The proceedings of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RtoP) have conclusively confirmed predictions that it would be no more than an unbalanced vehicle for anti-Israel propaganda thinly disguised as a quasi-judicial investigation say the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and SA Zionist Federation (SAZF). The RtoP, as anticipated, served up one-sided political rhetoric in place of meaningful debate, and sweeping condemnation instead of constructive solutions. 

SAJBD National Chairman Mary Kluk dismissed the Tribunal as an expensive exercise in futility.

"The RtoP's proceedings were carefully stage managed so as to depict Israel in the most damning light possible without even a token effort being made to subject Palestinian actions to similar critical scrutiny. The considerable time, energy and resources that has been invested in it has done nothing to bring about peace in the Middle East, nor was this the intention. Rather, its aim has solely been to isolate and delegitimize Israel" she said.

The SAJBD and SAZF support the creation of an independent Palestinian state co-existing in peace and mutual recognition alongside Israel. Here, the South African legacy of dialogue and reconciliation could have been drawn upon to help this process forward. Instead, the RToP has contributed only towards confusing the issues on the table and further polarising the situation. Its findings have been manipulated to reflect the preconceived agendas of those involved, the net result being an interpretation of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute that is profoundly distorted, cynically misleading and fundamentally unjust.

Statement issued by Charisse Zeifert. Head: Communications, South African Jewish Board of Deputies, November 7 2011

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