OPEN LETTER
Prominent figures among hundreds of concerned South African Jews calling for ceasefire in Gaza
William Kentridge among more than 700 joining worldwide call for an immediate ceasefire.
We are a diverse group of South African Jews who are dismayed by the situation that is unfolding in Israel and Palestine. Through it, the world has witnessed a catastrophic loss of life, and indeed, a loss of humanity. We mourn every life lost: Palestinian and Israeli.
We believe in the universal values of peace, justice and equality, and condemn in the strongest terms any and all violence against civilians, and against children in particular. We must hold to account those responsible for violence against civilians — whether perpetrated in Gaza, the West Bank, or Israel. We do so not in spite of our Jewish identity, but because of it. One of the core beliefs of Judaism is the sanctity of human life and the duty to preserve it, enshrined in the principle of pikuach nefesh.
The assault on Gaza follows an unprecedented and brutal attack by Hamas in southern Israel on 7 October. We are devastated that the lives of over 1,200 Israelis, including 31 children, were lost to the gratuitous violence that occurred on this day. We grieve with the families whose loved ones were killed or taken as hostages.
We insist, however, that one heinous crime does not justify another. The experience of persecution and genocide is woven into our collective memory. We are therefore called upon to prevent it from happening again, anywhere, to anyone. Moreover, we have a particular obligation to oppose such atrocities when perpetrated in our name.
For this reason, we call for an immediate cease to Israel’s bombardment and blockade of Gaza. We condemn the denial of basic resources such as water, food, electricity, internet and medical supplies to Palestinian civilians. As of Wednesday 15 November, Israel’s campaign in Gaza had exacted a toll of at least 11,078 Palestinian lives, including 4,506 children. We abhor the use of collective punishment and see Israel’s response as dramatically disproportionate. We are distressed at the fact that this has taken place alongside state and settler-led violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
We acknowledge that the current cycle of violence is rooted in decades of dispossession. We also acknowledge that this conflict is fundamentally asymmetrical in nature; between a powerful military force and a stateless people who have resisted the denial of their basic human rights for generations.
We note with great concern the rising incidence of Islamophobic and anti-Semitic hate crimes worldwide. We reject attempts to conflate the parties to this conflict with entire religious or ethnic groups, just as we reject the notion that criticism of the State of Israel necessarily constitutes anti-Semitism. As Jews with diverse views, we do not feel represented by the institutions that claim to speak on behalf of the South African Jewish community on Israel and Gaza.
We join the many voices worldwide calling for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the occupation, and the release of all hostages and detainees unjustly held both in Gaza and in Israeli prisons. We believe that the only lasting solution to ensure genuine safety for all is one that secures the equal rights and dignity of all Israelis and Palestinians. DM
List of signatories to the open letter (as of 4pm SAST on 15 November 2023, regularly updated online):
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- Aaron Jacobs
- Aaron Sher
- Adaiah Lilenstein
- Adam Maserow
- Adela Itzkin
- Adrienne Shall
- Aidan Mosselson
- Aisha Gelb
- Alan Fine
- Alan Morris
- Alan Hirsch
- Alex Abrahams
- Alex Freeman
- Alexa Scher
- Alexander Dubb
- Alexandra Kreuz Goldberg
- Alexia Kaplan
- Alison Todes
- Alison Swartz
- Alison Sher
- Allan Horwitz
- Allan Kaplan
- Alli Appelbaum
- Amy Kahn
- Amy Simons
- Amy Zinn
- Andrea Nossel
- Andrea Lewis
- Andrew Spiegel
- Andrew Emdon
- Andrew Feinstein
- Andrew Nell
- Andrew Brown
- Andrew Colman
- Andy Davis
- Andy Nossel
- Ann Bradlow
- Anthony Fish Hodgson
- Anton Richman
- Anton Harber
- Anton van Diermen
- Antony Altbeker
- Anya Mendel
- Arlene Joffe
- Asha de Lanerolle
- Ashley Fischhoff
- Aubrey Blecher
- Ava Ruff
- Barak Setton
- Barbara Klugman
- Barbara Segal
- Barbara Friedman
- Barbara Jawitz
- Basil Dubb
- Belle Marx-Miller
- Ben Sanders
- Benjamin Bradlow
- Benjamin Fogel
- Benjamin Zar
- Beth Silbert
- Bethea Clayton
- Bianca Sossen
- Bonita Alice
- Brahm Fleisch
- Brandon Finn
- Brenda Goldblatt
- Brent Sender
- Brett Steingo
- Brian Coleman
- Brian Slon
- Brian Ruff
- Brigette Barnett
- Bryan Pieters
- Cara Browde
- Carin Favis
- Carin Abramovitz
- Carly Abramovitz
- Carmel Marock
- Carol Wengrowe
- Carol Steinberg
- Carole Lewis
- Carole Abramovitz
- Carole Bloch
- Caroline White
- Catherine Marcus
- Cathy Aaron
- Caz Friedmann
- Cecily Jacobson
- Cheryl Cohen
- Chloe Kiley
- Claire Tuch
- Claudette Davis
- Clive Greenstone
- Clive Rubin
- Colette Thorne
- Colin Purkey
- Colleen Radus
- Craig Hart
- Dale Washkansky
- Damon Galgut
- Dan Jawitz
- Dan Odendaal
- Dan Keify
- Dani Hovsha
- Dani Cooper
- Daniel Sher
- Daniel Linde
- Daniel Mackintosh
- Daniel Hartford
- Daniel Friedman
- Daniel Petrie
- Daniel Band
- Daniel Gallan
- Daniel Berger
- Daniel Browde
- Danielle Travill
- Danielle Joffe
- Danielle Pincus
- Danieyella Rodin
- Danny Bradlow
- Dara Beth
- Daryl Glaser
- David Rosenthal
- David Lubinsky
- David Bass
- David Eppel
- David Lewis
- David Fine
- David Jammy
- David Stoloff
- David Freund
- David Shandler
- David Fig
- David De Jong
- David Daitz
- Debbie Schkolne
- Debbie Budlender
- Debbie Staniland
- Deborah Posel
