Allan Wolman to The Star

Our erudite Minister of Sport and Recreation has placed Israel firmly in the goalmouth with her accusations of its being an apartheid state. Now we need her to  give her readers just one or two similarities that she sees between SA’s apartheid system and Israeli society.

There are very few who would not support a free and independent Palestine state. I have supported that solution on three momentous occasions in the past twenty years. On all three occasions it baffled the world why the Palestinian Authority would not accept a just and viable state on offer, one firmly rejected by an intransigent and corrupt leadership. The leadership is bent on the continued state of hostility as the only way to eradicate the Jewish state, having for years decided on a path of hostility and acrimony instead of peace and prosperity. That, madam minister, might be the reason that there is still an occupation – something that could have been avoided twenty years ago.

One must wonder why the minister mentions only the peoples of Cuba, Swaziland, Western Sarah and Palestine and “other “struggling people but omits those who are being slaughtered in Syria, Myanmar, Ukraine and Yemen – peoples who are beyond struggling but desperate to stay alive! One must wonder why she omits that plight of the Palestinians in Lebanon who are suffering under a real apartheid system similar to that which was experienced here in SA.  What about the slave trade of Mauritania and those slave markets of Libya?  All these peoples are suffering a fate far more precarious than the people of Palestine, whose life expectancy is the highest in the Arab world and infant mortality the lowest.

While accusing Israel of apartheid practices of which she fails to give one single example, she is deathly silent on the statement by Palestinian President Abbas that no Jew will be allowed to live in a Palestinian state.  She is also silent about the Hamas Charter which calls for the killing of Jews wherever they are.  It seems obvious that the minister is much in favour of apartheid practices against Jews!

The minister makes a most scurrilous accusation against Israel, accusing it of having forcibly sterilized African women without their consent in 2013. With so much attention focused on Israel by various human rights bodies and a hostile world press, surely an incident of this nature would have surfaced previously and been “milked” by Israel’s detractors? Yet nothing of the kind ever made the news.  A public apology and retraction of such an outrageous statement should be demanded from her!     

Victor Gordon re “Israel’s Apartheid Legacy”

Re:  “Israel’s apartheid legacy”

Terry Crawford-Brown’s latest anti-Semitic rant (as revealed in his diatribe titled “Israel’s apartheid legacy”) is indeed sickening.

While C-B will undoubtedly deny any anti-Semitic leanings, let me assure him that if it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and squawks like a duck, it is what it is. It takes a Jew to understand and recognise anti-Semitism and this is a case in point.

The false claim that Israel is an apartheid state has been dealt with so often in the past that it is exhausting to confront it again. But, while exponents of this accusation still exist (which includes several influential members of the ANC hierarchy, seemingly incapable of intelligent thought),  the need prevails to keep exposing the truth.

‘Freedom House’, the 70-year-old  independent monitor of freedom and democracy, rates Israel as the only fully free and democratic country in the Middle East.  If C-B knows of another let him name it.  (Perhaps Syria, which has slaughtered 500,000 of its own people without a word of protest from T  C-B?)

Also, if he can explain how a country that practises true democracy can simultaneously adopt a policy of apartheid, I await his elucidation as the two policies are anathema and simply cannot co-exist.

A simple walk around the streets of Tel Aviv where Jews and Arabs (and over 40 other nationalities) live side by side, sit as MP’s in the Knesset (Parliament), use the same hospitals, learn at the same universities and serve as judges in the Israeli courts, would immediately strip away the slanderous claim of apartheid and expose T B-C for his lies.

But sadly, his falsehoods have receptive ears from those who find it easier to find fault with the only existing Jewish state than apply their minds to the facts.

The fact that the UN and Human Sciences Research Council have both found Israel guilty carries little weight with a UN traditionally biased against Israel to the degree that, during the last session of the Human Rights Council, 20 resolutions were adopted against Israel with only ONE against Syria!

Nine were adopted against the entire rest of the world comprising 192 countries! As for the SA HSRC, with a precedent like this, there is little reason to believe that Israel would have been treated any fairer.

Israel is a haven for Jews created after the scourge of the Holocaust during which no country would open their doors to save them. Indeed its raison de etre’ is for that very purpose with its borders open to any Jew wishing to emigrate. Others need to apply to enter, as would be the case with any other country. Would a non-Muslim be accepted by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or Iran?

