MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
Ramaphosa assures Jewish community Pretoria won’t sever ties with Israel, but condemns Gaza ‘genocide’
President Cyril Ramaphosa met Jewish community leaders this week as the UN General Assembly made its strongest call for an end to the war in Gaza.
Jewish community leaders have said that President Ramaphosa has reassured them that Pretoria does not intend severing diplomatic ties with Israel.
In a meeting with the community leaders, Ramaphosa also denounced anti-Semitic behaviour towards Jewish people in South Africa — “including the boycott of Jewish-owned businesses” — as well as Islamophobia. He also condemned Hamas for its attack on Israel on 7 October and demanded it return the Israeli hostages it took in that attack and is still holding.
Leaders of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and SA Zionist Federation (SAZF) said after meeting Ramaphosa on Wednesday that he “re-iterated Dirco’s public position that there was no intention to sever diplomatic ties between Israel and South Africa.”
This position appeared to contradict the ANC support of a resolution passed in Parliament last month calling on Pretoria to sever relations with Israel because of its bombardment of Gaza. The government had indicated already that it regarded this resolution as purely advisory and was not obliged to implement it. But the SAJBD’s statement was the clearest sign that it does not intend doing so.
Read more in Daily Maverick: National Assembly votes to cut diplomatic ties with Israel and shut embassy, but it’s symbolic until government acts
Ramaphosa did not refer directly to this in his statement on the meeting. However, he did say he had told the Jewish leaders that SA would not return its diplomats to its closed embassy in Tel Aviv until Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza has ended. All the diplomats in the embassy were recalled last month.
Read more in Daily Maverick: SA recalls diplomats in Tel Aviv over ‘untenable’ situation with Israeli ambassador
The SAJBD also said that Ramaphosa had told them that it was Israel’s decision, not South Africa’s, whether Israel’s ambassador to South Africa Eliav Belotsercovsky returned to this country. Israel recalled him for consultations just before the ANC-supported Parliamentary resolution to cut ties with Israel was adopted.
The SAJBD said that its National Director Wendy Kahn, had shared a presentation with Ramaphosa “on the documented threats and incidents against the Jewish community, including:
- Calls to expel the Jewish representative bodies from the country;
- Incitement by a PAGAD leader to ‘decentralise the war. Let’s take the war to them right here’;
- Marches on Jewish areas on the Sabbath to ‘Shut down the Zionist enablers’;
- Assaults on Christian Zionists and Jews on the Sea Point promenade;
- Threats to close a Jewish School and threats to bomb that school;
- Boycotts of Jewish businesses; and
- The rise in antisemitism that has spiked from nine incidents in the previous year to 125 incidents, during the same time period, including an increase in physical assaults.”
The SAJBD and SAZF represent most members of the Jewish community in SA.
The SAJBD also complained about South Africa’s “inconsistency in its approach to Israel compared to how it has dealt with every other global conflict. It has singled out the Jewish state, removing its embassy from Tel Aviv while it retains its embassy in all other conflict-ridden areas, including Russia and Ukraine. In so doing, it has compromised the religious rights of Jewish South Africans and compromised its ability to act as a trusted intermediary for brokering a peace deal”.
However, the board said that Ramaphosa had agreed “that it was important to ‘leave the window open’ to engage.”
Read more in Daily Maverick: Middle East crisis news hub
International pressure on Israel mounts
In his statement, Ramaphosa strongly condemned the “genocide” which he said was being inflicted on the Palestine people in Gaza and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
He met SAJBD leaders as the UN General Assembly made its strongest call for an end to the war in Gaza, voting overwhelmingly to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Netanyahu must ‘change course’, or lose global support – Biden; UN General Assembly demands ceasefire in Gaza
While the General Assembly vote increases the political and moral pressure on Israel to stop its bombardment of Gaza — and also increases political pressure on its main ally America — it has no direct force because it is non-binding.
Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations Riyad H Mansour (centre) speaks during a press conference as the UN General Assembly holds an emergency special session on the Israel-Hamas war at the United Nations headquarters on 12 December 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The US was one of 10 nations which voted against the resolution while 23 abstained and 153 countries including South Africa voted for the resolution.
In Pretoria, Ramaphosa’s office said the SAJBD leaders had petitioned him to:
- Restore full diplomatic recognition of Israel, including the re-opening of the South African embassy in Tel Aviv and providing assurances that the Israeli embassy in Pretoria will not be closed to enable the return of the Israeli Ambassador to South Africa;
- Speak and/or act against the boycott of Israeli and Jewish businesses in South Africa; and
- Protect the South African Jewish community against anti-Semitic incidents and/or attacks.
“President Ramaphosa reiterated the South African government position on the current conflict in Israel and Palestine that the South African government:
- Stands with the people of Palestine who have endured over seven decades of apartheid type of brutal occupation;
- Condemned the attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023 on Israeli citizens, including women and children;
- Calls for all hostages to be returned;
- Condemns the genocide that is being inflicted against the people of Palestine, including women and children, through collective punishment and ongoing bombardment of Gaza;
- Calls for the International Criminal Court to investigate all the atrocities and war crimes committed in Israel and Palestine and to hold all those responsible to account;
- Calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities to allow for more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza; and
- Calls for the resumption of negotiations between Palestinians and Israel that will lead to a two-state solution along the 1967 internationally recognised borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
“President Ramaphosa indicated that the South African diplomats based in Tel Aviv will remain in South Africa for consultations during the current state of conflict, however, the government will endeavour to make available all the necessary support that is required by South African citizens in need of assistance.
“The President further emphasised the government’s denunciation of anti-Semitic behaviour towards Jewish people in South Africa, including the boycott of Jewish-owned businesses, and Islamophobia.”
The SAJBD confirmed that Ramaphosa had told it that the closure of the SA embassy in Tel Aviv was only temporary and that it would not be opened for the duration of the war. “He assured the delegation that during this temporary closure, Dirco would assist South Africans in Israel with consular support.
“The delegation acknowledged the work done by the security cluster in protecting the Jewish community,” the SAJBD said.
“The delegation also acknowledged the President’s communication where he said that South Africans stand firm against all forms of prejudice, including antisemitism. The President emphasised that, as per the Constitution of our country, they will ensure that the Jewish community are protected. He committed himself to speak out against antisemitism and especially the attacks on Jewish business. The SAJBD trusts that this will be an ongoing initiative of the Government.”
The SAJBD added that Ramaphosa had assured it that Hamas does not have an office in South Africa, as some members of the Jewish community had suspected. DM
If he told me that water was wet I would immediately seek a second and third opinion from experts in the field. The gas lighter and confidence trickster in chief isn’t one to take at his word.
The SAJBD have nothing to worry about in South Africa as this country is not under Jewish occupation and they will do well to stay under the radar, they must stop siding with their country when their government is unleashing genocide of unspeakable proportions to innocent Palestinians, 7 october passed and we condemned Hamas, unfortunately we are condemning Israel everyday because they committing crimes against humanity everyday so if the SAJBD keeps mourning about issues without condemning their government they must be careful not to be seen to push us to shake bloodied hands stained by 18000+ innocent souls and they must be sensitive to the history of this country, if i was a Jew i will be deeply ashamed of the current right wing blood hungry Israel government who will be stopped only by violence, watch this space something is brewing in Iran and Turkey its just a matter of time
No they do not need to stay under the radar . That is their right in SA under freedom of expression. If they with evidence in the public domain want to hitch their congregation to a potential genocide and carry water for the IDF it also their choice . The sad fact though that the Holocaust will be bookended by the Nakba/Genocide . In one victim and in the other perpetrator . The chances of the IDF or Israeli politicians being brought up on charges are nil. But in history and collective memory will be remembered .