- Deirdre Richman
- Delilah Stoloff
- Derek Lubner
- Desrae Saacks
- Diana Edelstein
- Diane Cooper
- Diane Levine
- Diane Fine
- Diane Sandler
- Dinky Levitt
- Doron Isaacs
- Dylan Kesler
- Eduan Naude
- Edward Wethli
- Edwin Ritchken
- Eileen Weinronk
- Elaine Unterhalter
- Eli Goldblatt
- Emma Reitstein
- Emma Daitz
- Emma Schneider
- Emma Botha
- Emma Delius
- Emmylou Savage
- Eric Itzkin
- Erica Elk
- Erin Gordon
- Ethan Jacobs
- Evan Wigdorowitz
- Evan Carman
- Eve Mendel
- Eve Terblanche
- Ezra-Rose Fleisch
- Faye Falconer-Pincus
- Frances Aron
- Francesca Annenberg
- Francis de Satge
- Francois Petousis
- Franny Rabkin
- Gabriel Dubb
- Gabriel Espi-Sanchis
- Gabriel Fine
- Gabriella Saven
- Gabriella Kaplan
- Gail Washkansky
- Gail Behrmann
- Gail Super
- Gary Berkowitz
- Gavin Silber
- Gavin Pincus
- Gemma Field
- Georgi Annenberg
- Georgia Altbeker
- Georgia Saacks
- Geraldine Glaser
- Gideon Sweijd
- Gila Simons
- Gilad Isaacs
- Gilad Katzav
- Gilbert Marcus
- Gill Saks
- Gillian Hart
- Gillian Finchilescu
- Gina Fredman-Jacobson
- Graeme Sacks
- Grant Sieff
- Guy Daniel
- Guy Simpson
- Hal Cooper
- Hannah Claassens (Wengrowe)
- Hannah Fleisch
- Hannah Goldblatt
- Hannah Savage
- Harold Kolnik
- Harriet Perlman
- Harriet Gavshon
- Hayli Geffen
- Heather Silove Howe
- Heather Schiff
- Heidi Grunebaum
- Helene Perold
- Hillary-Gayle Barwin
- Howard Varney
- Ian Goldman
- Ian Szapira
- Ilan Strauss
- Ilan Rosenstein
- Ilana Stone
- Imran Budlender
- Ingrid Gavshon
- Irwin Manoim
- Isa-Lee Jacobson
- Isabella Kentridge
- Isabella Levitas
- Ishvara Dayan
- Ivan Strasburg
- Jack Lewis
- Jack Fine
- Jackie Maris
- Jacob Wheeldon
- Jacob Hoffman
- Jacob Claassens
- Jacques de Satgé
- Jacqui Benson-Mabombo
- Jaimen Brown
- Jake Lipman
- James Bernstein
- Janet Lubner
- Janine Simon-Meyer
- Jaqui Perkes
- Jarah Fluxman
- Jared Chaitowitz
- Jarred Srot
- Jarred Durbach
- Jay Goldstuck
- Jay Savage
- Jayden Simons
- Jean Cohen
- Jeanette Isaacman
- Jeanne Freed
- Jeff Rudin
- Jeffrey Meyer
- Jemma Meintjies
- Jenifer Rabinowitz
- Jenna Searra
- Jenna Bass
- Jenna Jacobson
- Jennifer Pogrund
- Jenny Perkel
- Jenny Wheeldon
- Jered Shorkend
- Jeremy Baskin
- Jeremy Phillips
- Jess Stillerman
- Jess Auerbach
- Jesse Harber
- Jessica Sherman
- Jessica Mayson
- Jessica Horler
- Jessica Wengrowe
- Jessie Ayles
- Jessie Lewis
- Jessie Lazar Knott
- Jill Thorne
- Jill Schlachter
- Jill Strelitz
- Jillian Edelstein
- Jo Silbert
- Joceyln Freed
- Jodi Wishnia
- Jodie Dwolatzky
- Joe Turpin
- Joel Bolnick
- Joel Simons
- Joey Hasson
- Johannes Dieterich
- John Festenstein
- Jonah Sack
- Jonathan Berger
- Jonathan Bloch
- Jonathan Taylor
- Jonathan Fluxman
- Jonathan Weinberg
- Jonathan Gevisser
- Jonathan Yach
- Jonny Steinberg
- Jos Thorne
- Joseph Goldblatt
- Joseph Weinberg
- Joseph Power
- Joseph Sweijd
- Joshua Maserow
- Joshua Marcus
- Joshua Gordon
- Joshua Davis
- Joshua Hartford
- Joshua Lapid
- Joshua Sehoole
- Joshua Lipman
- Joshua Hovsha
- Joshua Blacher
- Joy Sapieka
- Judy Brown
- Judy Favish
- Judy Weis
- Julia Chaskalson
- Julia Shapiro
- Julia Michalow
- Julian Reitstein
- Juliette Rose-Innes
- Justin van Zyl
- Justine Shear
- Kabir Budlender
- Kagiso Makgalemele
- Kai Lockstone
- Karin Brodie
- Karina Turok
- Karyn Levy-Philipp
- Kate van Niekerk
- Kate Abramovitz
- Kathy Barolsky
- Katy Menell
- Katya Broomberg
- Kayla Brown
- Ke-tu-rah Zizipho Dhlamini
- Keiran Peacock
- Keith Witelson
- Keith Gottschalk
- Kelly Rosenthal
- Kelly Kropman
- Kelsey Shapiro
- Kelsy Arden
- Keren Setton
- Kerry Petrie
- Kevin Levy
- Kevin Posen
- Kevin Goldstein
- Kezia Lilenstein
- Kieran Brown
- Kim Sacks
- Kim Segel
- Kira Gimpel
- Kira Stone
- Kira Schlesinger
- Kristin Henry
- Kyla-Rose Smith
- Kylie Thomas
- Larry Jasven
- Larry Strelitz
- Laura Czerniewicz
- Laura Phillips
- Laura Markovitz
- Laura Chittenden
- Laura Wener
- Lauren Bock
- Laurence Hamburger
- Laurice Taitz-Buntman
- Laurie Nathan
- Leigh Whitesman
- Leila Strelitz
- Leila Bloch
- Leila Stein
- Leila Emdon
- Leon Saven
- Leon Levy
- Leon Jacobson
- Leonard Solms
- Leslie London
- Leslie Witz
- Leslie Swartz
- Lexi Ryman
- Liane Durra
- Liat Davis
- Lilian Kaplan
- Lily Manoim
- Linda Cooper
- Linzi Lewis
- Linzi Fredman
- Lionel Krause
- Lisa Seftel
- Lisa Segal
- Lody Levy
- Lorna Levy
- Lorraine Levine
- Louis Marcus Finn
- Louisa Carman
- Louise Renton
- Louise Spitz
- Luke Kaplan
- Lula Grant
- Lynda Levetan
- Lyndall Gordon
- Lynn Radford
- Lynne Slonimsky
- Madeleine Bazil
- Maia Zway
- Maia Lehr-Sacks
- Mandy Barnett
- Mani Kuti-Alexander
- Marc Suttner
- Margaret Green
- Margaret Auerbach
- Margie Gelb
- Marilyn Jones
- Marion Isaacs
- Marissa Rollnick
- Mark Fleishman
- Mark Gevisser
- Mark Saacks
- Mark Orkin
- Mark Steinbuch
- Mark Kaplan
- Maryke Sher
- Maureen Isaacson
- Maureen Robinson
- Maxine Rubin
- Maya Schkolne
- Maya Aberman
- Maya Marshak
- Maya Goldman
- Maya Super
- Megan Bryer
- Megan Choritz
- Megan Lang
- Meghan Finn
- Melanie Judge
- Melanie Horwitz
- Melanie Chait
- Melanie Hall
- Melanie Samson
- Melinda Silverman
- Melissa Levin
- Melvyn Freeman
- Merle Favis
- Merle Jawitz
- Mervyn Bennun
- Mervyn Sloman
- Mia Candy
- Mia Altbeker
- Micaela Browde
- Michael Moss
- Michael Weinberg
- Michael Kaplan
- Michael Friedman
- Michael Markovitz
- Michael Hurwitz
- Michael Levin
- Michaela Verity
- Michele Stein
- Michelle Friedman
- Michelle Adler Rogoff
- Michelle Laufer
- Miriam Altman
- Mischa Blecher
- Mitch Said
- Mitchel Joffe Hunter
- Moira Levy
- Monique Horwitz
- Monique Marks
- Naashon Zalk
- Nadia Randera
- Nadia Dollie
- Nadya Cohen
- Nancy Krisch
- Naomi Marshak
- Natasha Pincus
- Nathan Nadler-Nir
- Nathan Eisen
- Neil Tabatznik
- Nelson Miranda
- Neva Makgetla
