scorecard on this test compares very poorly to Israel’s.


But success of minorities in areas of soft power is an equally important measure, and here, too, Israel outclasses Australia.

• Socio-Economic Statistics: In Israel the life expectancy, educational attainment and earnings of the Arab minority are on par with, if not better than, that of Arab minorities in virtually all Western European countries, and far above that of other Arabs in the Middle East. In Australia the life expectancy, educational attainment (including basic literacy) and earnings of indigenous Australians is nothing short of appalling, worse than many third world countries.


• Popular Culture: An Israeli Christian Arab, Lina Makhoul, won The Voice Israel this year. In contrast, not a single person from a minority religion has won the equivalent Australian Idol. Salma Fiomy-Farij, a hijab-wearing Israeli Muslim Arab, came second in this year’s Israeli Master Chef (the winner was a German convert to Judaism). In Australia Master Chef has not had a single winner from a religious or racial minority.


THUS BY both legal and practical measures Israel is a less racist country than Australia and as far from apartheid South Africa as any country could possibly be. Israel truly is an un-apartheid state, one of the freest, most open and non-racist societies in the world.

The false accusations and Israeli Jew-targeting protests of the Australian BDS movement are not only racist and anti- Semitic, they are also completely hypocritical when Australia has so far to go to overcome its own racist past.



And now let's test your Leftist credentials....


Americans have voted & put Trump & alt-Right nazis in charge. America wins as most racist, developed democracy. Right or wrong?

palestinians are semites. will they have extra protections too? msongs Dec 2016 #1
Jews are the primary victims of religious hate crimes oberliner Dec 2016 #2
Fine. Let's call it Hatefully Anti-Jewish aranthus Dec 2016 #3
HOW MANY TIMES leftynyc Dec 2016 #11
Until there are more reasonable standards for banning the people who do it. n/t aranthus Dec 2016 #12
INHO leftynyc Dec 2016 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #4
If Israel's a racist endeavor and the overwhelming vast majority of Jews support Israel... shira Dec 2016 #8
Yup. aranthus Dec 2016 #14
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #17
Yawn. All your sources are either antizionist or part of the BDS movement. shira Dec 2016 #21
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #26
And yet Amnesty & HRW never accuse Israel of Apartheid. Riddle me that one. shira Dec 2016 #33
There is a difference between pointing out racism in country and calling it a racist endeavor. aranthus Dec 2016 #37
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #38
Yes. aranthus Dec 2016 #45
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #46
Where does Rabbis for Human Rights call Israel a racist endeavor? aranthus Dec 2016 #47
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #48
So RHR doesn't call Israel a racist endeavor or Apartheid. You made that up.... shira Dec 2016 #49
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #50
You made crap up. What's the point? You even claim to not like the BDS movement.... shira Dec 2016 #51
In other words you lied about RHR so you could lie about people like me. aranthus Dec 2016 #52
David Hirsh: this new definition of antisemitism is only a threat to antisemites shira Dec 2016 #5
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #7
It means there's legit criticism & illegitimate hateful, racist discourse WRT Israel.... shira Dec 2016 #9
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #18
No, because for one that's a lie. Two, you would never do that to another country. n/t shira Dec 2016 #20
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #22
And those comparisons are lies. Amnesty & HRW don't spew such bullshit.... shira Dec 2016 #24
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #27
You're going back a long way to demonize only Israel & no other nation. shira Dec 2016 #30
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #32
LoL, I rest my case. Israel is uniquely evil just as Jews are uniquely evil. shira Dec 2016 #34
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #39
Yes, bash Israel, give a pass to mass slavery in India & quote from racist Mondoweiss... shira Dec 2016 #40
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #41
IOW, facts don't matter to you. You've now been provided 2 democracies way worse than Israel.... shira Dec 2016 #42
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #43
You're still deflecting, pretending criticism of Israel that's on par.... shira Dec 2016 #44
Typical how you deflected rather than answered how it is that critics of Israel.... shira Dec 2016 #25
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #28
I think you know why. Their criticism doesn't cross the line. shira Dec 2016 #31
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #35
They're part of the BDS movement, remember? Same BDS movement you oppose. shira Dec 2016 #36
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #6
Ben White is an outright antisemite. Little wonder why he's against this... shira Dec 2016 #10
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #19
Let's start with the first. Ben White understands & justifies antisemitism... shira Dec 2016 #23
This message was self-deleted by its author Little Tich Dec 2016 #29
I truly do not understand you. aranthus Dec 2016 #15
Remember, criticism similar to that leveled vs other countries is legitimate shira Dec 2016 #16
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Israel/Palestine»Britain adopts broader an...»Reply #40