Equating the nakba to the holocaust is disingenuous at best. The nakba resulted from 5 Arab states simultaneously launching an invasion of Israel in an attempt to erase it from the map. In that they failed miserably and lost, rather than gained a great deal of territory. The Nazis with help from the 10s of thousands of Arab Muslims who joined the SS systematically rounded up and killed millions of jews in camps specifically designed for the purpose. By the time the war was done there were very few jews left. The populations of gaza and the west bank have increased dramatically. That’s unusual in a genocide.
I am worried Mike the 19000 dead is a rough count which does not include Rafalah an Westbank and perhaps tripple under the rubbles, I am afraid it is genocide proportions not sure what number qualifies a genocide
Its not a number thing its about intent. All the best genocides in history have been done with the intent of wiping out the target group. If the Israelis intended to wipe out Palestinian Arab Muslims you wouldn’t be having this discussion as it wouldn’t be something that even the most rabid zionist could pretend wasn’t happening. Israel has all of the tools and capabilities to do a real genocide if that’s what they intended. The term is used with the same gay abandon and lack of accuracy as ‘nazi’.
On the Nakba and what was its aims read Ben Gurion’s biography.
The belief is powerful with this one. What do you suppose the aims of the 5 arab nations that invaded israel were? No need to read anyones biography to find that out as their leaders said it straight out. Same same like those nice folks in iran do now. The jews would be long gone if it wasn’t for the ineptitude of the aspirant genocidiers in the arab world.
Why should they stay under the radar? I gather you’re a pro xenophobia protagonist, not surprised
Was this response really necessary? Can we not debate the issue without personalizing our remarks?
Are you aware that Jewish South Africans are governed by the South African government. You keep referencing the Knesset as if the SABJD has any involvement in what is going on in Gaza.
You are not a jew, so don’t tell us how we should feel. Take a real close look at the middle East. What has happened in Iran, Syria and Iraq, amongst others. Take a good long look at global conflicts, and contextualise the Israel/Palestine conflict in a world of 7bn people. Contextualise the Jewish state that is the size of the Kruger Park, in a world in which their are no other Jewish states.
Then remember that we are a people that suffered a real attempt at genocide two generations back, and countless attempts before that.
Our government has not got their own house in order, there is a fundamental lack of integrity that is pervasive throughout the public sector. So frankly, the big guy should shut his mouth and stay out of world affairs that he has no influence on..
Shame on you Kenneth
That’s the spirit guys unfortunately I had to touch some nerves here the point I am making is Jews, Palestinians and sympathizers we all need a balanced approach based on the reality on the ground, we comment here to learn and share facts, irrespective of who you are try not to carry one sided line (Palestine ie and pretend Hamas didn’t happen or Jews and pretend the Israel government has been given ice cream and cakes to Palestinians) the reality is there is a potential of a wider regional conflict our democracy is tolerant but not very great we have seen clashes between sympathizers inside our country hence my post that Jews and Palestinians need our support but they need to consider the other side as well because in my view they are all innocent civilians led by a far right racist Israel government, we embraced the ANC but we call them out on all their total failures and we will kick them out eventually for our sanity
Exactly!
Stay under the radar eh? Colours nailed right to the mast there.
Yes, I am a self described Jewish South African. I am African, 4 generations now born in South Africa. I believe in Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, but that is not my country. I am connected to it tribally yes, but I don’t have any affiliation with Israel other than being Jewish. So what colours precisely have I nailed to the mast here…I’ll give you a hint, it looks identical to our national flag
Apologies, I replied to your comment in error. It was supposed to have been to the one by dexter m.
Bloody hell I’m not very good at this. My colours to the mast comment was in reply to Kenneth FAKUDE not Richard Hoffman or dexter m. Apologies to both of you.
27000 innocent souls were murdered in our own country this past year and we are not even at war or threat. Not to mention that SA is the rape capital of the world! If Ramaphosa, and yourself, think you should comment on other countries politics, I suggest you take the log from your own eye first. Stop your own people from murder if and raping and don’t even look left until you have brought that down to an internationally comparative level.