- Nic Fine
- Nicholas Budlender
- Nicholas Eppel
- Nicholas Fine
- Nick Groll
- Nicky Falkof
- Nicola Galombik
- Nicola Soekoe
- Nicole Franco
- Nimi Hoffmann
- Nimrod Zalk
- Nina Barnett
- Nina Frank
- Nina Lang
- Nina Abrahams
- Nina Bloch
- Noa Abramovitz
- Noah Lubinsky
- Noga Watt
- Nompilo Sibisi
- Olivia Welte
- Orli Setton
- Orrie Staschen
- Pam Meyerowitz
- Pam Britt
- Pat Sidley
- Patti Silbert
- Paul Weinberg
- Paul Mesarcik
- Paul Hendler
- Pearl Jantjies
- Pedro Tabensky
- Penny Smith
- Peta Becker
- Peter Mayson
- Peter Barron
- Peter Cohen
- Peter Jaspan
- Peter J Cooper
- Philip Krause
- Philip Miller
- Phillipa Reinders
- Phoebe Saacks
- Phoenix Pincus
- Pierre Dane
- Rachel Balsham
- Rachel Weisz
- Rachel Catzel
- Rafael Friedman
- Rafael Lubner
- Ran Greenstein
- Raphael Chaskalson
- Raphael Segerman
- Raymond Suttner
- Raymond Brown
- Rebecca Metz Ross
- Rebecca Swartz
- Rebecca Bradlow
- Rebecca Sher
- Rebecca Segall
- Renay Weiner
- Renee Usdin
- Renée Bishop
- Ribka Berhanu
- Richard Kuper
- Richard Levin
- Richard Kaplan
- Rifke Gellman
- Riley Grant
- Rina King
- Robert Krause
- Robert Schroder
- Robert Freeman
- Robin Scher
- Robin Cohen
- Robin Catzel
- Robyn Fischhoff
- Roland Dubb
- Roland Kesler
- Ronnie Simons
- Rosa Elk
- Rosa Manoim
- Rosemund Handler
- Roslyn Fish
- Ross Engers
- Roy Hunter
- Ruby Wheeldon
- Ruby Lapid
- Ruby de Lanerolle
- Russell Soffer
- Ruth Morgan
- Ruth Sacks
- Ruth Carneson
- Ruth Urson
- Ruth Reichman
- Ruth Nowosenetz
- Ruth Cornick
- Ryan Kaplan
- Ryan Goldblatt
- Sally Suttner
- Sam Kentridge
- Samantha Brener
- Samir Gelb
- Samuel Turpin
- Samuel Shapiro
- Sandra Caganoff
- Sandra Kay
- Sandy Chaitowitz
- Sandy Paul
- Sandy Szapira
- Sarah Adcock
- Sarah Zinn
- Sarron Goldman
- Saul Musker
- Saul Johnson
- Savanah Abramovitz
- Sean Wasserman
- Serna Kramer
- Shannon Bernhardt
- Sharon Fonn
- Sharon Cort
- Shaun Reznik
- Shawn Slovo
- Shayni Geffen
- Sheila Barsel
- Shelley Epstein
- Shelley Bass
- Shereen Usdin
- Sigall Keify
- Simeon Lilenstein
- Simon Kaplinsky
- Simon Shear
- Simona Stone
- Simone Petousis
- Simone Honikman
- Simone Shall
- Simone Hoffmann
- Simonne Horwitz
- Sivan Zeffertt
- Solly Levy
- Sonia Horwitz
- Sonja Woolff
- Sonya Cotton
- Sophie Hunter
- Sophie Crawford
- Sophie Douglas
- Stacey Gibson
- Stanley Ginsburg
- Stephen Marcus Finn
- Stephen Gelb
- Stephen Cheifitz
- Stephen Laufer
- Steve Kahanovitz
- Steven Fluxman
- Steven Goldblatt
- Steven Robins
- Steven Markovitz
- Steven Wolf
- Steven Bradlow
- Steven Budlender
- Su Lubner
- Sue Fawcus
- Sue Pam-Grant
- Sue Davidoff
- Sue Isserow
- Sue Kaplan
- Sue Goldstein
- Sue Starfield
- Sue Kramer
- Sue Rabkin
- Suzy Bernstein
- Sydelle Willow Smith
- Tali Cassidy
- Talia Simons
- Talia Mayson
- Talya Lubinsky
- Talya Stein
- Tanya Layne
- Tanya Cohen
- Tara Weinberg
- Tariq Blecher
- Terry Shakinovsky
- Terry Kurgan
- Tess Peacock
- Tessa Abramovitz
- Tessa Gordon
- Tessa Dagut
- Tevya Turok Shapiro
- Tiffany Markman
- Timothy Fish Hodgson
- Toker Beverley
- Tony Carr
- Tony Fluxman
- Tony Lachman
- Tony Kaplan
- Tracy Cohen
- Trevor Sacks
- Trevor Rosenfield
- Trevor Bernhardt
- Tymon Smith
- Vanessa Barolsky
- Vicki Davidoff
- Vicky Alhadeff
- Warren Wilensky
- Warren Nebe
- Weez Bramwell
- Wendy Newstadt
- William Kentridge
- Yair Schkolne
- Yda Walt
- Yoni Bass
- Yuval Nicolas Douglas Henshilwood
- Yvonne Shapiro
- Zandi Sherman
- Zara Tonkil
- Zara Julius
This list of names reads like a roll call of the greatest white South Africans I know.
🙏
Chickens supporting KFC
You do realize that by brutalizing, terrorizing and killing a massive number of civilians, Israel is only recruiting MORE members for Hamas? The US waged a 10 year war in Afghanistan, trying to eliminate the Taliban, and the Taliban emerged stronger than ever. This is because you cannot fight terror by inflicting even more terror.
Precisely.
you can not bomb an ideology.
I suggest that you keep your disrespect for human lives and suffering private. It is not something to be proud of.
Dear SA, this is the list of people that do not control the media or the banks. Leave them in peace please. Also fairly sure none own a padel franchise (but this has not been verified)
Well said. Can someone explain in detail the concept of Pikuach Nefesh?
google “pikuach nefesh”
Well said, and well done.
My thoughts exactly.
Heartening to read this.
Arlene Levitan
Fantastic. So good to read this
All I can say to every signatory is, go live in Israel.
Live through the terror of sirens going off, meaning missiles are incoming. Go live next to a people that have vowed to exterminate your entire race off the face of the planet.
Why must Israel be the one to sue for peace? If Hamas surrenders and returns the hostages, the war is over tomorrow.
Surely both sides must give something for there to be peace?
I am not a Jew, but I fully support the right of the Jews to exist as a nation and a people.
You sir, as a gentile understand this but 538 ‘Jews’ have turned their backs on us.
Most of these people, their parents or families were also involved in the struggle against apartheid. They were prepared to make sacrifices for others, including my liberation. For them it’s not about looking after their own but its about humanity. Isreali or non Israeli is equal.
I’m not sure when it became “humane” or a “liberation struggle” to kill teenagers at a music festival and kidnap civilians. Is Jewish life held to different definitions and standards? Sad that those who suffered so much in SA have allowed the legacy of apartheid to become so misappropriated.
I am talking about the killing of 100 UN workers, children, the Gift of the Givers Coordinator and the thousands of Palestinians.
