What would happen if a developed European country enacted an apartheid government that discriminated against a portion of the population? It would not be the first time this happens, of course, but let’s imagine it taking place in the twenty-first century. What if Italy, for example, decided that the entire Campania region – with Naples in its center – must be sectioned off by a tall wall, with the people living there losing their right to vote and their equality before the law? To cross into Italy proper – if they even meet the quota – they must go through checkpoints guarded by armed soldiers and suffer lengthy delays and humiliation. Furthermore, they’ll be subject to repeated harassment by Italians from other regions who’d settle in land pockets annexed by the central government and enjoy monetary assistance and military protection.
How would the world react? Will the Italian democracy survive such a change? Will Italy be expelled from the European Union? Will the Pope condemn this move or collaborate with the government, claiming that the Campanians are not faithful Catholics?
Israel prides itself on being a developed country with a robust economy and a highly educated citizenry, much like Italy. Will it survive the anachronistic reality it created? How long can it cling to the notion that its Jewish population has more God-given rights than others? Is there an expiration date on its ability to rely on this myth to justify the current situation?