I just heard 702’s the Midday Report with Chris Gibbons where he had Palestine Solidarity top-man Salim Vally speaking about a planned COSATU and Palestine Solidarity week of action against Israel.
Vally announced the following events that will take place
- On Sunday COSATU dockworkers are going to prevent an Israeli ship from docking on our South African shores.
- Allan Boesak and COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi will be speaking at a mass rally in Cape Town. MPs will be demonstrating.
- On Friday there will be a rally addressed by Vavi and Ronnie Kasrils along with a march outside the offices of the SA Zionist Federation at 2pm.
Vally explained the march outside the SA Zionist Federation offices – I’m trying to quote:
| ...this is because the Zionist Federation and the SA Jewish Board of Deputies have supported the war crimes in Gaza and we are saying as South Africans we have to take sides and we need to choose the side of justice.
We are not going to support the canard that says if you are opposed to the policies of Israel you are anti-Semitic, this does not intimidate us. More and more Jewish people, many prominent Jewish people do not support what Israel is doing and they will be with us on the march. |
More to follow...
Update
Yesterday I neglected to mention that Allan Boesak is central national committee member of ANC-breakaway party Congress of the People (COPE). He and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi will set their fiery political differences aside to stand united against the Jewish communities support for Israel.
Make no mistake - the plan is to march against the Jewish community. It's an attempt to limit the arena for free political expression and a warning to Jews that they will make our lives a misery if we continue to support Israel. They are not marching outside the Israeli embassy - they intend to march outside a community centre in opposition to views expressed by the official community leadership.
Cosatu is an important ANC alliance member and Vavi will in all likelihood obtain a seat in Zuma's cabinet following the elections.
A letter in the Cape Times today claims that a speaker at the recent Cosatu rally in Lenasia (the one where Deputy Minister Fatima Hajaig made her comments) said "The common enemy is making inroads in South Africa...the ZIonists in South Africa must be kicked out." Another praised "our Jewish brothers and sisters" who had come out against the Israeli Defence Force, assuring them "there is a place in the world we are building in South Africa for you." Those who had not done so were warned "better watch out because the winds of change are blowing".
This at a rally where various MPs, ANC members and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs were present! It's becoming increasingly clear that Jews had better watch out when expressing political views.
I've been told that this blog's temperature is often viewed as a mini-barometer for how the community at large is feeling. That said, it was suggested that I temper my views and maintain perspective. Well let me explain, I don't think this is Berlin 1933 but I do think that the plan to march on our community centre is a physical manifestation of the sentiments of the speakers I quoted above. No, we won't be kicked out. But, yes, our political views are not seen as legitimate and we will be constantly pressured into suppressing them. And the Cosatu decision to boycott goods from Israel has the potential to make many of our lives a little bit more uncomfortable. As I said, I know we are not being kicked out. But I do feel unwanted.
The week-of-action is all over the press today. Here's a report from The Star:
| A WEEK of action to protest agathst “apartheid” Israel was launched by Cosatu and the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) yesterday. Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven and the PSC’s Salim Vally said dock workers in Durban would refuse to offload an Israeli ship arriving on Sunday as part of the action. Also, members of the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union would not handle Israeli goods. On Friday, a protest is planned at the SA Zionist Federation and the Jewish Board of Deputies in Joburg. A rally in Actonville in Ekurhuleni and a picket at parliament will take place on the same day. |
I tried it. Calling Cosatu is worse than calling Home Affairs. After 4 tries someone answered the phone. Then I waited for 10 minutes to talk to anyone about this. I hung up in frustration.
Posted by: Moshe | February 03, 2009 at 18:17
Wow, what a flurry of bad news. This has been one of the scariest days I have seen on supernatural.blogs.com
Posted by: Castor Troye | February 04, 2009 at 06:28
Moshe's comment demonstrates the absolute futility in engaging in traditional methods of counter-attack in cases such as these!
I believe the answer to COSATU and the PSU's "week of protest" is to keep churning out as much pro-Israel publicity as possible, engaging these people wherever they appear on the blogosphere and in the mainstream media, to give our wholehearted, unreserved support to community organisations such as the SAJBD and the SAZF, and to not shy away from loudly and vocally identifying antisemitism when that line is crossed (as with Hajaig).
Posted by: Marc | February 04, 2009 at 08:42
Hi Marc,
I think your comments are representative of how the overwhelming majority of the community feels. I agree with you and hope our leadership understands the mainstream opinion that you are expressing.
I wonder if the march will happen. There is in all likelihood a high chance of violence. They are not marching on the embassy of Israel - they are marching on our community. They are de-fact marching against us; not Israel. Using intimidation to change our political opinions or to prevent us from expressing them.
Part of me would like the idea of getting the community to face-off against the marchers, but I know that its pure fantasy and even a silly and dangerous idea.
Posted by: Steve | February 04, 2009 at 10:00
this touches on what I mentioned on the previous thread, that the Internationalist Left are no longer pretending it is about Israel, it is about the Jews - it always has been, it's just now the mask is off. They are no longer bothering with the pretences of hiding behind anti-Israelism.
I hope the implications of this are starting to sink in, the persistent and insidious anti-Israel propaganda of the traitorous fifth column of SA Jewry, as Mike Berger puts it, have lended ammunition to these COSATU fools. None of this has happened in a vaccuum, and the likes of Nathan Geffen and Doron Isaacs and the SAHRD and all the other 'not in my name' style agitprop, the cartoons of Zapiro etc, ALL have lended ammunition to what is NOW HAPPENING. THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IT. So please, remember what Mike Berger has written (in his open letter to IAS), these people are not to be given legitimacy, debated with 'civil discourse', but to be considered beneath contempt, because they are. And they have less excuse than COSATU and the rest...
