Four Pervasive Myths About Israel And Why They’re Wrong 

Although criticism of Israel is common worldwide, some of the most vocal criticisms of the Jewish state come from the far-left. What makes this particularly surprising is that these critics, who claim to stand against colonization and the erasure of indigenous rights, are often leading the fight against a state created by indigenous people who decolonized their land to escape oppression. In recent years, these radical criticisms have become so commonplace that politicians in Congress have echoed them. Here, we dispel four myths about Israel and provide the truth behind each.

Myth #1: Israel is an Apartheid State

On May 15th, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, “Apartheid states aren’t democracies.” The definition of apartheid refers to a system of legalized racial segregation in which one racial group is deprived of political and civil rights. However, in Israel, Israeli Arabs, who make up approximately 20% of the total population, have the same rights and opportunities as their Jewish neighbors, as guaranteed in the State’s constitution. In fact, 23% of Israeli doctors, 46% of Israeli pharmacists, and 16% of Israeli higher education students in 2016 were Arab. Additionally, numerous Arabs serve in the Knesset and Supreme Court.

Claims of “Israeli Apartheid” are often made in reference to Israel’s treatment of Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, Israel is not the governing body in either of these regions except for select areas in the West Bank. The Gaza Strip has been under the control of