For T C-B to level a charge of Genocide against Israel displays both sheer ignorance of the meaning of the term and a lack of acknowledgement that the Arab population both within Israel proper and in the Disputed Territories (including Gaza) have increased many-fold over the past 50 years. How does he explain this contradiction?

As for his well-worn accusation that the security wall and fence, constructed after 1200 Israeli civilians were murdered in a series of over 100 suicide bombings during the 2^nd Intifada serves the interests of  apartheid, how does he reconcile that terrorist attacks against Israel have dropped by over 90% since its construction?  How would any other country have reacted under similar circumstances?

Terry Crawford-Brown is an embarrassment to anyone with brain-enough to think for themselves. Perhaps he should seek another cause. This one does little more than exhibit his innate stupidity.

Rodney Mazinter to The Weekend Argus

Dear Sir

I’m shocked by the anti-Israel bigotry and hostility I encounter in the popular press. (Sunday Argus March 25, “Israel’s apartheid legacy” by Terry Crawford-Browne).

I have always been liberal in outlook, tolerant of those with other opinions or emphases but the anti-Semitism and hatred for Israel that I have encountered since my early, halcyon days has changed my outlook personally and politically. Tolerance of Israel and Jews has been replaced by something ugly and threatening.

As an interested layman I have attended talks, read widely and been involved in one-to-one discussions in much of my 80-years on this planet. I have become an inveterate letter writer and a speaker to groups, sharing what I have learned about the history of modern Israel.  Each time I spoke I would take questions, learning by so doing from my audiences. Most of those to whom I spoke were supportive, friendly, and open to hearing about Israel. But, sadly, some were not.

Anti-Semitism has been around for a long time and did not just disappear with the end of World War II. Like most Jews, I got used to having ugly things said to me from time to time. Mostly I could stand up for myself.

But nothing prepared me for the misinformation and demonisation of Israel, and the gut-wrenching, anti-Israel, anti-Semitic hostility expressed by people like Terry Crtawford-Browne.

I learned that this new form of bigotry against Israel is called the “new anti-Semitism,” with “Israel” replacing “Jew” in traditional anti-Semitic imagery and canards, singling out and discriminating against the Jewish state, and denying the Jewish people alone the right to self-determination. The new anti-Semitism is packaged in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (BDS), of which Crawford–Browne is a supporter and which claims to champion Palestinian rights. Its real goal is to erode support for Israel, discredit Jews who support Israel, and pave the way for eliminating the Jewish state and destroy Israel as the Jewish homeland.

Crawford-Browne supports this. It is surprising that a man who holds such a bigoted view is ever taken seriously, but BDS advocates have found receptive audiences in some circles. Their campaigns are organised and in many cases, well financed. They have lobbied parliamentarians, universities, corporations, food chains, churches, performing artists, labour unions, and other organisations to boycott Israel and companies that do business with Israel. But even if some don’t agree to treat Israel as a pariah state, the BDS activists manage to spread their anti-Israel misinformation, lies and prejudice simply by the tactic of forcing a debate based on their false claims about Israel. Those who fall for this in the spirit of hearing the other side find themselves in a trap of having to debate a lie thereby lending credibility to it.

In my own experience, at the BDS anti-Apartheid week at UCT in 2011, I heard members of a panel comprising Ronnie Kasrils, Jonathan Shapiro, Terry Crawford-Browne, Zachie Achmat, Alan Boesak and others declaim against Israel in the most offensive way. The claims go beyond being absurd – in one case, a very courageous young woman who defended Israel was asked by one of the panelists if she knew how many Palestinians have been raped by IDF forces. She answered that as far as she knew, none. The panelist triumphantly responded, “Israeli soldiers don’t rape Palestinians because Israelis are so racist and disgusted by them that they won’t touch them.”

Such irrational argument is symptomatic of dangerous anti-Semitism. Yet, alarmingly, many in South Africa are completely oblivious to this ugly movement and the threat it poses. They seem to be unaware that this anti-Jewish bigotry is peddled on campuses, by speakers in high schools, churches, and communities, and is often deceptively camouflaged in the rhetoric of human rights.

Allan Wolman to the Daily News

In his scurrilous letter to this newspaper Hiresh Ramthol chastises Israel for directing its wrath at African migrants.

Firstly, he edits the truth by omitting to tell us that those illegal migrants being deported have never filed for refugee status and are therefore illegally living in Israel. He also fails to divulge that each migrant being deported, despite being there illegally, is given an air ticket together with a cash payment of US$3500.00 to make his/her return the country of birth more palatable.

