We call for even-handedness and acknowledging of complexity
11 May 2021
For the past week rockets fired from Gaza have rained down on Israeli towns in the south of Israel. Yesterday, it was Jerusalem’s turn to be targeted. Rockets are indiscriminate. They imperil the lives of all who live in the Holy City, whether Jew, Christian or Muslim.
Despite this, the South African Government has chosen to single out Israel for exclusive condemnation, disregarding completely the over three hundred deadly rockets fired thus far against Israeli civilians.
The double standards do not stop there. Whereas countries throughout the world sent condolences to Israel following the tragic loss of 45 lives in Meron, South Africa has yet to follow suit even two weeks later. However, within 24 hours it was able to issue a statement condemning Israel.
In their determination to condemn Israel come what may, Government has reversed cause and effect. The reality – and not for the first time - is that the initial clashes were deliberately orchestrated by the Palestinian leadership and have now culminated in a lethal barrage of missile fire on Jerusalem and other heavily populated cities.
If Government, and indeed all political parties, wish to be part of ending this latest tragic outburst of violence, they must show genuine even-handedness. Those who unquestioningly endorse the claims and actions of one side while completely ignoring those of the other do nothing to resolve the conflict. In fact, they only make a bad situation worse.
The SA Jewish Board of Deputies and the SA Zionist Federation call on our Government and indeed all political parties and media to show even-handedness, and acknowledge the complexity of the situation. Demonising Israel, as we have seen in certain statements coming out are irresponsible, inflammatory and dangerous. Tensions are already heightened around a number of issues, including a domestic land dispute in East Jerusalem, rock-throwing at the Kotel, Judaism’s holiest site, Jerusalem Day and Ramadan.
Issued by Wendy Kahn, SA Jewish Board of Deputies and Rowan Polovin, SA Zionist Federation, 11 May 2021
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Understanding the recent tensions in East Jerusalem
There has been much media coverage of the last few days over clashes in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount and the neighbourhood of Shimon HaTzadik / Sheikh Jarrah. This issue has been portrayed by the media in a variety of ways that do not accurately reflect the history of the situation and the facts on the ground. Below is a fact sheet that provides some context and background to the situation.
Shimon HaTzadik is a neighbourhood in East Jerusalem that was established around the ancient 2000-year-old tomb of the famous rabbinical sage, Shimon HaTzadik.
In 1875 a group of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews bought the Tomb and 4.5 acres of the surrounding land which was empty at the time.
The majority of the area was inhabited by a community of Yemenite Jews for over a century until 1948.
During the War of Independence in 1948, Jordan occupied the area and either killed or forcibly removed Jews from their homes. New Arab occupants were moved into the area and the neighbourhood has become known as Sheikh Jarrah after a 13th-century Tomb.
During the Six Day War of 1967, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) regained control of the area. After the reunification of Jerusalem, the Israeli government passed a law that allowed Jewish families to reclaim their homes by proving ownership.
Four homes in Sheikh Jarrah have become subject to a legal dispute regarding their ownership and tenant rights, after ownership was traced back to the original purchasers of 1875.
The issue is one of a private dispute between differing legal parties and has no government involvement.
The Supreme Court has been dealing extensively with this complicated legal investigation of Sheikh Jarrah since 1972. The legal proceedings determined that the current inhabitants are illegally occupying these homes without paying rent or being able to prove any legal form of ownership.
A compromise was originally proposed by the courts to recognise the original owners of the land, but declare a protected tenancy for the illegal occupants. Unfortunately, the occupants rejected this reasonable compromise.
In February 2021, the Jerusalem District Court upheld an October 2020 Jerusalem Magistrate Court decision, requiring a number of Sheikh Jarrah residents to vacate properties by May 2021.
The ruling has come at a time when tensions inside Palestinian society have been boiling over. This includes the postponement of elections for the Palestinians Authority (PA) by PA chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, resulting in anger by Hamas over the issue, religious extremism stoked during the end of Ramadan, and events that have been organised by anti-Israel groups in terms of the upcoming anniversary of the Israeli War of Independence.
Following the ruling of the Jerusalem District Court, the occupants appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has deferred the proceedings for a month to calm tensions that have been stoked by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and numerous anti-Israel activists and NGOs.
Violent rhetoric and an increase in physical attacks on Jews in Jerusalem and surrounds, has also escalated in the last few weeks.
For further information please see links below:
Issued by the SAZF, 10 May 2021