What’s with the inverted commas? Not all Jews are Zionists: is that so hard to understand?
Well said, Virginia.
One uses inverted commas when quoting another. Thanks for asking and happy to have cleared that up
I agree with you. Making a luxurious comfy living in another country safe from persecution makes it much easier to condemn Israel for wanting to be an indepent safe country. The Israelis in Israel work very hard – if you look at their simple way of living and working, and will do everything to maintain their country amidst their fierce and hostile surroundings. Denise Smit
Israel is not being condemned for wanting to be a safe and independent country – the letter expresses opposition to the massive assault currently underway in pursuit of that end and laments the loss of life of both Palestinians and Israelis
Yes some people don’t read, they just scroll to the bottom to repeat things other people think.
Thanks for the hyperbole of “massive assault”. Actually, if Israel didn’t care about Palestinian civilians, this war would have been done and dusted on October 8, without an Israeli soldier having to be deployed or a single further loss of Israeli life
In the context of 10 000 dead and counting massive is an appropriate word. It is doublespeak to frame the wholesale killing of civilians as evidence of caring. It’s like an abusive spise saying “I’d hit you harder if I didn’t love you”.
Thousands of people are being killed. IDF has not told us how many of these belong to Hamas because they are killing indiscriminately. I am afraid this is not just about free hostages, the aim is to depopulate the Gaza strip.
David in war there are casualties. The hyperbole is the implication that this is different. Your comparison with domestic abuse is insulting (as probably intentioned), and inappropriate (unless you say it at home). There were 4,200,000 German civilian deaths and 350,000 Allied civilian deaths in WW2. The Syrian crisis has consistently been around 15,000 per day (are those all legitimate combatants?). The current Ukrainian crisis has claimed nearly half a million deaths. This “death score is wholly irrelevant, and yes – the hyperbole I point out is very appropriate and, as usually, reserved for Jews.
And Vusi – if 10,000 scratches “depopulating” Gaza (of what is it, 2- 3 million?), then Jews aren’t nearly as good at numbers as we are credited as being.
Think
So Mordechai – your position is that the Israeli bombardment of Gaza is analagous to the Allied fight against Germany in WWII and that the death toll amongst the Palestinian non combatants is acceptable in the same way that the death toll amongst German civilians was acceptable? For you the two conflicts are analagous because the Nazification of Germany and the accompanying holocaust that was perpetrated against the Jews is an existential threat comparable in scale and credibility to the one Israeli people are currently facing from Hamas. Is that correct?
My view is that Hamas deliberately slaughtered the Israelis in the Oct 7 attacks in so brutal and horrific manner as a deliberate and conscious effort to plunge a knife into the scars left by the holoaust because they wanted to provoke exactly the response that Netanyahu is giving. I suspect that Netanyahu has seized on this and is exploiting the horrible wound this has activated in the national psyche of Israel because his political career is in trouble.
All I see is two peoples who clearly have to share the region inflicting trauma after trauma on each other.
I am sure we are in agreement that Hamas must go – they are clearly a terrorist group not interested in any peaceful resolution. To me it is obvious that for the IDF to be killing thousands of Palestinians only strengthens hamas and whichever group comes after them.
I’m a newcomer to this forum and I must say I have found participating here disheartening.
Can you explain why you support the “rights” of (Zionist) Jews, but choose to ignore the rights of other people who inhabit the same land?
Israel is the single democracy in that whole region. Palestinians have full rights. Can a Jew live and practice openly in any of the neighbouring countries? Can a Jew democratically even hold a demonstration in Cape Town today?
@Mordechai, check in with Dan Marcelo as to why a Jew can’t hold a peaceful demonstration in Cape Town. And, Palestinians have no rights, check in with Norman Finkelstein on that; if you want to check his credibility, his mother grew up in Warsaw and survived the Warsaw Ghetto and the Majdanek concentration camp. His father was a survivor of both the Warsaw Ghetto and Auschwitz.
Enver, the oft-reported, keyboard-happy, fact-free antisemite.
They still allow this guy to post?
Ah yes, Finkelstein, the looney academic who has expressed his solidarity with Hezbollah and Hamas and has been shunned by Academia around the world, including Germany
Democracy? For the chosen only though.
Not sure which definition of democracy you are referring to. Israel is the one person one vote type, not the one-party type like the rest of the region. So yeah, Israel is a real democracy, in the real sense. Not quite like Iran, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia … (should I go on?)
Israel is the single democracy in the region after ethnically cleansing the Palestine which is Israel today of 80% of its Palestinian population. Clap. Clap. Clap.
Not sure how that one got through the moderators (hate speech), but anyhow. If Israel wanted to “ethnically cleanse” Palestinians, this war would have been done and dusted on October 8
Do you really believe yourself that the Palestinians have full rights?
@Paul T and @David v d W, Denise and Ben cannot see another perspective besides their own. I have asked them to reveal their sources of information and I’m still waiting.
Source of what information. Happy to oblige. In private or public. This forum does not inform when there is a reply to a post somits hard to know when one is spoken to
And will you be happy to go and live in Gaza?
Do you support the right of Palestinians to live where they and their grandparents were born? Do you support the right of people born in S.A., the UK and US to go and live on land taken from the Palestinians on the basis of an ideology? Zionism is not religion.
@Virginia C, according to the Torah Judaism Group:
1) Zionism is nationalist movement created in 1896 by people who were pronounced as atheists. 2) Judaism is an ancient religious collective.
3) Zionists want to be seen as Jewish without actually believing in Judaism.
So when you tell us to go back to where we come from, I’m confused where to go
Erm, why should one support the rights of someone to live where their parents and grandparents were borh? Land is not holy and this one is contested. My mother was born in China and lost her home in 1949, I’m not claiming the right to go and inhabit that place in harbin. My father lost his in Riga earlier than that. I was born in Israel, where they met – I left Israel – do I still have the right to go live in Weizman Street in Tel Aviv? The idea of this kind of territorialism is atavistic and ludicrous, does not bear up to any kind of historical scrutiny. There were thousands of displaced people in the 1940s, including those who became Pakistani. Let’s give up the nonsense of one state – it will mean the end of Israel. Maybe that’s ok for you – not ok for me.
It was Netanyahu who rejected multiple hostage release deals. See Guardian article: “Netanyahu rejected ceasefire-for-hostages deal in Gaza”. He wants to prolong this war as long as possible, because he knows his post-war political career is toast.
BUT … he has one called Mordechai Yitzchak … and a few other loonies like ben Harper et al, to continue flying his flag here ! Talk about colonised/closed minds .
On somebody else’s stolen land, while holding its people in brutal subjugation and deprivation?
Hahahahaha
Perhaps, more to the point go & live in Gaza or the West Bank to experience Israeli Atrocities against Palestinians daily not even mentioning the criminal illegal settlers on stolen land.
Hahahaha, stolen land? Hahahaha who’d land was stolen?
NYT has just reported than Israel knew plans of the Hamas attack over a year ago, save your crocodile tears for fascist, racist Israel elsewhere.
NYT just reported the Israel govt knew about the Hamas attack plans a year ago. So save your crocodile tears for the fascist, racist state that refuses Palestinian rights.
Why is there no request for Hamas to release the hostages? Israel must stop the bombs but its ok for Hamas to do nothing to protect the Gazans and to keep the Israeli hostages? I am also sickened by the killing and starvation of innocent people. But the role of Hamas must be called out too. Ask them to stop bombing Israel a release the hostages. Then I would also sign this letter.
