To the cheers of assembled delegates, the Third International Solidarity Conference of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, which met in Pretoria earlier this week, endorsed the call for a campaign of Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) targeting the Israel. A lone German representative who stood up and challenged the prevailing wisdom that Israel is the reincarnation of South Africa’s apartheid regime was roundly dismissed by the chairman of the ANC, Baleka Mbete, who said that she herself had visited “Palestine,” where she’d discovered that the situation is “far worse than apartheid South Africa.”
This is not the first time that a senior member of South Africa’s leftist political establishment has made that exact point. In a particularly noxious speech delivered last May, the Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu asserted that the Palestinians were “being oppressed more than the apartheid ideologues could ever dream about in South Africa.” Tutu’s co-thinker, the Reverend Allan Boesak – best known for his conviction for defrauding charitable donations from the singer Paul Simon and others — has also declared that Israel “is worse, not in the sense that apartheid was not an absolutely terrifying system in South Africa, but in the ways in which the Israelis have taken the apartheid system and perfected it.” And in an interview earlier this year, John Dugard, a South African law professor and former UN Rapporteur, approvingly referred to “black South Africans like Archbishop [Desmond] Tutu and others who have repeatedly stated that, in their opinion, the situation in the Palestinian territory is in many respects worse than it was under apartheid.”
At times, these thunderous denunciations from ANC figures have descended into open anti-Semitism. In 2009, Bongani Masuku, a mid-level ANC operative, was found guilty by South Africa’s Human Rights Commission of deploying “hate speech” after he announced that any South African Jew who did not support the Palestinian cause “must not just be encouraged but forced to leave.” In his defense, Masuku might have pointed out that he was merely echoing similar sentiments to those expressed by Fatima Hajaig, the former deputy minister of foreign affairs, who claimed that “the control of America, just like the control of most Western countries, is in the hands of Jewish money, and if Jewish money controls their country then you cannot expect anything else.”
In common with other countries where anti-Zionists angrily deny that their views are founded upon classical anti-Semitism, South Africa’s powerful anti-Israel lobby has a number of tame Jews at its disposal to serve as alibis. Foremost among them is Ronnie Kasrils, a former ANC minister who now devotes his time to the Russell Tribunal on Palestine, elegantly described by my fellow Commentary contributor Sohrab Ahmari as “a self-appointed people’s court that has met periodically since 2009 to sit in judgment of Israel.” In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Kasrils laid out the South African anti-Zionist’s credo:
“…what is taking place in Palestine reminds us, South African freedom fighters, of what we suffered from. We are the beneficiaries of international solidarity and need to make a similar payback to others still struggling for liberation. Palestine is an example of a people who were dispossessed of land and birthright just like the indigenous people of South Africa.
As a Jew, I abhor the fact that the Zionist rulers of Israel/Palestine claim they are acting in the name of Jews everywhere. I am one of many Jews internationally, and in Israel itself, who declare ‘Not in my name.’”
Note the veneer of altruism in these comments, along with the insinuation that, as the first victims of an apartheid form of government, South Africans enjoy special privileges when it comes to franchising the term. But what Kasrils pointedly does not mention is that the ANC’s receptiveness to the apartheid analogy was established long before Nelson Mandela presided over the country’s transition to majority rule.
It was, in fact, the Soviet Union that established the analogy, by linking the Palestinian and black South African struggles in its propaganda. Those readers who can bear to revisit UN General Assembly Resolution 3379, which equated Zionism with racism, should note the awkwardly-worded observation that,
“…the racist regime in occupied Palestine and the racist regime in Zimbabwe and South Africa have a common imperialist origin, forming a whole and having the same racist structure and being organically linked in their policy aimed at repression of the dignity and integrity of the human being.”
The ANC, which always oriented itself to the Soviet bloc and still maintains a close relationship with the unapologetically Stalinist South African Communist Party, has not discarded this Soviet ideological baggage. That commitment, far more than any distinctive insights generated by the experience of living with apartheid in its South African homeland, explains why the country’s leaders are so willing to downplay the historic sufferings of their own people in order to batter Israel with the language of racism.
And it perhaps also explains why the BDS movement has failed in its bid to become a mass campaign with real impact. Instead, it has resigned itself to being a forum for assorted extreme leftists to pile moral opprobrium on Zionism and Israel. That is, when they are not paying tribute to Fidel Castro as a “revolutionary icon in the fight for freedom and equality.”
It is important for Jews (not phony self described 'Jewish' KAPOs such as Ronnie Kasrils), especially, to be extremely careful when becoming sympathetic toward supposedly oppressed groups. They, too often, bite the hand that reaches out to them. While the GOP social agenda frequently turns many Jews and women away from them, the Democrat's anti-Israel behavior is far worse and more deadly. The interests of women and Jews in particular would lean much more toward the GOP if the GOP could take the Social issues out of politics and back into the Church where it belongs. And likewise, take the Church (and synagogue, etc.) out of politics where it does not belong. At least while stealing tax exemptions.