Dear Mr Ramthol, pray tell us which other western country would provide payment and an air ticket when deporting its illegal immigrants?  Almost all European countries, bursting at the seams with illegal migrants, are currently deporting them – but Ramthol singles out Israel with no mention whatsoever of those many country where migrants are simply refused entry or deported immediately upon entry. At the same time, please let us know which Arab countries allow free entry to migrants and asylum seekers.

While many African migrants land up in Libyan slave markets, this bigoted writer ignores the tragedy of these migrants.  Instead he focuses on only one country which has become a magnet to thousands of African migrants. Why?  Because they see Israel as a beacon of hope, and they risk their lives crossing hostile territory to reach the only democratic country in the region, the only one where they won’t be tortured for their beliefs and their culture.  

Victor Gordon to The Star

THE STAR

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Refers:  “Israeli action not backed by all Jews”

Of course Israel’s government, policies and actions are not backed by all Jews, no more so than all blacks don’t back the policies of the ANC.   Israel and South Africa are democracies which frees up their citizens to adopt whatever viewpoint they desire.

But that is not and never has been the issue. What critics  of Israel, both Jewish (like Allan Kolski Horwitz) and non-Jewish both purposely ignore are the circumstances that contribute towards the decisions and policies adopted by successive Israeli governments, all of which face the ultimate reality that Israel has been under continual unrelenting attack since its birth in 1948 while surrounded by committed enemies bent on its total annihilation.

As is often said – “Israel exists in a tough neighbourhood.” This demands that she act accordingly to ensure her security. What Israel has learned from the start is that, unlike countries that can rely on Nato or other countries to come to her aid in times of conflict, she is on her own and always has been. Hence the measures she adopts at times to ensure her survival may at times appear harsh and uncompromising but, under the sheer weight of the threat that she faces, are necessary and unavoidable.

Right now she is surrounded by Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy armed with over 100,000 missiles capable of reaching any point in the country; Hamas, whose charter calls for the killing of Jews anywhere in the world; Fatah which rules the West Bank and has vowed to never recognise the Jewish state, and a chaotic Syria where ISIS and Iran have established their presence. Under these circumstances Israel, the size of the Kruger Park, can be forgiven for not always being as magnanimous as the world might like her to be.

The dishonesty and hypocrisy that dominates the Israel/Palestinian conversation is endlessly repeated, enabling anyone with just a modicum of common sense to realise that the attention devoted to this 70 year-old conflict when compared to other parts of the world, is simply insane.

We have only to read the caption underneath the dominant photograph (measuring 4 columns across) included with Allan K. Horwitz’ letter to appreciate the anti-Israel bias that pervades our media. The caption reads, “Freedom from oppression: Po-Palestinian protestors picket outside the Cape Town legislature. People of conscience condemn immoral Israeli actions”.

Disturbingly, this caption which adopts the subjective viewpoint that “Israel’s actions are in fact immoral”, was chosen (as was the picture) by the editor and not by the letter- writer clearly displaying The Star’s inherent bias.

Just days ago, the BBC reported that since January 1^st  2018 over 1000 Syrian children have been killed in the unceasing battle between government and rebel forces. While 22 resolutions were passed against Israel at the last session of the Arab/Muslim dominated UN Human Rights Council, just a single one was adopted against Syria where half a million civilians have died over the past 5 years!

How, when confronted with such blatant lies and hypocrisy can criticism against the Jewish state be taken seriously?

Monessa Shapiro on Israel Apartheid Week

Israel Apartheid week is upon us and with it all the lies, obfuscations and hate-filled emotive language.   But there is a new trend this year.    There appears to be a need by many of those in the media and by representatives of the various pro-Palestinian organisations to assure all that their behaviour and statements are not anti-Semitic.  Why?  Are they in some small measure disconcerted by the barrage of mendacious statements that they have been forced to sprout, in order to give credence to the blatant lie that Israel is an apartheid state?  More likely though that by continually professing their lack of anti-Semitism they are in actual fact revealing a deep-seated insidious anti-Semitism, for as Queen Gertrude says in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, they do ‘protest too much’.

Michia Moncho, the convener of the 2018 Israel Apartheid Week is one such person.   At length, he attempts to explain why IAW cannot be construed as anti-Semitic.   Let me enlighten him.