Thank you Jennifer. Roughly nearly 70 a day murdered here at home, and that’s the ones the cops admit to, I am sure there are more. In the Gaza conflict we have a figure of roughly 15000 civillians dead and 6000 missing. Thats 166 dead per day in a WAR zone. But we live in a war zone EVERY year without actually being in war zone. South Africa is a permanent war zone because crime is not dealt with. Seventy people are murdered here every day and then add then rape and child abuse to that and realize what our society faces every day. Ramaphosa however in spite of that has the effrontery to think he can advise Israel on how to behave.
This has to be the longest sentence I have ever seen! And, also the most ignorant.
So you back the openly undemocratic regime of Iran? Who only a daily basis infringe on the human rights of its own people?
But when he talks to others, he will say the opposite….as he does so often.
Tell me too, are not Consular staff at a senior level also diplomats…. I exclude local clerks etc.
Is there a Hamas Office in SA…. fact checked perhaps.
And is Minister Pandor antisemitic…..she does that portrayal very well.
Yes there is a Hamas office in SA, it’s in Johannesburg, in Fordsburg. Funny how all references to their overseas offices have been taken down in the internet since they started this atrocity
It’s normal for militant groups to have an office in another country ANC had one in Lusaka it’s a matter between a landlord and a tenant, if you not an undesirable person in that country it’s allowed, but there is no Hamas diplomat in any embassy if you mean that by office
Minister Pandor has been great remember her first response to Russia and she was quickly reprimanded fortunately her words could not be erased and like all of us on October 7 we sang the same Hamas rebuke but 2 months Israel is committing terror daily and we will daily rebuke Israel and it can easily mistaken for condoning of Hamas acts that was never acceptable 19000 people later even the Americans are changing the unconditional support unfortunately the right wing government has been consumed by hatred to everyone’s destruction
synagogues of satan
And it is OK t
And it is OK in your eyes to carry out a Holy Jihad against all people of other beliefs? And Hamas is at present extending its network with weapons in Europe. That is OK?
Denise if you have the stomach check a few political scholars they will shock you they call Hamas attack a military blunder which gained them huge benefits in Palestinian sympathy right to the UN corridors and they call Israel response a strategic blunder with huge costs and isolation, check Scott Rider he gives a thorough analysis
An anti-Semite…… you must be a serious intellectual
How did this pass moderation ?
Very good question – last week a holocaust denier. The moderating policy doesn’t work. People are accused of being drunk or stoned when they disagree with certain individuals. I’ve been told I am ignorant and get my views from Tik-tok. Laughable really but not my idea of civil.
Compared to comments on other news sites. This is actually civil. Just the odd idiot.
You see the mind is blind when the eyes don’t see , that’s what’s happening here ,many people fail to see what’s really happening and certain people want to portray themselves as victims .You cannot take away something given by God and with the same breath assassinate people’s character ,I call this the Cain and Able syndrome
pls lets leave God out this. More crimes against humanity have been committed under the guise of religion and i mean all religions . That never ends well for anyone. Religious nuts of all stripes should not be given the space to spout their dogma . That should remain in their Church/Mosque/Synagogue/Temple.
The problem on the Israeli issue is the churches, mosques and synagogues have been bombed out by Israel and they are sacred sites in any war it’s no shock if God features loosely here you even have people killed during their prayer sessions it’s a total mess
It never stops astonishing me, that people still believe that there is a God…..Is it only one or several? One each?
Lisbeth i am sorry to keep visiting you the truth is in life you need to believe in something it reduces the number of visits to social workers for councelling because when overwhelmed you always have a place to unburden be it ancestors, God you name it
Liz Ethan, I’ve seen several of your posts in which you express your amazement at other people’s religious beliefs. Who are you trying to convince? Them? Or yourself?
At least stop visa – free teavel to South Africa. Settlers and those involved in war crimes should be denied entry.
Whatever you do don’t hinder the travel freedoms of hamas officials by accident while you’re about it.
Extremusts of every stripe should be denied entry, including homophobic missionaries from the US, anti-semites, holocaust deniers, racists and the truly dreadful sexist troll creatures- not welcome.