Also the corrupt bosses at COSATU are using the age-old tactic of distracting the workers from the fact that COSATU have sold them down the river, by scapegoating the Jews. COSATU, for the sake of the comfort of their leadership, have betrayed their workers, as the COSATU leadership having allied with the ANC who likewise have sold the poor down the river, are interested only in their own power and comfort and not the needs of the workers they pretend to represent. That is what this is about to a large degree, more complicated of course...
Just like Venezuala in many ways.
Posted by: Lawrence | February 04, 2009 at 11:37
Steve maybe a more valid comparison to what is happening is Spain in 1492 the year of the inquisition not Germany 1933. The comparison can be made because just as in Spain if one were to convert to Christianity a Jew could live in Spain, however a Jew who wished to maintain their values and way of life would either be killed or expelled. In this case the PSA seems to be giving Jews in South Africa the same option-either Jews must denounce Israel and thereby give up a man tenant of our religion or the other option of expulsion.
As is said somewhere else the Muslims have used this tactic of the Quran or the sword before. Its sad that Geffen, Isaacs etc have chosen the Quran.
this is a message for you Steve
Viva, Steve viva- carry on the good work.
Posted by: the pil | February 04, 2009 at 13:20
another thing I don't understand is as a Religious Jew I believe that it is a Mitsvah to live in Israel, regardless of the political nature of the country. But the fact that Israel is a Jewish country makes this Mitsvah possible. What these lefties have to answer is how can they guarantee my religious freedom to live in Israel. And since they cannot my rights are being violated.
For so many levels these stupid people should be sent to an island somewhere and leave the rest of us alone.
Posted by: the pil | February 04, 2009 at 13:27
Thanks the Pil :)
I would just amend
"In this case the PSA seems to be giving Jews in South Africa the same option-either Jews must denounce Israel and thereby give up a man tenant of our religion or the other option of expulsion."
to say "the PSA and Cosatu" :)
Posted by: Steve | February 04, 2009 at 13:42
It is difficult to analyse history while living through it. That is why it is difficult to say whether this year is 1929, 1933 or 1492. But if one takes a step back in review, it is incredible to see how the attacks on Israel have shifted to an attack on Jews and Jewish life.
We have become conditioned to suicide bomb blasts in a Turkish synagogue, attacks on a religious institute (Chabad) in Mumbai and an attack on a Jewish centre in Argentina.
To use Al Gore's analogy of a frog in boiling water, I think it has actually become a gradually slipping cultural norm that the attacks are slowly shifting from Israel to Jews generally (make know mistake, I am proud to call myself both a Jew and a Zionist).
History will judge this generation as a generation of frogs in luke warm water. We won't be able to tell if the water remains bearably warm or boiling until we have the luxury of hindsight.
But in every generation, there are always a few
"Churchills" who tell us exactly how hot the water really is right now....so steve, mike and bloggers, how hot is the water?
Posted by: Castor Troye | February 04, 2009 at 14:30
Great comment CT. I think that being in the water makes it impossible to tell!
Just wanted to add, I hope the community organises a counter protest. We can't be seen to look weak in our own back yard!
Posted by: Steve | February 04, 2009 at 14:59
It should also be pointed out that neo-Nazi white supremacists hate Israel and pretend to support the Palestinians too, and these white supremacist KKK types also really hate black people, considering them sub-human.
But try point this huge irony out to these COSATU types, good luck with that.
Posted by: Lawrence | February 04, 2009 at 15:33
Steve a counter demonstration can become very dangerous and there is no prizes for guessing who will get the blame for any violence. What would be a better idea, in my opinion, is to have a show of strength and putting on exhibitions on what Jews have given to SA at another time.
Posted by: the pil | February 04, 2009 at 16:12
Hit them back in the money…
According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics for 2004: Israel's imports from South Africa, excluding diamonds, totalled U.S. $ 292.5 million, While Israel's exports to South Africa during 2004 totalled U.S. $ 239.9 million. Even if these stats are 4 years old the general theme is unchanged.
There is a deficit of around $50 million, not including diamonds. In favour of South Africa. These figures don’t include the +- $10 million invested in various South African companies by private Israeli industries or individuals.
I would encourage the Israeli government to reply in turn to COSATU. Israel should stop buying SA goods, and discourage investment in SA unless it is with Jews affiliated with the mainstream community who do not employ COSATU members. Then have COSATU explain to the country how they plan to replace $300 million worth of Jobs that are no longer around because of their trade boycott.
Posted by: Shaun | February 04, 2009 at 16:43
Prof Farid Esack "Muslims Against Racism": http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/203980/MuslimsAgainstRacismStatement.html
"While we remain committed to various acts in solidarity with Palestinians, we are nevertheless appalled at the occasional manifestations of anti-Semitism in our community. We do not believe that the injury and destruction suffered by the Palestinians should be an excuse for anti-Semitism among us. All racism, including anti-Semitism, is deplorable."
http://www.vocfm.co.za/public/articles.php?Articleid=44561
In response, Esack who two weeks ago penned a public letter led by local academics distancing themselves from the anti-Jewish tones circulating on the internet among pro-Palestinians – said he was not too concerned that their lobby sprouted anti-Jewish sentiments
Posted by: Blacklisted Dictator | February 04, 2009 at 17:37
Well cursing Israeli is anti-Semitic because Israel is the Jewish homeland and Israelis are Jews.
I have explained many times on this blog why anti-zionism is anti-semitism, but everytime it went over everyones heads, including those who are ostensibly pro-israel.
Posted by: Gary | February 04, 2009 at 19:06
Anthony,
I hope you take that up with the SAHRD. There seems to be a disconnect somewhere. But he is after all wonderfully interesting.
Posted by: Mike | February 04, 2009 at 20:42