Exactly! I have yet to read anywhere that Hamas must cease firing rockets into Israel; that they should cease using Palestinian citizens, including children, as human shields; that they should cease expropriating foreign aid e.g. cement, which enters Gaza through Israel, to line the hundreds of kilometers of tunnels which they have built under schools, hospitals, houses and shops in Gaza. Whenever the IDF plans to destroy a Hamas rocket site or tunnel access points, Israel has given a pause to allow citizens to leave the north for the south where they have supplied food, water and medicine. Egypt is the only country besides Israel that borders Gaza. Nowhere have I read that Egypt has allowed Palestinian refugees to cross the border. Five times Israel has offered Palestinian a two-state solution. Five times Palestine has refused. I am not Jewish, but like many many others, I support Israel, and Israel’s right to protect its citizens against a despicable terrorist organisation whose sole purpose is to murder every Jew on the planet. Many Israelis do not support the present right-wing government and the settler-led violence on the West Bank, but that will change once this horrendous war is over and Netanyahu is no longer in office.
Mally, Mally, Mally. Why was Yitzhak Rabin assassinated by a Zionist? I’ll enlighten you a bit.
His assassination was the culmination of an anti-violence rally in support of the Oslo peace process. Rabin was disparaged personally by right-wing conservatives and Likud leaders who perceived the peace process as an attempt to forfeit the occupied territories and a capitulation to Israel’s enemies. National religious conservatives and Likud party leaders believed that withdrawing from any “Jewish” land was heresy. The Likud leader and future prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, accused Rabin’s government of being “removed from Jewish tradition and Jewish values”. Do you really believe that the right-wing government without Netanyahu will change the Zionist ideology? Itamar Ben-Gvir, who currently serves as the Israeli Minister of National Security, was one of those who celebrated the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
When a person addresses someone by their name 3x (e.g. “Mally, Mally, Mally), whatever they say afterwards is always ignored because the person speaking like this is being patronising.
SO the ONLY argument you have is an assassination that happened 30 years ago. Man, talk about living in the past. Bet you have an All Blacks jersey too
So what ?
It is not the ‘only’ argument … but any other would be met with the Hahaha numbskull ! So what is the point .
It was Netanyahu who rejected multiple hostage release deals. See Guardian article: “Netanyahu rejected ceasefire-for-hostages deal in Gaza”. He wants to prolong this war as long as possible, because he knows his political career is toast.
It condemns Oct 7 and does call for the release of hostages: “We join the many voices worldwide calling for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the occupation, and the release of all hostages and detainees unjustly held both in Gaza and in Israeli prisons.”
Do you not have a problem with Hamas?
I do, but this is not about my views. I was simply correcting the statement above
Perhaps you have not followed the history Israel bankrolled Hamas to cause division between Palestinians. By the way Hamas 7th Oct did not happen in a vacuum, even the UN secretary general mentioned it.
For which the ‘know all’ numbskull representative of the Israeli state (a poodle of the US) at the UN, launched a scurrilous and despicable verbal attack on him … for which no apology has been issued … not that I expect any from their ilk . It is consistent with what ML King called the ‘character’ of persons or people !
In every generation you get Jews who feel so sorry for those murdering their own people. Where in the entire world did we see a Gazan or any Muslim for that matter, protesting the Hamas terrorist attacks? The Jews of Germany did just the same. The Jews of America and the world also defended the Nazis until it was to late. These few hundred misunderstanding apologists do not represent Jews, let alone those who live in South Africa. While no Jew is happy with loss of life, they do accept that this is war. Don’t believe this narrative of one side being stronger. In ww2 two nuclear weapons were used against Japan to end the war. I have never seen any so called Jews saying how terrible that was as so many women and children died! Israel is all Jews have and if these people can’t see that then surely they will be the first slaughtered when their homeland is destroyed.
Unfortunately, this is deemed “newsworthy” and will take column space in publications like Daily Maverick, to try win hearts and minds. Plant the seed that “good Jews” don’t support Israel. Create a narrative that Israel isn’t really “Jewish”, and that there’s a difference between “Jews” (good) and “Zionists” (bad) (I’m waiting for the DM pseudo-intellectual piece on that, which is being written now I’m sure). Has there been a single article on this website about the pro-Israel gatherings (not demonstrations) in Paris and Washington over the last few days (some say up to 500,000 each)?
Do you assume that every Muslim supports Hamas or Isis? That is so stupid: are all Christian fanatical evangelicals? No.
Show me where I said or implied that Virginia?
That’s cool. Don’t expect Hamas to care though, their charter calls for your deaths too.
Sir, that is an irresponsible statement to make, I read the full charter (Published in 2017) and there is no such statement.
Really? The truth is irresponsible?
Bravo!
Thank you for speaking up for justice and for Peace.
Hahahahaha
I would just like to ask the 500 odd signatories what they would consider a “proportional ” response to Hamas’s terror attack.
They have sent an equally strongly-worded letter, similar to this, with their signatures
Do you believe the killing of more than 5000 children is a proportional response?
Casualties of war – all thanks to Hamas
I would just like to ask you if the horrible death of +- 5000 children is a proportional response?
xxx
Thank you for your courage, humanity and equanimity.
That’s less than 1.5% of South Africa’s Jewish community – hardly a relevant figure.
You should all know better. There was a ceasefire and the people of Gaza broke it by massacring over 1000 Israelis on October 7th. Your stunning lack of concern for the victims of the Hamas pogrom is shameful.
There was NO ceasefire. Israeli forces attacked Palestinian worshippers at Bab as-Silsila, one of the main entrances to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in September 2023. Israel also imprisoned 5,000+ Palestinians without trial, BEFORE October 7th. Palestinians have been oppressed and brutalized by Israeli settlers for 75 years.
No they haven’t
“We” will take your word for it professor of nothing and everything !
Easy to be shocked about the war in Gaza, while you live in comfort and safety. I am not Jewish but understand the outrage and actions of the Israelis and IDF. Hopefully all the upset signatories are offering assistance for the ill and hungry children in South Africa
Self-hating Jews!! Aren’t they the worst kind? Just like the Capos during the Holocaust. They gave their brothers and sisters up to the Nazis in the hope that they would be spared… cowards …. well if history will repeat itself, I hope this list of self hating Jews know that the blood of their family and their ancestors lies squarely on their heads. Shame on them, I feel pity for their families and I wish these 538 a miserable existence. Am Yisrael Chai!!!
The same intolerance demonstrated by all extremists. If you don’t agree then you are not a real Muslim, Jew etc. The whites who opposed apartheid were loathed by other whites too. If you disagree with the ANC then you are a coconut.
Ooh, starting to use my lines. They say imitation is the best form of flattery. I’m blushing
With your mindset … blushing would be impossible !
This is heartening. Thank you for your courage and for not putting anger and vengeance over your sense of humanity.
Well done!!! All hostages mist be released, Israeli AND the thousands of Palestinians languishing in Israeli jails, without trial.
Ultimately, a just peace must include full citizenship to all who live in Israel-Palestine, the return of occupied territory on the West Bank, and the right to return of all those exiled by the forced removals since 1948 (ironically also the beginning of official apartheid in South Africa).
Listen to the interview with Daniella Weiss and you will understand why the two-state solution is not on Israel’s agenda.
