the author is suggesting that there are two different policies

The author describes the israeli apartheid in a deceitful way, which is very different to what you say. This is not an article that wants to draw attention to the Uyghur. It just tries to deflect the conversation from the Palestinian Genocide to something else.

Please see an article by Amnesty International from 2022, meaning before the current Genocide: Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: a cruel system of domination and a crime against humanity

A few more of the plenty deceitful aspects in this article are bellow:

The United States has tried to pressure China’s leadership to end the Uyghurs’ mistreatment—for instance, by barring companies from importing products that originate in Xinjiang into the U.S.

Talking about these imports is one thing. Why not also talk about the US arm exports that kills Palestinian civilians? Regardless of the Leahy Law.

Israel was formed by Jews

No, it was created by Zionists, not Jews. These two words are not interchangeable. There are many Jews who oppose Zionism (please see Jewish Voice for Peace)

Israel, from this viewpoint, is an outgrowth of European colonialism; it represses and displaces a local people,

There is a word for these people: Palestinians.

Also, represses and displaces a local people? If past tense was used, this sentence would have some merit. Since it uses present tense, I can only say: this is not how I would describe a Genocide.

Sorry but whataboutism has its limits.

Also, from the posted article:

The Israelis keep the Palestinians something of a people apart

Is this how we describe apartheid now?