SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY ON THE SITUATION IN GAZA

The South African Jewish Community firmly supports the decision of the government of Israel to launch a military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Bearing in mind the inevitable loss of life which occurs in every military conflict, we share with the citizens of Israel the heavy heart with which they have embarked upon this operation.

Israel has done everything in its power to avoid the situation in which it finds itself, including the dismantling and evacuation of all Jewish settlements in Gaza over three and a half years ago. Israel's gesture of peace, however, has been met by a barrage of thousands of missiles which have rained down upon the villages, towns and cities of southern Israel.

Hamas's decision to fire, without provocation, approximately 80 rockets per day into Israel after the expiry of the recent cease-fire forced the Government of Israel to take the necessary steps which every civilised state is required to do in order to protect its own citizens from further terror and attacks. We hope that the Israeli Defence Force is able to carry out its mission with the minimum loss of life and casualties.

The Jewish Community of South Africa calls upon the South African Government as well as the ruling African National Congress Party (ANC) to act in a balanced and constructive manner towards the conflict in Gaza. We hope that the Government and the ANC use their special relationship with the Palestinian leadership to persuade them once and for all to enter into peaceful negotiations with Israel. These negotiations will hopefully lead to the fulfilment of what the South African Government and the ANC have repeatedly stated is the desired outcome for the region, namely the achievement of a two-state solution which allows Israelis and Palestinians to live peacefully side by side with one another.

The leadership of the South African Jewish Community understands that many citizens of South Africa have strong ties to participants in the Gaza conflict, and we urge the communities in question to join the Jewish Community in ensuring that the conflict in the Middle East is not imported into South Africa and is not allowed to disrupt the excellent relationships which exist between all of the communities and peoples of South Africa.

Statement issued by the South African Zionist Federation, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and the Office of the Chief Rabbi, January 7 2008