Just two days ago, the Israeli state leadership placed that on record in the world media, their unambiguous rejection of even the US notion of ‘two states’ … not that the US idea of ‘two states’ would have involved genuine statehood for the non-Israeli section ! But regardless of that sleigh of hand by the US , the Israeli state apparatus roundly condemned/rejected it.
If only.
The saddest thing about this list, it that it demographically mirrors the people who were murdered and kidnapped in Israel on October 7. A disproportionate number of idealists looking for peace and harmony, not “practicing racist zionism”.
Hamas hit:
1. A supernova music festival on Simchas Torah. Young people at a rave, not fervent religious Jews in synagogues
2. Kibbutzim on the Gaza border. Socialist, idealist, well-known left-leaning communal-living communities, with strng social working ties to the people of Gaza, not “zealous settlers” in so-called “occuppied or disputed” areas of Israel like the West Bank
The gas chambers did not discriminate. Hamas does not either. The people on this list, brave as they think they are, have simply made themselves known as Jews. And sadly, we Jews have learnt how dangerous it is for our enemies to have lists of us.
Quite. The idea that ‘Zionism’ should be assumed to be racist, or white suprematist, is risible.
Bravo! Thank you for standing up for humanity. Starving, killing and maiming an entire civilian population (most of which are children) is NOT the answer.
No Adrian Gore or Stephen Kosseff
Regardless of whether you agree with the signatories of this letter or not, what is crucial is that in the Jewish community inside and outside Israel, plurality, diversity of opinions and self-criticism are just as natural as in the liberal Western democracies and that a group has the courage and freedom to speak out against the social pressure of the majority of their community. I consistently miss such courage for self-criticism in the Islamic communities in Western countries whenever jihadist groups commit their atrocities among the civilian population by citing Islam.
Yup, also did you ever see a pro-Israel counter-protest that shut down a pro-Palestine one, or ever see a sign calling for an Israel in its rightful biblical borders (which is way beyond the river to the sea FYI), or hear any chant besides “Am Yisrael Chain” (“the People of Israel live”)? If Israel really didn’t care about Palestinian civilian lives – this whole thing would have been done and dusted on October 8
Shalom. Salaam.
Honestly just trying to read the comments
I’m not sure if these people need Jesus or Reddit.
The comments are equal parts comforting and disheartening. I’m always shocked at how uninformed some of the takes are.
I am not Jewish and would love that peace is secured in that region where Israel’s right to exist peacefully is guaranteed and the Palestinians have their land. The 2-state solution is the best option on the table but both parties have to be on board. Israel even gave up Gaza on the road to peace and they were repaid with Hamas, missiles, rockets, murders etc. Five times this was rejected through the evil influence of parties such as Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad etc. whose sole mission in life is to kill Jews and obliterate Israel. It take two to tango and in my opinion, the Palestinians need to look after their own interest and what is best for them and not to kowtow to the radical, evil and demented outsiders (who control by terror, tyranny and the barrel of the gun) and who really don’t care about the welfare of the population. At the same time, the days when the Jewish people went meekly to the slaughter under the Nazis, are gone and will never happen again. They will resist, fight and eliminate those who want to murder them. And rightly so! I support that 100%!!! Peace is for the brave and the intelligent, and the Palestinians must be brave and intelligent – meet Israel halfway.
@Beyond Fedup, maybe you did not see my earlier post:
Listen to the interview with Daniella Weiss and you will understand why the two-state solution is not on Israel’s agenda. Hamas want prisoners (jailed without trial and visitation rights) to be released in exchange for the hostages and Netanyahu outright rejected that. 10+ years ago, an IDF soldier was captured by Hamas and due to pressure from various sources, the soldier was “swopped” for Palestinian prisoners; back then Netanyahu swore that he would never be pressurized again to do that.
Lol what makes you think the two state solution is on the Hamas agenda? Since the 60s Israel attempted and offered these solutions on 5 separate occasions. Remember the three No’s?? No recognition, no negotiation and no peace.
Hahahaha, listen to enough fanatics and you’ll get the “information” you want. SO how are your “sources” more credible than anyone else’s?
I am a South African Gentile. I acknowledge the vast extent of trauma carried by those in the region – and which is being severely extended in this conflict. I understand how this trauma itself drives more hatred and violence, and how this drives yet more conflict. This is not a guarantee of security for anyone. I echo your call for a solution based upon democracy, security and justice for all, and wish, with many others outside the region, to help to bring about that change.
Do you honestly think Hamas have any interest in Democracy or democratic processes? Dream on
How can I add myself to this list?
I am proud the IDF has reacted in this manner to the pogrom committed on that fateful day in October. This has zero/ nothing to do with being anti apartheid. Jew s are not and cannot be anyone’s victims anymore.. Understand Jewish history to know the true meaning of our defense. No more pogroms , no more being victims, only a belief in self protection regardless of the antagonist. Where were the protestors when Assad bombed and gassed half a million Syrians , or a million Arabs murdered in the Sudan or Iranian women shot by their army etc etc But when Jews are in involved in protecting theiridentity is another story… why? Quite vexing
It would be timely and admirable if Palestinian supporters would also put their names down with these sentiments. Where are the peaceful prominent Muslims in this equation?
I’m one of them!
Thank you. Its folks like you who create home during these desperate times.
A very impressive and knowledgeable list of signatories, but I have to ask, in signing this statement, why did it take you so long to do so and what do you hope to have achieved:
In particular:
Where was your voice over the last many years protesting about the Hamas charter which makes it its mission to kill jews.
Where was your voice against Hamas’s seizure of power in Gaza and the inhumane way they diverted resources from the locals to build tunnels of war over many years.
Where was your voice in their call to annihilate the state of Israel
Where was your voice in the way they built military infrastructure in dense civilian areas in Gaza, to ensure the carnage you are now protesting about?
Where was your voice in the immediate aftermath of 7th October where they murdered parents in front of their children and children in front of their parent. They raped woman in the most beastly fashion on the Jewish Holiday of Simcha Torah, making the Nazis look kind. but you were silent until now. Why?
Where was your concern for pikuach nefesh then?
Did you question why Hamas acted like animals in murdering the jews. Is it possible that they wanted their actions to engraved in the minds of jews forever? Does it strike you that they don’t want peace with people like you under any circumstances?
Where was your voice when they kidnapped babies, and paraded woman naked in the streets of Gaza? Why did it take you until now to say anything?
Since October 7, has anyone of you done anything to give a voice to the release of these hostages, or is this statement how you give your voice 7 weeks later.
I don’t remember you asking why it was that Hamas took the hostages they did? Clearly, they provoked Israel into a response.
You make no mention of what you think it would have been appropriate for Israel to have done after October 7? Why is that? What would you wise people have done if these were your kids, parents, siblings?
Would you have walked into Gaza in peace and pleaded for the release of the kidnapped? Would you have sent your kids on their bicycles to look for them? Perhaps you would have got in your cars and knocked on the tunnel doors.
Why really did you make this statement? Was it to ingratiate yourselves with your compatriots who are in the pro palestinian marchers? The same people who tear down posters of the hostages and prevent jews from expressing their views, of which you guys say nothing?
Does it help you sleep better at night, with your conscience cleared?
I recognize many of you from previous statement you have signed for ceasefires. Have these ceasefires made any difference given what happened on October 7th? I think it was Einstein who said it was insanity to repeat an action and expect a different outcome? Are you insane?
