South African perspective: Israel-Palestine

Viewing the conflict between Israel and Palestine, I have struggled to fully comprehend the pain and suffering it has caused many people and their families. People across the globe try to relate and empathize with the struggle of Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza and Israel. But I have also found it extremely hard to take a stance on this conflict due to the competing interests and beliefs that I hold, both as a person and as someone who hopes to one day have an influence in society.

Having tried to distance myself from social media and engage with more reliable sources and independent media, I have tried to understand a conflict deeply rooted in history that still seems to be up for discussion and interpretation. I tried to remain focused on the current conflict at hand but could not do so without acknowledging a few things. Firstly, regardless of your viewpoint or belief surrounding the conflict, both sides are at fault to some extent. However, there is justification for their claims. For those who support Israel, they are right in pointing out that a large part of Hamas's initial attacks disproportionately targeted civilians, resulting in the loss of many people's families and loved ones. However, in that being said, people who are pro-Palestine are right in stating that Palestine has been illegitimately removed from their land in the West Bank and has been subjected to abuse for quite some time by both civilians and the Israeli government. The question becomes: who is right in their claim, and who do we support? But before answering that, it is important to understand how I believe we should be viewing this conflict as a South African.

There has been a flurry of posts on social media and articles that have identified the actions of the Israeli government as apartheid. By definition, apartheid is segregation based on race, according to Google. As a South African, the word "apartheid" invokes emotions and feelings that may be hard to understand, especially for many of us who have grown up in a post-liberation state that prides itself on the ideals of a rainbow nation and a progressive constitution. However, it comes with the responsibility of reminding ourselves of the responsibility to remember how the rest of the world reacted to the subjugation of our people. It meant that Nelson Mandela was viewed as a terrorist until 2008; it meant sanctions were imposed in 1986 (42 years after apartheid began), and it also meant the death of many struggle heroes and leaders. People in the West were too privileged to recognize the harm they caused by simply supporting the National Party. Similarly, in the conflict between Palestine and Israel, it asks us which side of history we want to be on, but also asks us to check if we are supporting the right nation.

Currently, America continues to support Israel and has pledged over $150 billion to Israel as they continue to abuse and violate the human rights of Palestinians. They once again are in support of a nation that has violated sovereignty and statehood, two ideas they claim to value and protect by all means within their own nation. You ask yourself, what is the best way to evaluate the conflict as a person, but also as a South African.

People who have been subject to the abuse and oppression of minority groups that have illegitimately imposed themselves, like the National Party, would only be correct to support Palestine and her people. However, it is important to call for peace for both Israel and Palestine. South Africa would not be in the place it is today if it were not for leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and many unspoken heroes who called for a peaceful transition instead of an all-out civil war. Though the context is very different, it is important not to promote and support an endless cycle of bloodshed during this tense time.

What we all have to be conscious of is the hurt that people are facing around the world and the sensitivity of the current conflict. We pride ourselves on our constitution. However, to have pride and value in it, we must value the life that grants access to it.

It is of utmost importance that we support a solution that provides dignity to all people so they can express their humanity and identity. In the land of both Palestine and Israel, where religious and ethnic identity are at the forefront, it is important we promote a world of understanding. Even though it may be very hard, we must remember to find commonality in our differences. As the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, "if you want to find peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies."