In his op/ed piece on June 2, Mr. Samah Sabawi builds a case against Israel by conveniently leaving out some facts.
For example, he correctly cites the Kahan Commission’s finding against Israel’s Defense Minister Ariel Sharon. However, he does not explain that Sharon was found to be indirectly responsible. Rather, the Commission concluded that direct responsibility of the massacres of Palestinians in Sabra and Shatilla rested with the Gemavel Phalengists led by Fadi and that no Israelis were deemed directly responsible.
Today, within Israel, Jews are a majority, but the Arab minority are full citizens who enjoy equal rights. Arabs are represented in the Knesset, and have served in the Cabinet, high-level foreign ministry posts (e.g., Ambassador to Finland) and on the Supreme Court. Under apartheid, black South Africans could not vote and were not citizens of the country in which they formed the overwhelming majority of the population. Laws dictated where they could live, work and travel. And, in South Africa, the government killed blacks who protested against its policies. By contrast, Israel allows freedom of movement, assembly and speech. Some of the government's harshest critics are Israeli Arabs who are members of the Knesset.
It is clear that Mr. Sabawi’s goal is to delegitimize Israel. What remains unclear is why the Miami Herald chose to publish this biased commentary.
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