What do you expect a ceasefire to achieve? Based on the above, do you believe Hamas really wants a peaceful settlement? Would you wise people trust them given they might have killed your mother or raped your sister?
Seriously?
Surely, with all your wisdom, you can come up with something cleverer than simply a ceasefire. What then? Go forward and repeat?
Not in my name.
Bravo
Very well put. Not in my name either.
Virtue signalling
The Jews who signed this letter should be ashamed of themselves. They are truly no better than collaborators with the Nazis. It is particularly shameful that many gay people signed this letter, when Palestine (Gaza and West Bank) has been listed as one of the worst places in the world to be LGBT – and that’s not just because Hamas routinely executes and imprisons gay people, it’s because most of the Palestinian population agrees with it. Where was the letter from South African Jews about the treatment of LGBT people in Gaza and the West Bank? The vile oppression of gay people has been going on for decades, and there are at least 500,000 LGBT Palestinians who are literally fearful to say they are gay, and yet no one in our Jewish community has spoken up about them. Hamas’ attack on Israel was because they hate Jews and want to kill them – it’s not because of the conditions of the Palestinian people. If the Palestinians wanted peace they would have it today – they have been offered a two state solution numerous times, and every single time they have sabotaged it. The simple truth is they don’t want Jews, the indigenous people of Israel, to live in their own land. The original colonizers were the Muslims, who built the Al-Aqsa Mosque directly on the site of the first and second temples in Jerusalem, the center of Jewish life for more than 1000 years. What Israel faces now is an existential threat, and they have no choice but to go into Gaza and root out Hamas once and for all. The blood of Palestinian children is on Hamas’ hands, not Israel. Just 18 millions Jews in the world face terrible anti-Semitism, and the signers of this vile letter feel it’s ok to add to it (yes, look on social media, and you’ll see exactly how this letter is being used by those who hate Jews). There are 1.8 billion Muslims in the world, and they don’t face Islamophobia on near the scale that the world’s small Jewish population does. There are 240 hostages in Gaza, whose lives hang in the balance. The only reason why there are negotiations for their release going on is because of the Israeli actions. Beyond everything, the signers of this letter, privileged and safe where they are, had no right to attack Israel as they did – pro-Hamas forces are already doing that globally. You betrayed all Jews in the writing of this letter, and you should all be ashamed of yourself.
Thanks for bringing this up. Those that I know on the list are advocating for a one state solution. They naively believe that the Palestinians would allow Jews to live in their state. I don’t think they’ve even considered the rights and existence of LGBTQ+ people Jewish or not. Terrifying!
Shtok, Mr. Silverstein. You’re reacting exactly as Hamas would want. There is some evidence that Bibi & his mobsters has had a hand in maintaining the Hamas diversion as far as Palestinian unity goes. This horrorshow works for both the monsters of Hamas & the religious nuts of the Likud.
Well said ! It was Gandhi who said “an eye for and eye” … makes the whole world blind .. and guess what … a Hindu fanatic assassinated (sounds familiar?) him !
Palestinians have never been offered a true peace. What they have offered is capitulation and a Bantustan. True peace in Palestine would look like the South African solution. The whole country opened up for all its people, the right of refugees to return, and yes, even the Zionist Jews imported into Palestine after 1915 (when the British took over) and 1948, can remain, and then one man one vote.
Zionists like to project that Palestinians want to kill them all, but why should that be, when they have allowed Jews to live peacefully in Palestine for over 1000 years of rule by successive Islamic governments?
In fact, the mass killing of Jews in Palestine happened whenever Christians came there – the goodly Crusaders, those noble men of God, slaughtered Jews wherever they found them, and peace returned when Islamic governments took over again. Christians have killed more Jews in Palestine than Hamas, probably and order of magnitude more.
And Zionists have killed an order of magnitude more Palestinians then Jews killed by them, since 1948.
Take the last 300 years under the Ottoman Empire ending in 1915. Jewish refugees fleeing the Spanish Inquisition were give refuge in Palestine. People of all three faiths lived peacefully, were good neighbours to one another, and worshipped peacefully in their places of worship. Until militant Zionist Jews came from the outside and started the ethnic cleansing.
Hamas would not exist if the Palestinians were given a true peace offer, because they would be no need for them. The IDF is the biggest recruiter for Hamas when they perpetrate atrocity after atrocity against the Palestinian people.
Absolute revisionist history going on here, clearly you know nothing about the Crusades and even less about the Peele commission conducted under the British mandate.. Pray tell why there are no more Jews and only small minorities of persecuted Christians in the Palestine neighboring countries if Islam brought so called peace to the region?
The Zionists are the masters of revisionist history.
The Crusades are a most grisly chapter of Christian history without doubt.
The Peele commission would not have been necessary if militant Zionist Jews had not come into Palestine and started displacing Palestinians.
Neighbouring countries? The Jews were green lighted to emigrate into somebody else’s country brutally displacing the people already there. So fewer of them now. Violence against Jews in neighbouring countries was a direct reaction to violence against the Palestinians. Unfortunately, human nature is like that.
When the Islamic world took over Palestine from the Eastern Roman empire, it was not ethnically cleansed of Christians and Jews. Over time and through inter-marriage, they changed their faith, but they are still the same people.
There were no Jews in Jerusalem when the Islamic armies first entered it. Guess why? Not a drop of blood was spilled, no women were molested, and no places of Christian worship were taken over.
Recognising that a great harm had been done to them, the Jews were invited to come back and live in Jerusalem by the Islamic state.
But .. you forget the sponsors of the Israeli state (UK and US) … the latter have their own history of wiping out the ‘indigenous’ populations of America (today small pockets are confined to ‘reserves’ sic) … in guess what … the ‘land of the brave and free’ !! … which even descendants of slaves, sing in unison with hands over their heart and ‘represent’ the US at the UN … where they continue their mockery.
Oh that sounds wonderful. We’ll have a democratic election just like in South Africa. I noticed that you said ‘one man, one vote’, and that was a good hint of what would be to come after that election, as women weren’t included. Based on what happens across the Muslim world – subjugation of women, brutal oppression of gay people, and based on the remaining Jewish population of every country in the Middle East besides Israel, Jews are exiled or killed. The population of most Muslim countries is a couple hundred or a couple of thousand Jews, if that. And as for that election – it’ll be just like the election in the Gaza strip after Israel left – one man, one vote, once, because Hamas never allowed an election after that. Look at all the Muslim nations of the world, and sadly most do not have democracy, freedom of speech or any other of the Western freedoms that are enjoyed in Israel by all (including the 1.9 million Arabs who live there quite happily, and are most certainly not running to live in the other Muslim countries nearby).
All these Middle Eastern dictators were appointed and are fully supported by the Western powers (fully paid for to do their mischief). Democracy may break out in the Middle East if it were not for that.
Hamas came to power only because of the brutality the Palestinian people have been subject to with the world doing nothing about it. There would have no support if it were not for that.
Woman do vote in Islamic democracies. They did not always vote in Western ones either.
Talking about the ‘rights’ which noble Israel gives, the people of the West Bank live under terrible subjugation and daily settler violence and even now, dispossession of their land. They have no rights and every atrocity against them is justified as a security operation. Gaza is a concentration camp.
