Apartheid at its beginning was a desire for a separate political, religious and social development of people from a European origin, apart from indigenous tribal, political and societal structures. Zionism had as its origin the return of exiled peoples originally from Israel, after centuries of diaspora, as well as for those who had remained in Israel.

South African whites, defined according to German racial classification, were supposed to be of pure European blood, but up to 20% of their ancestry was fact non-white. This was rejected as propaganda. (I have one Bengali slave, and one indigenous woman as ancestors, and there must have been others.) Jewish identity was defined according to the same classification system as belonging to the Semitic group, including Arabs and Palestinians. In time the term became identified with people of Jewish origin. DNA research showing that Israeli’s and Palestinians are closely related was politicized and then ignored.

Apartheid history insists that the land occupied was laid waste by devastating wars. Such indigenous occupants and ‘black spots’ were ‘removed’ and people resettled in ‘homelands’ where they could enjoy the tribal culture, authorities and religion they wanted. Foreigners were urged, forced to return to their countries of origin. The basis was the evident fact that divine intervention gave the settlers the right to occupy the land. Israeli settlers were settled in lands historically occupied by their ancestors, based on a God-given mandate codified in religious texts. Palestinians were removed and herded into progressively smaller areas. 

Apartheid ‘homelands’ were economically non-viable, people were poor and children died of malnourishment. Palestinian levels of health is far behind that of Israel. Homelands were meant to become independent, self-sustaining entities. Israel cannot decide whether a ‘two state’ solution, with Palestine having full independence, or a ‘single state’ solution with Palestinians having second class status will answer.

People from Black homelands were allowed into ‘white’ South Africa to work, but had to conform to a slew of regulations, and had to carry an internal passport at all times. Palestinians have to conform to a permit system defined, by two South African Jewish authorities, as similar to, and worse than the Apartheid system of ‘pass’ documentation. 

The ever-growing need for ‘non-white’ workers made a mockery of restrictions. International isolation, boycotts and financial strictures wounded the Apartheid regime. Youngsters who had fought in the formidable South African military against badly armed, unorganized armed opponents of voted against the regime, bringing about it’s end. Israeli Human Rights organizations criticize Israeli policies as Apartheid.

Israeli occupation is financed by American support to the tune of millions per year. If Apartheid had that sort of support it would have endured.

Killing children was not a solution in South Africa, and will not be in Palestine.