Survey: Most people would eat puppies to survive a plane crash in the mountains.

The first post in my blog dedicated to the lies people tell.

This is a response to an article by Gideon Levy in Haaretz on the 23^rd of October – as published in Haaretz (requires subscription) by and the guardian.

“More than two-thirds of Israeli Jews say that 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank should be denied the right to vote if the area was annexed by Israel. Three out of four are in favour of segregated roads for Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank.”

Really?

Let me just start by saying I’m in favor of annexing the ‘settlement blocks’. 85% of all settlers live in these settlement blocks spread over 6% of the west bank. Inside these areas, 95% percent are Jews. Outside, it’s 2.6% 1.

Previous talks with the Palestinians focused on leaving these blocks in place. This is why any Israeli asked this question would assume it refers to them.

This brings us to the 2.5 million Palestinians in the second question. If all we’ve read were true, these 2.5 million would mean the end of Israel as a democratic or Jewish state. Fortunately, it isn’t true.

You see, only 5% of those would be annexed along with the areas. That’s around 125 thousand or two Knesset seats (out of 120). Hardly a game changer.

But when you forcibly link two inaccurate questions together, half of the Jewish public wants to annex all of the west bank and 70% would then deny the Palestinians there voting rights.

Other minor tidbits

Q: Is there Apartheid in Israel?
A: This is misleading in two ways. It doesn't mean we support it and it's vague.  A little apartheid (19% agree), is like a little pregnant. You probably mean discrimination and the answer is yes. We have discrimination (and affirmative action) in Israel and we're not perfect. But we're not the only ones and we're certainly not South Africa.
My dentist is Arab. So were the girls leasing my parent's apartment.  Also, a couple of Knesset members, a minister, a supreme court justice, several army generals, a deputy commissioner in the police and one beauty pageant winner.

Q: How do you feel about the segregation between Israelis and Palestinians on the roads in the occupied territories?

A: That's segregation by nationality, not ethnicity. It's also based on necessity - Ten years ago, Palestinian terrorists would overtake Israeli cars and open up with automatic fire. 

Q: Should we boycott those who call for a boycott on Israel due to the Apartheid?

A: Do I really have to say this? Half of the Israeli public thinks we should embrace these people and show them the real Israel. Another quarter thinks we should ignore them. Only 15% think we should respond negatively. 

Is there Apartheid in Israel? Are Israelis evil and immoral? Are puppies on the menu in restaurants?

The answer to all 3 questions is no. Nothing to see here. Move on!  

 1 Source: Shaul Ariely Haaretz