Someone coined the termed Alibi Jews to describe people like Kasrils, because the give the Jew-haters the ailbi of being only anti-Zionist. I wish I could remember who it was, by I am indebted to whoever came up with the term.
Kasrils is a special case. He's admitted that he was KGB trained and supervised. He's alluded to participation in atrocities at the behest of the KGB in Zambia. He's a through and through hard line Stalinist, always has been and given the chance he'd create a violent psychotic Stalinist regime in the RSA. He was too extreme even for the ANC and EVEN Joe Slovo who SAID he was Stalinist himself. That Ronnie Kasrils had some ancestors who were Jewish is utterly irrelevant. n nBut, the wider point is that once upon a time there were liberal secular Jews in the RSA who worked with the ANC and the PFP in the latter days. They were never a part of the Jewish Orthodox community in the RSA. They were and are "Jewish" like I'm Belarussian and just got off the boat.
Considering the critical role played by many South Aftrican Jews both in the ANC and in the legal opposition to the apartheid regime (Helen Suzman's Progressive Federal Party), it is appropriate to recall once again that revolutionaries quickly forget any favors ever done for them by their Jewish friends. I wait for the day that the Tikkun Olam crowd will devote some of its enormous energy and resources to helping Klal Israel rather than those who will eventually kick them in the teeth.
No good deed goes unpunished. It's actually true when it comes to deeds by Jews. n nAlways. n n
This is just one more example of the fruit of the Obama foreign policy ripening. I think the worldwide anti-Jewish sentiment is worse than it has been since perhaps the fight to establish Israel (I should say again after centuries) during the Truman administration. What next? Does Obama intend to join the boycott of American companies that do business with Israel?
Keeping in the mind that the real Jewish community in the RSA is shrinking but still quite comfortable and in no way eager to leave the country. And while they won't admit to being browbeaten by the ANC red and blackshirts, they'd just as soon stay out of it and be left alone.
The majority of people in the world get a cheap feel good bleating about their concern for the Gazans. The operative concept for Israel is "never again." By whatever means necessary, IT SHALL NOT HAPPEN…neither the Holocaust itself nor the reliance on others to protect the Jewish people. Even if the Christian West meant well (in many cases, obviously not), good intentions cannot be relied upon…as Czechoslovakia discovered in 1937. n nIf Israel does not feel secure, why would they be expected to concede anything in peace negotiations? And who is there that they can negotiate with that can guarantee lasting peace anyway? And why should we care…do we have to be the "Nanny State" abroad as well as at home? n nMy conclusion is that the US should butt out and let the protagonists sort it out for themselves. Cut Israel loose as a client state: don't fund it on the one hand but don't leash it on the other. I don't see why it is in our interest to be sending money or weapons to either side…we are simply enabling. n
For your info, The US for past several years get a lot more back than what they have and still are investing in IL.
Let us never forget that the Palestinian Arabs are left twisting in the wind by their so-called Arab "brothers" who have, for generations now, refused them hospitality and sanctuary in the huge expanse of territory and with the oil wealth at their disposal. If there was one ounce of sincerity in them, the squalor their "brothers" exist in Gaza could never have happened. Gaza is not and should not be viable and one way or another it will end. The only way it will be a good end is if their Arab brothers finally face up to their responsibility. n
Yes, the chubby, overfed, incompetent and parasitical palestinians excell only at genocidal fantasies, and getting western liberals and third world morons, less well off, and less free than the palestinians themselves, to agitate on their behalf. n nIt's quite a trick. n n
SA is in deep trouble, but will get a lot worst with their unnatural alliance with the Muslim world. nThe SA people will remain the victims of their leaders (Malella included)
As I read this I remembered how all the Democ-rat office holders of Jewish origin used to demonstrate outside the South African embassy against the white tribe that ran South Africa and called for the installation of the anti-Israel scum who run it now. Funny how nobody in the Jewish (mis)leadership has much to say about scum like Nadler, Schumer, Engel, Cardin, Lowey, Lautenberg and the others who engaged in those demonstrations. Read the above article and see the results of their efforts.