Would you like to head the Bureau….. you seem to have the requisite biases.
Love to.
It is not only settlers but include charges for any SA citizen serving in the IDF. While the world is concentrating on Gaza and given total support by US and western powers . The settlers with support by IDF is at this moment beating unarmed Palestinians and destroying homes in villages in the West bank . Forcing them who have resisted attacks and provocation for decades from settlers have now been forced to flee due to the presence of the IDF . Because they know any resistance will allow them to be killed by IDF in IDF’s normal mantra self defence.
I know it’s a bit awkward but as you know there are arab muslims in the idf and the knesset and the supreme court. I assume you wouldn’t want them charged or the travel rights of the 20% or israeli citizens who are muslim arabs impeded. Perhaps we could get the jews to be marked out somehow so that we could be sure that we hated in the right direction. How about something like making them wear a star of david or perhaps something more permanent like a tattoo?
Serving in a foreign military is against SA law can only occur with the approval of the SANDF if not are considered mercenaries. At last count that i could find the number of arab muslims in the IDF ( i do not include the Druze community) was 450 members of a population of 2 million . And now the Druze community after dying for the country want the 2018 Law to be amended to include them which does not give them equal rights . Also as at 2019 33 % of Israeli males get exemptions from military service and a further 15 % escape from service or never complete service. The numbers are higher for women. That trend was rising from 25% in 2005. I would assume after the numbers are higher in 2022. With those numbers it is why the IDF requires members from other countries. Seems 50 % of Israeli males not keen on fighting for their country
Maybe its them that shot escaping hostages waving a white flag? How many others have been killed in the same way. War crime.
Has anyone confronted President Ramaphosa with “liar, liar pants on fire” ?
That one has let all of us down we trusted his experience and contribution Pre 1994 but money makes the world go round so they say and Ramaphosa is no exception
There is a real difference between being Israeli, and being Jewish.
To victimize people of a particular religious belief because of what happens in a foreign country is ridiculous. Do you believe Jews living in SA have any say in what happens in Israel?
I always purposely state Jews and Israel separately like I do with Hamas and Palestine because governments don’t always represent the population
Hamas has been elected by the Palestines.
The ANC was elected by south africans are they doing what all south africans want them to do Lisbeth?Did we ask for Looting and loadshedding?
That was in 2007 the first free fair elections. But the the west that preaches democracy did not accept it, they did not like the will of the people. US forced Fatah to push Hamas out which led to the counter coup against Fatah in Gaza. The plans agreed to by all Palestinian factions in 2021 for elections was stopped by Israel and US.
Do you feel the elected ANC represents your views and values then?
@cyril.ramaphosa do you likewise condemn Hamas’s disgusting animal attack on Israeli civilians that triggered the Israeli response?
Check Item 2 on the follow up paragraph of the presidential statement he did, lets give credit where it is due but i am frustrated with his reluctancy to take action in important matters hence the downward spiral of every service in this country
Ramaphosa despite all his assurances is a political jelly fish. He is double minded president and unstable in all his deliberations. You can trust him as far as you can throw him. He is a typical populist politician ans well say just what he needs to fully appease whatever diverse audience he is addressing. The sooner he and the ANC goes the better.
Such an insult to jellyfish.
I wonder who he’s suggested be investigated for war crimes on the Palestinian side: Hamas? the PA with their revisionist lunatic billionaires in charge? Decisions decisions….
It seems the SAJBD wants it’s butter on both sides of the bread. It wants Ramaphosa to acknowledge the anti-semitism emanating from the Israel – Gaza conflict but refuses to say even a murmur against the perceived genocide being conducted by the IDF.
I knew the SAJBD lost the plot the moment I saw representatives of Hamaz come on national TV remonstrating that they were the good guys in the current conflict even though they went barbarically murdering civilian Jews and then taking hostages.
If the SAJBD was doing its job properly it would have been in a moral position to counter such claims, instead it was silent because it was caught back footed by its refusal to speak out against the atrocities and perceived genocide committed by the IDF.
