Before things got even worse, with charges flung at it of being guilty of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide,” Israel was being accused of practicing “apartheid.” In vain did Israel, and its supporters, note that Arabs serve in the Knesset, sit on the Supreme Court, go abroad as diplomats for Israel. An Arab was recently the head of Israel’s largest bank, Bank Leumi. Jews and Arabs work in the same offices and in the same factories. Jews and Arabs play on the same teams and make music in the same orchestras. Jewish and Arab doctors and nurses work in the same hospitals, treating both Jews and Arabs. There is only in one respect that Jews and Arabs are treated differently. Jews must, while Arabs may, serve in the military.
Now another star has risen in the Israeli musical firmament, and she, too, undermines all the nonsense and lies about the “apartheid state of Israel.” Her name is Valerie Hamaty, and she is a Christian Arab from Jaffa who has been chosen as Israel’s entrant in the Eurovision Song Contest. More about the remarkable Ms. Hamaty can be found here: “Meet Valerie Hamaty, the Christian Arab leading the race to sing for Israel at Eurovision,” bJanuary 4, 2025:
A frontrunner on the latest season of “Rising Star,” the Israeli talent show, has advanced on the basis of her renditions of an iconic Israeli song that includes words from the Shema prayer, the central affirmation of Judaism, and “Hurricane,” the country’s post-October 7 anthem that she performed alongside a survivor of the Hamas massacre that day.
Those might be unsurprising selections in a Jewish country that has lately been defined by its response to October 7. But it’s not just her voice that sets Valerie Hamaty apart: She’s also an Arab Christian, the only such contestant on a show whose winner becomes Israel’s entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest. And her success is sparking debate at a time when Israel’s war in Gaza has tested relations between Jewish and Arab Israelis.
“That an Arab should represent Israel on an international stage is a huge source of pride,” said Zohurha Abonar. “And the fact that she’s from right here? That makes it even more special.”
Abonar is a Muslim resident of Jaffa, the city adjacent to Tel Aviv that is the heart of Arab Israel and Hamaty’s hometown. She was speaking at a Christmas market where Hamaty’s recent advance added to the seasonal cheer.
One teenage girl, who said she was Hamaty’s cousin but asked not to be named, said the singer’s growing success resonated deeply within her Christian community. “She’s inspiring so many of us,” she said.
But Hamaty’s rise hasn’t been welcomed by everyone.
“She’s always pandering to Jews,” said one young woman from a group standing nearby, who declined to give her name.
“My generation in the Muslim community will never stand behind her,” she added, pointing to Hamaty’s decision to wear a yellow pin in support of the hostages, and what she viewed as the singer’s public alignment with Israeli Jews during the ongoing war. Hamaty has made regular visits to hospitals to cheer soldiers wounded in Gaza, sung at the funerals of victims of the October 7 attack, and toured battered kibbutzim and communities….
When Valerie Hamaty was chosen as the best singer by the judges and home audience on “Rising Star,” that was good. When she appears at the Eurovision Contest, an Arab singer representing her country, Israel, that will be even better. And should she win the Eurovision Contest to be held this May in Basel, and return home in triumph, just possibly we will hear a chagrinned admission from some that well, yes, perhaps Israel is not an “apartheid” state after all.
Cynthia says
Israel has Arabs in every sector, including doctors, nurses, the courts and the government. There is constant misinformation and demonization of Israel.
The wall and checkpoints are only because of terrorists blowing up people, stabbing people, car ramming…. from the Palestinian run territories where Jews are not allowed to live – the real apartheid.
gravenimage says
Spot on, Cynthia.
Sara says
I think that indicating “arabs” as an ethnicity within Israel is not good. The only thing Valerie Hamaty needs to know as is an Israeli. Another example of why countries and nationality should take precedence over “ethnicity”.
gravenimage says
This is only important because it is so often falsely said that Israel only treats Jews as citizens, when this is obviously untrue.
Blougeoisie says
Sounds like the Muslim lady is the only apartheidist in the whole article. Keeping apart from Christians and Jews.
Who would have thunk!
Kosh's Shadow says
Exactly what I said later. And I am as shocked at that as Captain Renault was that there was gambling at Rick’s
Kosh's Shadow says
Some of the comments in the article show who engages in apartheid – it isn’t the Jews
But Hamaty’s rise hasn’t been welcomed by everyone.
“She’s always pandering to Jews,” said one young woman from a group standing nearby, who declined to give her name.
“My generation in the Muslim community will never stand behind her,” she added, pointing to Hamaty’s decision to wear a yellow pin in support of the hostages,
gravenimage says
What–some Muslims hate a Christian who doesn’t hate Jews? I’m shocked, shocked…or maybe I’m not…
gravenimage says
‘Apartheid’ Israel Chooses an Arab to Represent It at the Eurovision Song Contest
……………………………………………
That says it all.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
When people talk about Arabs who are loyal to Israel, my first suspicion is that the Arabs in question are Christian Arabs, who’re not totally consumed by antisemitism the way muslims are. That’s how it turned out in this story: glad this lady ain’t an islamochristian
Yeah, there are muslims who are loyal to Israel, but that percentage of the population would be an asterisk
gravenimage says
Good point, Infidel.
Andrew Blackadder says
During the year of 1978 I was in both South Africa and Israel and only one of those two countries practiced Apartheid.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Actually, Apartheid – the way it existed – may have been abominable for South Africa, but once one looks at the practices, it’s actually the only peaceful way muslims and non-muslims can co-exist in a country. Completely segregated “homelands”, ban on muslim-infidel intermarriages, ban on them trading in each others’ districts & so on. Essentially, separate but equal
This may sound horrendous, but look at the problems it solves. The rapes that we read about all the time – be it in Britain, Netherlands, Germany, Greece, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan,…. would all be eliminated, if these populations were legally segregated in the same way Whites, Coloreds and Blacks were in the 70s & 80s South Africa. Similarly, in India, the issues of muslims being able to set up shop outside Hindu temples, but Hindus being excluded from doing the same outside mosques – it would be a non-starter in an Apartheid India. Both communities would be able to live peacefully, w/o the muslims getting to victimize the infidels
The only alternative to Apartheid in all these countries would ultimately be civil wars
James Lincoln says
Infidel,
Some may see your idea as being “extreme”, but there may be no other answer other than mass deportation – or civil war.
Betty Levy says
Instead of being always on the defense when Israel is accused of apartheid we should be asking these people “where are the Jews in the Muslim countries or where are your Christians? What will they have to say?
gravenimage says
+1
JS says
Can someone name an Islamic nation or an Islamic majority nation that is NOT apartheid? Seeking but unable to find!
I’ll check back if anyone cares to leave a response.
gravenimage says
You aren’t wrong, JS.
Lady of the Lake says
At one time Jews were Arab. Semitic people. Im not sure when this changed.
gravenimage says
Lady of the Lake, Jews have never been Arabs–although both peoples have at times been characerized as semitic. And antisemitic has always meant anti-Jewish.