SAJBD REJECTS APPEAL BY TUTU FOR CAPE TOWN OPERAT NOT TO VISIT ISRAEL
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape Council) strongly rejects the recent appeal by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu for Cape Town Opera not to visit Israel.
Peace and understanding is best served through constructive and positive engagements between Israel, South Africa and the Palestinian regions, not by boycotts.
With the belief that music could work in areas where politicians are unable to do so, the late Palestinian scholar, Edward Said and Argentinean -Israeli pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim established a joint orchestra with young Palestinians and Israelis, named the West-Eastern Divan in 1998. The orchestra plays throughout the world and promotes cultural dialogue between Israelis and Arabs. There are many such initiates taking place in Israel.
Boycott campaigns work counter to such projects of peace and serve only to harden attitudes on both sides of the Israeli- Palestinian divide.