If the SAJBD wants to regain the trust of South Africans it need to do more than meekly stay silent while shocking atrocities are witnessed daily against Palestinians in Gaza.
This is my second comment
It seems the SAJBD wants it’s butter on both sides of the bread. It wants Ramaphosa to acknowledge the anti-semitism emanating from the Israel – Gaza conflict but refuses to say even a murmur against the perceived genocide being conducted by the IDF. I knew the SAJBD lost the plot the moment I saw representatives of Hamaz come on national TV remonstrating that they were the good guys in the current conflict even though they went barbarically murdering civilian Jews and then taking hostages. If the SAJBD was doing its job properly it would have been in a moral position to counter such claims, instead it was silent because it was caught back footed by its refusal to speak out against the atrocities and perceived genocide committed by the IDF. If the SAJBD wants to regain the trust of South Africans it need to do more than meekly stay silent while shocking atrocities are witnessed daily against Palestinians in Gaza.
Its not only in Gaza … it is perpetrated in a different but equally callous manner (like the ‘security’ apparatus did in apartheid SA) across the West Bank also. The Gazan atrocity is simply an excuse for targeting the entire Palestinian population. It explains why besides schools and hospitals and vital infrastructure like water, electricity and food … journalists (especially of a particular channel who have fearlessly been capturing/exposing the ongoing barbarity) and even their family members are daily ‘executed’ with impunity … with the connivance of big brother US. And all this gibberish about ‘proxies’ and flinging words like ‘terrorist’ at everything/anyone that opposes the efforts at subjugating people ! The ‘colonial’ mindset working overtime … again. The struggle against domination continues … some almost 30 years after we thought we had beaten it here.
Incidentally … it is not “perceived” genocide … it is captured in ‘real time’ by a particular news channel … which is why its journalists are mercilessly ‘executed’ by the Israeli regime … and big brother simply mouths meaningless … nay idiotic terms like ‘concerned’ about such issues. We should remember that it was our apartheid regime that labelled the ANC a ‘terrorist’ organisation (though currently not beyond reproach) … and the US and Israel were its fanatical cheerleaders .
It is a real problem that Jewish South Africans are told to be silent about attacks on Jewish South Africans. On the boycotting of Jewish businesses and the stone throwing at Jewish houses in Norwood, Sydenham, the cancelling this year of the 25 year old tradition of lighting the candles for Chanukah in Sandton City. For the Hamas supporting government and it seems the majority of south African Muslims it is very OK to harass Jewish South Africans for simply being Jewish. And they better not complain about the anti semitism meted out to them else they have blood on their hands. I agree with another commentator, maybe Jewish South Africans must just wear a star of David on their sleeves so the ‘good’ South Africans can know who to throw stones at. The anti semitism in South Africa has been horrendous the last two months. Whose next, Christians who believe in Israels’s right to exist, will they be boycotted and have stones thrown at them next ? How about we put South Africans first? And leave the Middle East mess to their saviour, and SA’s bestie, Iran to sort out. How about South Africans condemn the hatred to their fellow South Africans more than they rant about some far away conflict. How about South Africans care more about the thousands more people killed in South Africa every year, than in than far away conflict. Us run of the mill South Africans have sympathy for Palestinians caught up in the Iran instigated war. But we are tired of the blatant anti semitism.
The truth will tire you Greta it has the habit of constantly popping up, Israel is indefensible they are the only country that still pass racist laws against people because of their origin, the only country in this modern age who sentence people for 99 years without trial and sit in the UN councils, the only country removing people from their homes because of their origin and take over and see nothing wrong, the only country that kills 19000 people 75% women and children and convince the world they are defending themselves it just cannot be right
70% of Palestinians may not be soldiers but they 100% support Hamas thus = Hamas
Of the 18000 deaths , everyone assumes they were all innocent civilians. No mention of Hamas / terrorists in that number
For the same token that no assumes there were any terrorists killed , rather 18000 innocent civilians, you may as well assume they were all Hamas l
And we will be forgiven Shaq Israel is bombing every human in Gaza but they confirmed the 3 Israelis and don’t deny the 19000 Palestinians infact when the rubble is finally cleared we might get a higher number,Hamas did something terrible on October 7, Israel did terrible things before that but if decide to discuss the Israel issue you will not be doing justice if you pick sections you like and get to the media space and say this is the only issue causing Tensions in Israel, this is an informative space
70%, your figure, of Palestinians support Hamas….where do you get the idea that they support the killing of women and children, babies too.