Firstly, to term Israel an Apartheid state must be one of the most evil fabrications of the century.   Every citizen in Israel, Jew, Moslem and Christian is equal before the law, has equal access to medicine and education, has the right to vote and the freedom to practice his or her religion.   Israel’s raison d’etre is a home for the Jewish people.   To term this racist and apartheid while at the same time acknowledging and affirming the existence of 50 Moslem states must have something to do with Israel being the home of the Jewish people.    A hint of anti-Semitism perhaps?

But IAW does more.   IAW disregards completely the fact that Israel is surrounded by neighbours who all seek her destruction.   IAW remains silent when Jewish children are slaughtered in their beds and rabbis murdered while praying.  IAW does not condemn, nay it excuses as ‘understandable resistance’ thousands of rockets launched into Israel with the sole purpose of murdering Jewish men, women and children.  Is it because Jewish lives are not worth much to the adherents of IAW and as such is this not anti-Semitism?

At the same time IAW and its proponents say nothing about the true Apartheid in the Middle East.   The fact that I, as a Jew cannot enter many of the Moslem countries.   The fact that Mahmoud Abbas has made it quite clear that no Jew will be allowed in a future Palestinian state.    The fact that there are large signs at the entrance to Arab towns in the West Bank warning Jews and Israelis not to enter as their lives would be in danger.  I’ve yet to see such a sign in Israel warning Arabs not to enter a particular area.

And so when you call out the only Jewish state in the world, a tiny country, 1/6^th of 1% the land mass of the Arab world for constant opprobrium, then those of us who are fair-minded look with suspicion.  When you actually name  a week Israel Apartheid Week  in order to celebrate her so –called depravity  then those of us with integrity and a smattering of intelligence – those of us who know that Israel is the farthest thing from Apartheid – question your motives.   And what can your motives be?   The end of Israel as a Jewish state.   The end of the one and only home of the Jewish people.   Anti-Semitism?

Victor Gordon responds to: “Israel no water technology giant, SA won’t learn from its propaganda”

PRETORIA NEWS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Re:   “Israel no water technology giant, SA won’t learn from its propaganda”

Were Alie Komape to invest in a copy of “Let There Be Water” by Seth Siegel, he would find that instead of taking heed of the incoherent utterances of our illustrious former Minster of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, (who accused Israel of the practise of “water apartheid”), he might gain some insight into how Israel has become a water-abundant nation.

To claim that Israel’s method of desalination, which incorporates Reverse Osmosis (RO) is costly and inefficient when compared to membrane chemistry and nano-filtration, proves that Kompane is blissfully unaware that Israel experimented with these techniques well before Dr. Sydney Loeb developed the system of RO at the Ben-Gurion University.

Israel’s journey in the development of desalination started in 1959 and progressed through a program that incorporated Mechanical Vapour Compression followed by Multi-Effect Distillation and finally, Reverse Osmosis.

So successful has this program been that China and India’s largest desalination plants were designed and constructed by Israel, as was California’s facility in Carlsbad. Israel’s largest home-based facility produces a mind-blowing 165 million gallons per day.

The net result is that were Israel to face a drought of catastrophic duration, she would have more than sufficient water to see to the needs of not only her own citizens but also her Palestinian neighbours and parts of Jordan. Her five facilities collectively produce 500 million gallons of fresh water every day. Were desalinated water piped exclusively to homes without any contribution from aquifers, wells and the Sea of Galilee, it would account for 94% of the nation’s household water needs.

Israel recycles 90% of its waste water solely for agricultural use. The closest rival is Spain which recycles 20% with the South African figure close to nil. This ensures that every drop of desalinated water is reserved exclusively for human use. In South Africa, agriculture extravagantly consumes vast quantities of potable water while negligible amounts are recycled after sewerage contamination

Israel’s approach is not only confined to desalination and purification but encourages farmers to focus on food types that require the minimum of water.  This has reduced agricultural water consumption by as much as 50%.  Locally, this can be borne out by the successful use of Israeli drip irrigation in Limpopo where subsistence farmers now grow far more produce with the minimum of water.

To suggest that similar technologies can be obtained from Iran and Turkey ignores that fact that both countries face acute water shortages due to mismanagement and a failure to adequately  repair and upgrade infrastructure.

As for Israel stealing water from the Palestinians, the reality is that Israel supplies the West Bank and Gaza with far more than the quantity stipulated in the Oslo Accords of 1995.  Sadly, a vast amount is squandered because of inadequate management of general water resources.

This is what Israel can offer – free or not (although why it should be free is beyond me).