When you can’t win your argument because one side is a peaceful, productive democracy with an emphasis on human rights and the other side is basically a religious thugocracy bent on your destruction, the enemy's best bet is to reposition the argument to one of “civil rights” and the use of emotionally charged terms like “apartheid.”

However, where the African “apartheid” was based along racial lines, complete with institutional governmental oppression, and was clearly a civil rights issue, the issues between the Israelis and the so-called Palestinians is a bogus issue.

One, there are no “authentic” Palestinians …

The 1948 Israeli War of Independence was between the neighboring Arab countries and the newly formed state of Israel. The Arab countries did not send troops to help the people that are today known as "Palestinians" but rather they sent troops to drive the Jews into the sea. Most of the "Palestinian Arabs" fled to avoid the fighting. Remember, in 1948 they were not referred to as "Palestinians". This name was was created by the Soviet disinformation masters in 1964 when they created the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The term "Palestinian People" as a description of Arabs in Palestine appeared for the first time in the preamble of the 1964 PLO Charter, drafted in Moscow. The Charter was affirmed by the first 422 members of the Palestinian National Council, handpicked by the KGB. This term was formally used by newspapers around the world after 1967.  <Source>

Two, there is no “legal” Palestinian Territory …

United Nations Resolution 181 recommended a partition of the territory from the British Mandate for Palestine into two states - one for Jews and one for Palestinian Arabs. But the rejection of partition by the Arabs left in place as the legally operative Mandate for Palestine, the 1924 Anglo-American Convention, and Article 80 of the United Nations Charter. All of the Arab countries objected to the creation of the Jewish state and fought a war against its creation. This was Israel's War of Independence in 1948. Despite their superior numbers, the Arab countries lost the war and the Palestinian state never materialized because of this loss. In the war that was waged, the territory allotted to be the Palestinian state by the UN partition resolution was divided between Israel and Jordan. The "Palestinian Arabs" were rejected by every single Arab country, with the exception of the small percentage that ended up in refugee camps in Jordan where they remain to this day. <Source>

If the so-called Palestinians have a right to any land, it is located within the much larger (compared to Israel) Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Unfortunately, the entire Arab world recognizes the political problems that come with radicalized “Palestinian Arabs” and rejects their assimilation into their respective countries. As a history lesson, one might consider the havoc that the Palestinian Arabs wreaked on the formerly beautiful and civilized country of Lebanon, considered by many to be the Paris of the Middle East.

Always terrorists … 

The second-largest party in Lebanon. Hizballah -- along with its backers in Tehran and Damascus -- were second only to al-Qaida in their global terror operations. Hizballah is part of the Lebanese government. Lebanese military forces actively collaborated with Hizballah units by identifying Israeli targets for Hizballah rocket and missile units, transferring intelligence about IDF troop movements, and paying pensions to the families of killed Hizballah fighters. Hizballah is not only a terrorist organization, it is like an Iranian state within Lebanon.
Hizballah terrorists murdered hundreds of Americans, French and Argentinians. Hizballah terrorists attacked Israeli cities with thousands of rockets in 2006. <Source>

Three, real Arab Apartheid against the Palestinian Arabs …

According to Human Rights Watch, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon live in "appalling social and economic conditions." They labor under legal restrictions that bar them from employment in at least 25 professions, "including law, medicine, and engineering," a system that relegates them to the black market for labor. And they are "still subject to a discriminatory law introduced in 2001 preventing them from registering property."The discrimination Palestinians "suffer" when they apply for jobs in Lebanon has been compared to the "apartheid mentality" used by the ruling Sunni family of Bahrain towards its' majority Shi'ite population.”