100% agree
Hebanna
Somewhat disappointing balancing act, as usual Ramaphosa style. He is master of balancing acts, and sometimes I wonder does he have firm convictions?
Syria currently stands as the most extensive refugee crisis globally. Since 2011, approximately 14 million Syrians have been compelled to flee their homes, and over 600,000 killed. Short on memory on the bombing of schools and hospital in Aleppo, Homs, Idlib. Not a protest, not a flag burned, not an comment in newspapers. But what’s 600,000 people killed, bombed to smithereens. No Jews no News!
Syria is a sovereign state the war there was initially an uprising against the dictator Assad then America entered to steal the oil(Tump proudly confessed on national tv) and America allows Israel to bomb Syria all the time and they even legitimised the theft of Golan heights by Israel, the Golan heights occupation by Israel was declared illegal by the United Nations, Trump declared that it belongs to Israel like he tried to make Jerusalem the capital of Israel, they used the Kurds in Syria to help them fight Isis and created tensions for them against Turkey, when Turkey attacked the Kurds because they were fighting militants aligned with Turkey America didnt lift a finger, lets do our homework guys our kids are learning here
Kenneth, Israel too is a sovereign state. The Golan Heights were seized after the Syrian attacks, when was it, 1967 or 1974… the high ground matters in wartime situations.
So much wrong with what you say or believe…..the Kurds have been an issue for centuries with Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria etc
Why are the comments hidden for this story?
Why are the comments for this story hidden?
A short 4 hour flight from your homes how many killed in the DRC? A little further north how many killed in Darfur and Sudan? Not a protest not even from the BLM crowd
And France had a big hand there, Europe cannot stand a financially stable Africa and middle east they are rich because of resouces from all these countries, they create never ending wars to supply their lethal weapons in exchange for natural resources, and you might be fooled in thinking this doesnt affect us, we have all these resources but we are poor and paying high taxes and always paying interest to the IMF, when you borrow money there they tell you how to manage your affairs, Bricks is a real threat to them they will throw everything to make bricks fail
No doubt Ramaphosa and his buddies have just realised that much of the financial support all political parties receive comes from big business and large corporations owned by the Jewish community. The ANC is governed by financial self interest and nothing else. Their condemnation of Israel they now know, was a classic case of cutting the nose off to spite the face.
ANC has no control and they are undermined at every terms at all black people don’t own land or much business and never benefited during apartheid so they are not responsible for crime loadshedding as for loadshedding it’s a crear sabotage by the richest and international imperialist who want to own all state business for free like they did to SAA bought it for nothing and to prevent South Africa’s economy to grow because to grow economy you need affordable electricity transportation telecommunications and also those are the only conglomerates in SA also they are trying to split more than 50% of South Africa into Western cape and Eastern SA
The Anc has its short comings but the issue of land is a matter far complicated for the ANC and all political parties, it is in the interest of the whole nation that everyone comes together to find a workable solution that does not rob Peter to give Paul lets be careful what we ask for
What are you talking about?
Has everyone forgotten the 24 000 Palestinians killed by the Jordanians with the assistance of the Pakistanis in the 1970’s. Why were they killed? Because they caused such trouble and fomented unrest in Jordan. The Arab nations detest the Palestinians and look down on them, considering them as trouble makers.
