It's Almost Supernatural

John Rustee is an Idiot

You could be forgiven for thinking that you were reading the Daily Sun whilst paging through this week’s Jewish Report. The culprit is the inclusion of a rather smutty opinion piece taken from an arb blog, written by an ex-South African living in Israel (here is a fetching shot of him).

The article should not have been included. Not because I find it personally offensive (I find it offensive in the same way I find a rotting rat in the sewers offensive). The reason it should not have been printed is because of the associated reduction in perceived quality that people ascribe to the Jewish Report. If that meets the acceptable levels of criterion for inclusion as an opinion piece then it doesn’t say much about the regard I will have for any future opinion pieces in the weekly. (I understand that there is a difficulty in showing all views and opinions and the editor of the Jewish Report tries, mostly successfully, to portray as broad a perspective as possible.)

Rustee’s article is an infantile critique on the South African community who “are simply too selfish and ignorant to care about anything but the materialistic bullshit that blinds them from the truth that they live in a Third World Dump.”

It’s funny because, whilst his (lack of) insight into the South African community tells me nothing new about the South African community, it does tell me a lot about who John Rustee is. He is a bigot (“the death of every single Palestinian is met with calls of war crimes by every Muslim on this planet”), hypocritical, arrogant, patronizing and narcissistic. He also claims to speak on behalf of Israel (“and the more we wait for you to wake up out of your materialistic high, the more frustrated and disappointed we get”).

Rustee’s central thesis (the scarcity of coherence in his article makes it somewhat challenging to identify any thesis, but I’m trying) seems to be that Jews who don’t make Aliya do not care about Israel. We are fake Zionists.

His facts and conclusions are woefully incorrect. In terms of a factual critique, his knowledge of community activism is so far removed from reality that I doubt whether he actually ever lived here.

Rustee claims that nothing is being done about recent stressful events that the community has had to face – he lists some of the high profile incidents that have made the headlines in Israel, but neglects to mention other more serious incidents which he probably isn’t even aware of. I guess a monkey expects monkey behavior. Rustee assumes nothing is being done because he hasn’t seen South African Jews take up arms against all Muslims. He wants to see blood. In reality, the communal representatives are treating all matters he listed very seriously and if he read the Jewish Report he would know this. But monkeys can’t read, although strangely enough, this one can write.

His conclusion is as dramatic as his patronizing suggestion that GAP is a luxurious excess of a community that cares only about how many cars each member of the household has. He suggests that our failure to stand up and defend ourselves (whatever that means) will eventually lead to the destruction of everything Jewish in South Africa. Whilst his facts are wrong (we do have an active and vocal Zionist community) he still doesn’t even connect these faulty facts to his Armageddon-like conclusion.

His mess ends with a pretence of intellect, building up to the mirror-in-our-faces challenge. Do we want to live in the Diaspora and be assimilated, or to go to Israel and become real makoya Jews? He ascribes the existence of Jewish schools in South Africa (and by extension every other diaspora country) to South African Jews not wanting to mix with “blacks and gentiles”.

To be sure, there is space for a debate over the manner in which the South African community has reacted to incitement that has been directed against us over the years. I was in London recently where the Jewish community has had to deal with far more serious incidents than we have. Yet when they respond, it is out in the open, marching proudly through the city. Compare this to our behind closed-walls-approach and you have to wonder why we can’t take the risks that they feel they can. Our response to these issues deserves serious debate, but the claptrap stench of Rustee’s rantings certainly shouldn’t be the spark that triggers it.

You can read his full article here:SA Jews are nothing but a bunch of hypcrites

Carte Blanche Story on El-Al Security - Update

Courtesy of a comment from RZ, here’s a YNet update on the latest regarding the Carte Blanche feature on El-Al security at OR Tambo International (original story: Carte Blanche: El Al a front for spooks).

The security guard that questioned the Muslim person during the Carte Blanche show has been deported out of South Africa.