We can all agree that virulent, vicious anti-Semitism is at a frightening level again. Why has this happened yet one more time? Because we Jews have permitted it to happen. Those who indulge in complex analyses actually do us no favors as a people. Fact is, after the Holocaust we stood united behind "Never Again." So what happened? n nSimple. All that deters the sadistic bullies of the world, i.e., the folks who enjoy hating us and who, if not stopped, will go on to committing acts of violence—and eventually murder—against us, is the sure knowledge that we Jews will come after them if they dare to harm a single hair on a Jewish head! That was the meaning of Never Again! n nIsrael was founded in order to ensure the integrity of Never Again. And how ironic, that so many Jewish Americans are either lukewarm or hostile to Israel's existence! The one thing that guarantees our safety, and this is what they choose to oppose or remain indifferent to! n nAnd the bullies know it. They're not stupid and they have their antennae out—in search of victims to torment, to persecute, to murder. We Jews seem to have perfected the "victim thing." No group encourages Jew-hatred as much as the Jews of the Diaspora do. They give the lie to Israel's right to exist, by not living according to Never Again. Every time a Diaspora Jew does not stand for Israel, the next cycle of violent anti-Semitism gets that much closer. n nWhat Arab would put up with the slanders, the insults, the curses—and the threats—that Jews do? Why, half the world is scared to death to say anything that might insult their boy Mohammed! But we Jews? You can say anything you like about us, even to our faces—and all we'll do is defend your right to free speech! Such a good people we are! Such good boys and girls! Good Jews. Good, good Jews. Such a moral people. Such a holy people. Good, good Jews. n nThe other day, Bibi Netanyahu announced that, for all kinds of reasons, he was forming a coalition with Avigdor Lieberman's party. Why? It's obvious why: because Lieberman is a tough boytchik, just as Bibi is! And if Israel has to attack Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, or fight a war against Egypt and Syria again, then Bibi will need someone like Lieberman to watch his back and provide moral support——especially if Obama wins the election here next week (thanks in no small part to all those "good" liberal Jews who may again vote for him!). n nis it any wonder the blacks hate us? How convenient we are to them! Blacks, too, are victims, and thanks to us they get to hate someone—the Jews, who refuse to defend themselves! But it's really only Diaspora Jews who refuse to defend themselves. Worse, they demonize those Jews (e.g., Israelis) who do defend themselves! n nThere is something monstrous, twisted, and even revolting about the Jewish American community, i.e., the majority that values "goodness" but disdains manly honor, loyalty, and physical courage. I am not in the least mystified as to why we are hated. The peoples of the world hate us, because we let them hate us. By contrast, the Moslems forbid it. And so, the world bends over backwards to "not hate" them! n nHow complicated is this? Not very. But since I insist it is we Jews who are responsible for anti-Semitism, and not the rest of the human race, no one takes this simplicity seriously. But, as is true of most human problems, the cause of anti-Semitism lies within ourselves. It exists because we allow it to exist. And therefore we are the only ones who can obliterate it. n nWe must inform the sadistic bullies of the world that there is a heavy price to pay for Jew-hatred. And we must back up our threats with actions. Then there will be no more Jew-hatred.
Good post. n
Yes, good post, but ask the people in Sderot, Shaar Hanegev and other rocket bombarded areas who tough they thing Bibi is. He looks a lot tougher to you and me than he does to them.
South Africa and Rhodesia were peaceful, productive and prosperous countries under racist white rule. Under racist black rule both are crime ridden, unproductive and impoverished slums. n nSouth Africa and Rhodesia's worth begins and ends with natural resources. No South African or Rhodesian has ever contributed anything of worth to humankind. Our best course is to exploit their resources and ignore their people. n
I am a South African Jew and can confirm the validity of this excellent article. South Afirca has become virulently and (for Jews) uncomfortably anti-Zionist over the last ten years. It has been a steady movement and horrible to witness. BDS is a big deal here, as is intimidation on college campuses of students who voice any support for Israel. n nOne way to make this horror go away is to shame the South African government into backing away from their anti-Israel stance. I believe that more articles like this one – in places like the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, etc – would do a world of good. if South Africa could somehow see that it was alienating only itself, and that it is not in its broader interests, it would wake up to the damage of a radicalized and increasingly ugly anti-Zionism that too often tips over into outright anti-Semitism. n nA recent unflattering article on South Africa in The Economist caused panic among the upper echelons of South African political society. Make no mistake (as Obama would say), more articles like this in American publications would do the world of good.
It sickens me how palatable antisemitism is to the world. South Africa holds a conference where they say that Jews are evil and essentially taking over the western world and no one cares. After a cursory Google search of "Third International Solidarity Conference, antisemitism" the only results that turned up were Jewish websites. If their vitriol was directed at any other minority we would see it all over the place. n nThe Tea Party doesn't like Obama so that makes them racist and we need to devote lots of media attention to trying to prove it. So much media attention is devoted towards sub-conscious racism that in reality is nonexistent but when we have clear cases of antisemitism like this there is no attention. n nIn the end South Africa is unimportant and I don't think that the media should be completely preoccupied with prejudice but there is a consistent pattern here in the "main stream" media. Racism or prejudice that most likely doesn't exist gets a lot of coverage – the less proof the better (we can always just make stuff up)! But when we have clear instances of antisemitism like this there is no coverage. UNESCO is an excellent example of this. n nNear the beginning of this semester an antisemitic editorial was published, ironically about prejudice! Wait what? The editorial was about how racial minorities and alternative lifestylers are subjected to racism and prejudice. Oh, and how Jews are evil greedy hook-nosed warmongers who need to be put in there place. Right.