Who to believe? What to believe? Lots of forked tongues wagging, as usual
QUESTION: Many countries allow their citizens to be drafted and serve in the Israeli armed forces. On return to their home country and after Israeli active duty, are these individuals and their families not legitimate military targets wherever they are? Are they not considered mercenaries or foreign agents? Are they not Israeli Foreign Legions? How does it work.
That is a question that all countries have avoided till now. The majority of countries have laws that prohibit serving in foreign militaries but has never been enforced for their citizens serving in IDF. Example UK stated that anyone going to fight in Ukraine could be liable to be charged on return. But on Israel the foreign office has not even bothered to respond to at last count 3 letters sent for clarification. Double Standards !!!
The one talent that President Ramadonothing has is talk out both sides of his mouth at the same time.
SAJBD you have the full support of south africans, you are the one important voice that will make sure sense prevails in Israel and the Palestinians do need a state, they are capable of determining their own course, they are human, we will support your different entities lets all build a united Israel and Palestine Merry xmas
In February 2005, all Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and the joint Israeli-Palestinian Erez Industrial Zone was dismantled, and 9,000 Israelis, were forcibly evicted. In September 2005, the Israeli cabinet formally declared an end to Israeli military occupation of the Gaza Strip. During Israel’s pullout, Palestinians demolished infrastructure and unused buildings for scrap material. Smugglers, militant groups, and entrepreneurs created a booming “tunnel economy”. Israel’s disengagement also resulted in loss of the settlement factories, workshops, and greenhouses where Gazans were employed. 3,600 workers were employed at the greenhouses, and the “overwhelming majority” of them were Palestinians.
Why has there been a misuse of international aid in Gaza – or were the proposals for international aid specified for “building underground tunnels”? Where are the reports to international funders and the monitoring and evaluation of this aid?
Why was the coastline that runs along the Gaza strip not developed for tourism? Where is the culture, the food, the traditions of Palestinians to be seen? Has there been any coverage of the abuse of Palestinians by Hamas? Why was there a systematic degradation of industry and productive farming (established by settlers, who were forcibly removed)? Is this all Israel’s fault? The Gaza strip is governed by Hamas – under majority support by the people. A big chunk of information is missing for me.
Israel has indirect occupation of Gaza because they control the airspace, the ports, and the crossings into Israel – wouldn’t you, if your neighbour’s charter sought the elimination of your state? I have no doubt that Israel does not want to perpetrate the genocide of Palestinian people. They just want to see a thriving, peaceful place next door and neighbours that they can trust and live alongside. I’m Jewish, I know how Jews think. To those that accuse Israel of being imperialist and colonialist occupiers – what does “freedom” look like to you? Is it like the chaos of an ANC government, with collapsed infrastructure, stolen taxpayers money, crime statistics on the level of the worst countries internationally? Why are they still being voted in by a majority of South Africans? I can understand that I have “Western” ideas of a “good life”. I’m trying to understand what the ideal de-colonised life looks like for Gazans and for South Africans.
Alexis pls. inform yourself of the facts . Do not take this goy’s word . Start with both human rights organisations in Israel .Then watch documentary Israelism by 2 US Jews. Then if you are disturbed by those get informed do not just accept all you have been given by Israeli lobbyists, because remember this is being done in your name. Read also Jewish newspapers in the US the conversations are quite lively . The sad fact is a culture that Jews should be proud of and celebrated for their contributions to society by all , is being flushed down the toilet by actions of a State.
Your perspective is not a fait accompli. And conversations among Jews in the US wouldn’t be where I acquire my identity. Judging by the congressional hearing of three Ivy League University presidents, this month, who wouldn’t admit to calls for Intifada on their campus’s being hate speech – unless it was acted upon (a bit too late, right?) – American “wokeness” is an absurdity. It is not something that I admire. I don’t hear from Israeli lobbyists. I hear from people I know and respect. You are insulting the intelligence of anyone that doesn’t see this the way that you do.
Hi Mr. Peter Fabricius
Hope this finds you well.
There have been questions raised about the integrity of this article. This is a kind request to kindly confirm whether it is indeed true.
Appreciated.