Peter Beinart: Lessons from South Africa's Past for Israel/Palestine's Future

Beinart's personal history in South Africa shapes his views on equality and justice. He believes a reckoning with the past, like South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, could help Israel/Palestine.

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2025 October 5 . 2:23 PM

1 min read

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Peter Beinart: Lessons from South Africa's Past for Israel/Palestine's Future

Peter Beinart, a prominent American political commentator, shares his insights on South Africa's transition, Israel/Palestine, and the role of resistance in social change. Growing up in apartheid South Africa, Beinart witnessed the legal inferiority of black people, shaping his views on equality and justice.

Beinart believes that fear of violence from black South Africans among whites was prevalent during apartheid but proved unfounded upon its end. He credits the African National Congress (ANC) for driving change, not just moral appeals. Beinart thinks that a similar process of reckoning with the past, like South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, could be beneficial for Israel/Palestine.

In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Beinart supports a two-state solution, advocating for a sovereign Palestine alongside Israel. He criticizes the current West Bank legal system, deeming it apartheid, and envisions a future where Jewish Israelis and Palestinians coexist equally under the law. Beinart suggests the Palestinian movement could learn from Northern Ireland's power-sharing system to gain Israeli support.

Beinart's views on equality are rooted in the theological principle that all humans are created equal. He argues that oppression breeds violence, while systems that grant everyone a voice tend to be more peaceful. To achieve change, Beinart believes pressure on elites is necessary, as seen in South Africa's transition.

Peter Beinart's perspectives on South Africa and Israel/Palestine highlight the importance of resistance, equality, and reckoning with the past. His insights offer a path towards peace and coexistence, built on mutual respect and shared governance.