The Jewish Board of Deputies did what they were elected to do by opposing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s decision to act on the ANC’s 54th National Conference resolution “to immediately and unconditionally downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel”. The Boards mandate is to guard and protect the interests of the Jewish community and the downgrade of relations with Israel most certainly impacts on the well-being of the community.
While the ANC feels “deep regret and disappointment” at the stance of the Board, I as a Jew feel betrayed and violated by the language used in the ANC’s statement.
The ANC says it speaks on behalf of the people of South Africa when the last election results clearly show it just scrapped a majority, which certainly doesn’t give it the right to speak on behalf of the country, particularly on the question of Israel and Palestine. Certainly, on this issue, with 80% of the population being Christian, with close spiritual ties to the Holy Land,
It is an arrogant claim.
The ANC makes no apology for viewing the Israel/Palestine issue through the eyes of the BDS movement that has entirely “captured” South Africa’s foreign policy. Why do I say this?
It refers to the “colonial occupation of Palestine”. What can this possibly mean and what occupation is being spoken about? The statement doesn’t refer to the West Bank or Gaza, it refers to “Palestine”. In this context “Palestine” can only mean the whole territory from the Jordan River to the Sea.