ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS DESMOND TUTU and the CAPE TOWN OPERA

27 October 2010

The South African Zionist Federation is profoundly saddened by the call by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu to the Cape Town Opera to postpone its proposed trip to Israel for political reasons.

We had hoped that as a man of peace and a Nobel Peace laureate, he would use his legacy and his reputation to bring the Israeli and Palestinian people closer to a resolution of this tragic conflict, rather than exacerbating it by his hostile statements.

His attack on Israel is unjust and harmful to any moves towards peace, and his stance is to be regretted, especially in light of the decision taken by the Cape Town Opera to continue with its tour of Israel because it is "first and foremost an arts company that believes in promoting universally held human values through the medium of opera".

Statement issued by Avrom Krengel, Chairman: South African Zionist Federation, October 27 2010

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