It’s very interesting, Nas, how you’ve responded to all of my points above, except the ones about the treatment of gay people by elected Palestinian leadership, Hamas, and across the Muslim world. Please can you state your position on LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage. I think it’s important for the many gay signers of the above letter to know exactly who they are aligning themselves with.
Muslims are with the majority of Republican Party in the US on this one. They do not regard being gay by choice as a human right.
Many many Christians and people of other faiths have the same position.
All can still align and call for peace.
False!
Well meaning , but way to late Zionism is now the majority amongst Jews . for non jews read “who is a jew” by Leonard Greenspoon .Purdue University . make for interesting reading gives a better understanding of Israeli policies .
Your headline is misleading. It only refers to the call for a ceasefire but omits to mention the call for the release of the hostages. I wonder if this is what the signatories were expecting & how they feel about it. You have taken a thread out of their long letter and emphasised only the wording that reflects your own views. Have you run out of space again DM? That is your usual excuse to me.
Let us not forget Israel is holding 5000+ Palestinians hostage in its prisons, many of them children and without trial. All the hostages must be freed.
I commend the brave Jewish individuals who signed this letter. They have shown their humanity and taken the high ground.
Indeed Nas. Well said. It is now well-known how the IDF aggressively went into a Gaza peaceful hypno-trans concert of young people and a left-leaning communal living complex – brutally murdering as many as they could and then kidnapped these 5000+ (totally innocent) Palestinians, who they are now holding hostage in sewers that they have built specifically for this. You forgot to mention that the Israeli public went on to dance in the streets, give out sweets, chanting “Hashem is great”, with simultaneous celebrations breaking out in all pro-western liberal democracies when this all happened. This is how the “Jews are really Nazis” and “Zionism is Apartheid” stuff gains real traction. Thank you for leading us to the high ground, also known a Lalaland.
You obviously have not seen videos of settlers celebrating Palestinians being shot dead by the IDF.
Palestinians in the West Bank have to suffer daily harassment, humiliation and violence from the settlers and the IDF. Just for trying to go about their lives in their own land. Israel’s ‘innocence’ in all this is totally overrated.
Hahahaha
Most religions teach the golden rule, yet here we are in 2023 justifying hatred and murder in the name of god. Proclaiming to be his chosen nation and he gave you your land. Despite our incredible intelligence as a species, we just can’t escape the ape. RIP in peace fellow humans.
Surely a ceasefire would make the terrorists’ strategy victorious?
Why don’t the innocent civilians and their children get away from the war zones, out of their own free will?
1. A ceasefire gives Hamas the chance to regroup and prepare for their next attack
2. Firstly, Hamas won’t let them leave or move to safe areas, they need innocents to claim as martyrs to create sympathy for their cause and secondly, no regional Arab state will take any Palestinians, they so not want terrorists in their countries.
Chris Hedges writes: I was a close friend of Alina Margolis-Edelman who was part of the armed resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising in World War II. Her husband, Marek Edelman, was the deputy commander of the uprising and the only leader to survive the war. The Nazis had sealed 400,000 Polish Jews inside the Warsaw Ghetto. The trapped Jews died in the thousands, from starvation, disease and indiscriminate violence. When the Nazis began to transport the remaining Jews to the extermination camps the resistance fighters fought back. None expected to survive.
Edelman, after the war, condemned Zionism as a racist ideology used to justify the theft of Palestinian land. He sided with the Palestinians, supported their armed resistance and met frequently with Palestinians leaders. He thundered against Israel’s appropriation of the Holocaust to justify its repression of the Palestinian people. While Israel dined out on the mythology of the ghetto uprising, it treated the only surviving leader of the uprising, who refused to leave Poland, as a pariah. Edelman understood that the lesson of the Holocaust and the ghetto uprising was not that Jews are morally superior or eternal victims. History, Edelman said, belongs to everyone. The oppressed, including the Palestinians, had a right to fight for equality, dignity and liberty.
“To be a Jew means always being with the oppressed and never the oppressors,” Edelman said.
Beautifully put
BUT … hard to live up too … or even contemplate fully.
I applaude the bravery of the signatories to this statement. Palestinians are not stateless, occupied yes, stateless no.
These are people who can help the world from the brink of inhumanity and to restore humanity in all of us and remove the anger in many people to ensure a durable peace process can be crafted. Many of them have been part of the struggle and are part of the patriots who want to see South Africa succeed. They are conscious that extremism in pursuit of justice is no virtue and the eye for an eye will leave everybody blind. Their voice is very crucial because that conflict can subsume the entire world and would have lasting effects on peace and stability in the region. Not only that but would leave the global economy scarred. The emergence of Netanyahu in Israel was one of the most catastrophic phenomena in that region. We do not need humanitarian assistance only but peace that would give hope to the future of the Palestinians that seems to desert those who are clamouring for revenge. The message by these progressive Jews to all of us is to pause and to think what we are saying including to the Zionists. We applaud their courage as well as their well thought message to South Africa and the world.
Pay Back The Money
This is a calm, sensible article that has retained logic over emotion. I agree totally. Regardless of history, both sides have done wrong, both sides need to come to the table.
Respect to those South Africans standing for decency & common sense. They will not be silent as Hamas attempts to steal victory from their revolting terror. And they stand opposed to the lunatic fascist Netanyahu & his government doing everything in their power to grant Hamas their goal.
The signatories have honorable intentions as does the South African government.
Sadly, they are unaware of the destructive energies that Hamas represents, as well as its hold on the Arab population. Its a death cult, a murderous and aggressive movement seeking only one thing – to create chaos and destruction.
I call on all honorable people to reconsider their views. As a South African citizen, I call on all honorable members of parliament to realize that Hamas is not a civil rights movement and has no resemblance to those who fought against the evils of apartheid
The South African government have never has an honourable intention in their entire existence
I assume the one before the ANC is what you are longing for ? Your thinking is quite indicative of that … but sorry … I forgot there were no supporters of apartheid (it just happened !) … before it was dismantled … by a NOW disgraced ANC .
I cannot believe that a letter decrying the horrors of war makes no mention of the atrocity that started it on 7 October, nor the uncontested fact that Hamas is a Jihadist organisation that has the erasure of the state of Israel in its charter – and that’s if you have problems calling a terrorirst a terrorist. I cannot believe that a letter, ostensibly smart and humane, should use terminology without querying or vexing it, such as ‘genocide’ or ‘Zionist’ – simply accepting the idea that zionist is a dirty word, equivalent to paedophile, say, or serial killer. I am a left wing Zionist and I see no contradiction in that – I believe that the state of Israel has the right to exist, along with all the other nation states that got allocated and named in the mapping of the ‘Middle East’ at the point of decolonisation, starting with Lebanon and Syria in the 1920s, and right up to Kuwait in 1961. This was part of decolonisation. You cannot colonise a place of which you are indigenous. Calling out Netanyahu, the harm he has done, the way he has sanctioned the vile behaviour of settlers on the West Bank, is an ethical responsibility but what a shame none of these signatories saw it fit to call out the actions of Hamas, or to address the fact that ‘between the river and the sea’ is in itself a genocidal call, though some have argued it is ‘poetic.’
As someone in the Jewish community, who went to King David and have sent my children to King David schools this list is certainly not made up of ‘prominent people’. I recognize 3-4 successful business people and the rest are average Joe’s with zero influence – feels like the journalist stood outside Norwood Hypermarket & got people to add their names . Some are even recent graduates. This journalism is in the dumps