This time to the author of a Web site
Hi,
I read in your "Encyclopedia of the Orient" that Israel practices "apartheid".
Since I know Israeli law a bit and am aware of the fact that Israeli Arabs have the same rights and duties and Jewish and Druze citizens, I assume by "apartheid" you are referring to the fact that Arab Israeli do not have to join the army while Jews and Druze have to. You might have to make this more clear in the entry (or give examples of other legal differences between Arabs, Jews, and Druze). You should also mention the Druze, I think.
I am wondering, since I didn't read your entries for the other countries, do you also refer to the Arab countries as "apartheid" states since most of them don't allow Jews to vote or even to be in the country, or is that negative term reserved for the Jewish state?
To be honest, if I had the choice, I'd rather be an Arab in a Jewish state than a Jew in an Arab state. Perhaps the word "apartheid" has changed its meaning since the 80s?
Your entry about "Palestine" is also false. It is not a republic that has declared its independence. This view contradicts the peace treaty the legitimate Palestinian representatives have signed. I also notice that you give the number of Jews living in "Palestine". Would you be willing to similarly change the article about Israel to list the Arabs living in it as "Palestinians" (which they all are, even though Israel has also granted them Israeli citizenship)? That would reflect the duality of the two Palestines (the Jewish part and the Arab part) and make some readers more comfortable in believing that your "encyclopedia" is neutral and just stating the facts.
Just out of interest, is "Palestine" an apartheid state? I know that Jews have been living in Hevron and the old city in Jerusalem (which "Palestine" claims) for thousands of years. Do they have Palestinian citizenship, or is that reserved for non-Jews only? Do they have the same rights under Palestinian law as Arabs in Israel have under Israeli law? If they don't, would you add that "Palestine" doesn't grant citizenship to its Jewish inhabitants?
If "Palestine" completely ignored these Palestinian Jews and doesn't admit them as Palestinians, wouldn't that mean that Palestine is an apartheid state?
BTW East-Jerusalem has been annexed by Israel and is not currently under the official Arab Palestinian government. You might disagree with that as many do, but you should update your "encyclopedia" to reflect the current situation better. Once or if East-Jerusalem becomes a part of "Palestine" you can change the entry back. Currently East-Jerusalem was lost to Israel by Jordan and has never been a part of a state of "Palestine" ever.
I very much appreciate that you at least try to treat Israel as if it wasn't a Jewish state. But I suggest you implement some of the changes above.