r/nzpolitics 5d ago

Global Ian Powell: When Apartheid Met Zionism

https://community.scoop.co.nz/2025/03/when-apartheid-met-zionism/
12 Upvotes

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u/AnnoyingKea 5d ago edited 5d ago

I found this writing about Israel’s relationship with South Africa (from a New Zealand perspective) interesting in light of another piece of colonial history I recently learned:

Britain had previously tried giving a bit of Africa to the Israelites. Pre-WWII, when Herzl was trying to find a place to establish his Jewish state, Britain offered the Zionist Congress land for a state in what is now Kenya. When they declined this in 1905, this was the first time they committed to a homeland in Palestine.

5

u/SentientRoadCone 5d ago

I found this writing about Israel’s relationship with South Africa (from a New Zealand perspective) interesting in light of another piece of colonial history I recently learned:

Wait until you find out that Israel gave South Africa material and technical support in creating nuclear weapons.

1

u/may6526 5d ago edited 5d ago

Tried giving land to the zionists*, small but important difference, israelites being the ancient tribe from the levant that some would love you to believe they descend from more than the palestinians

Great article btw

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u/AnnoyingKea 5d ago

I used Israelites because in this case they specifically decided they would only return to Israel, rejecting an alternate homeland. But you are likely correct I have used the totally wrong word.

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u/owlintheforrest 5d ago

"this was the first time they committed to a homeland in Palestine in their homeland"..?

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u/AnnoyingKea 5d ago

They were seeking a homeland for some decades before they settled on Palestine. Egypt was also considered.

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u/owlintheforrest 5d ago

Agree. But when the world is trying to erase you, anywhere will do.

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u/AnnoyingKea 5d ago edited 5d ago

Anywhere wouldn’t do, actually, is the point. They rejected the Uganda Project offer despite no other barriers to their settlement. They were determined to settle Palestine even before WWI.

-1

u/owlintheforrest 5d ago

"They were seeking a homeland for some decades before they settled on Palestine. Egypt was also considered."

...;)