According to Human Rights Watch, "In 2001, Parliament passed a law prohibiting Palestinians from owning property, a right they had for decades. Lebanese law also restricts their ability to work in many areas. In 2005, Lebanon eliminated a ban on Palestinians holding most clerical and technical positions, provided they obtain a temporary work permit from the Labor Ministry, but more than 20 high-level professions remain off-limits to Palestinians. Few Palestinians have benefited from the 2005 reform, though. In 2009, only 261 of more than 145,679 permits issued to non-Lebanese were for Palestinians. Civil society groups say many Palestinians choose not to apply because they cannot afford the fees and see no reason to pay a portion of their salary toward the National Social Security Fund, since Lebanese law bars Palestinians from receiving social security benefits.” <Source>

Four, about the “right of return” …

It should be noted that when Israel was about to become a nation via United Nations charter, the Arabs decided to attack Israel. Everybody appeared to know an attack was coming and many Arabs, not wanting to get caught up in what promised to be fierce fighting, simply abandoned their properties; believing that they would return after the Arab victory destroyed the “State of Israel.” Rallying under the slogan “Never Again,” the Israelis defeated the Arabs and secured their borders. Some Arabs drifted back and some didn’t – their property being constructively abandoned and becoming subject to the government’s right of eminent domain. Now, these Arabs want to return – along with their extended families – and become recognized Israeli citizens. A process that would give them a numerical superiority over Israeli voters and political power to change the character of Israeli political, social, and commercial institutions forever. A tidal wave of immigration more devastating than a plague of locusts.

About that Palestinian National Charter …

From the United Nations …

We, the Palestinian Arab people, who believe in its Arabism and in its right to regain its homeland, to realize its freedom and dignity, and who have determined to amass its forces and mobilize its efforts and capabilities in order to continue its struggle and to move forward on the path of holy war (al-jihad) until complete and final victory has been attained,

Article 17: The partitioning of Palestine, which took place in 1947, and the establishment of Israel are illegal and null and void, regardless of the loss of time, because they were contrary to the will of the Palestinian people and its natural right to its homeland, and were in violation of the basic principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, foremost among which is the right to self-determination.

Article 18: The Balfour Declaration, the Palestine Mandate System, and all that has been based on them are considered null and void. The claims of historic and spiritual ties between Jews and Palestine are not in agreement with the facts of history or with the true basis of sound statehood. Judaism, because it is a divine religion, is not a nationality with independent existence. Furthermore, the Jews are not one people with an independent personality because they are citizens to their states.

Article 19: Zionism is a colonialist movement in its inception, aggressive and expansionist in its goal, racist in its configurations, and fascist in its means and aims. Israel, in its capacity as the spearhead of this destructive movement and as the pillar of colonialism, is a permanent source of tension and turmoil in the Middle East, in particular, and to the international community in general. Because of this, the people of Palestine are worthy of the support and sustenance of the community of nations.

Article 20: The causes of peace and security and the requirements of right and justice demand from all nations, in order to safeguard true relationships among peoples and to maintain the loyalty of citizens to their homeland, that they consider Zionism an illegal movement and outlaw its presence and activities.

Like Hitler’s exposition on his political philosophy (Mein Kampf), the Palestinians do not hide their intentions.

Bottom line …

There is no piece of paper, or demonization as promoters of Apartheid, that can force the Israelis into accepting a suicide pact with the Palestinian Arabs who want to drive them into the sea. Why any nation would accept the deliberate destruction of their nation by ceding political power to their enemies is beyond comprehension? [Side note: See what is happening to California as the Mexican illegals become a political force.

It is imperative that the United States achieve energy independence to free them from supporting odious regimes which call for human rights while simultaneously violating the human rights of their subject/citizens. Without petrodollars, these regimes cannot continue to purchase arms and political influence to advance their nefarious terrorist actions. If they want to live in peace, something that has not happened since the outbreak of the Sunni-Shia war which predates the State of Israel, that is their right.

But, the best observation about peace in the Middle East came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu … “If the Arabs lay down their arms, there will be peace. If Israel lays down her arms, there will be no more Israel.” Pretty much all you have to know.

-- steve