El Al security officer deported from South Africa via Ynet News Itamar Eichner The South African authorities several days ago deported a security officer working for Israel's El Al airlines, who is employed by the Israeli Embassy in the country and has a diplomatic passport. The authorities issued an ultimatum to Israel, saying that if an arrangement on the employment of El Al security guards is not reached by the end of the month, they would all be deported from South Africa. The Yedioth Ahronoth daily has learned that the Foreign Ministry immediately sent out a team of diplomats to South Africa to negotiate the matter, in a bid to have security guards stay in the county in favor of El Al's Johannesburg-Tel Aviv flights. The affair began about two months ago, when Julian Gareb, who had worked as a security guard for El Al for 19 years, was fired. In an act of revenge, he revealed the Israeli airline' security methods to a prestigious South African investigative television program. "We classify people on a racist, ethnic and even religious basis," he claimed. Gareb said that during his training he had been sent to Israel for advanced studies and was hired by the Israeli security services. "We trained with weapons at a secret base where the special Israeli forces train. We used guns and submachine guns in face-to-face combat." The program also sent a Muslim investigator with a hidden camera to El Al's security check station at a local airport. Within second, the man was stopped by an El Al security guard, who was later deported from the country. The program's reporter accused El Al of having a racist policy, of deceiving the South African authorities and of seriously violating the constitution. El Al officials expressed their hopes on Thursday that the Foreign Ministry would be able to solve the crisis. According to the sources, the flights from South Africa to Israel were not at risk of being canceled. Yossi Levy, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said in response that "the ministry cannot comment on security matters."

Sad Farewell to a Communal Giant, Mendel Kaplan, 73

Mendel Kaplan, aged 73, passed away last night after a sudden illness. His energy and leadership and commitment to Zionism will be forever missed.

The Jerusalem Post reports:

Mendel Kaplan, a prominent leader of the South African Jewish community, died in South Africa on Thursday evening at the age of 73 after suffering a massive stroke on Tuesday. He was a major figure in the world of Jewish organizations, especially renowned for promoting and mobilizing the issue of Soviet aliya after the fall of the Soviet Union. "Mendel was the most well-known southern African Jewish philanthropist, and will be sadly missed both in Israel and abroad," said Maish Isaacson, chairman of Telfed. Kaplan will be remembered as "a very committed Jew who continued to study Judaism until his last day," Alan Hoffman, director-general of the Jewish Agency's Education Department and a close friend of Kaplan's, told The Jerusalem Post. "He was a great Jewish leader who managed to go beyond South Africa," said Hoffman, adding that Kaplan had been gifted with a unique ability to combine "an enormous commitment to Judaism and the Jewish people and the ability to solve problems and deal with global Jewish issues."

Here’s the tribute from the SA Zionist Federation:

It is with great sadness that we notify you of the death last night of Mendel Kaplan. Mendel was a giant among men, a blessed tzaddik, a man for whom the future growth and success of the Jewish community in South Africa, in Israel and indeed internationally was enormously significant. His acts of kindness, charity and warmth will remain forever etched in the memories of all those he assisted and whose lives he touched. His concern and love for the State of Israel gave him international status within the Jewish community. The enormity of his loss cannot be measured, neither in words nor in deeds. The Chairman, President, Executive and staff of the SA Zionist Federation extend deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to his beloved wife Jill, his adored children and all the members of his family. We will never forget him. May he be blessed among all the mourners of Zion.

Budlender Report - No Racial Profiling Took Place at Limmud

Advocate Geoff Budlender last week rejected allegations made by the Wits Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) that Limmud’s security marshals carried out “racial profiling” against students and academics of colour during the course of the Limmud event on August 9.

David Saks reports in last week’s Jewish Report:

THE INVESTIGATION instituted by Wits University into the events that took place on campus during the Limmud event on August 9 this year, has rejected allegations that Limmud’s security marshals carried out “racial profiling” against students of colour. In a report that overwhelmingly vindicated Limmud, Advocate Geoff Budlender SC did, however, say that Limmud marshals overstepped their authority and appeared “heavyhanded”. But he found no male fides on their part. His 13-page report found that Limmud participants were subjected to offensive slurs and intimidation by those protesting outside the university. The controversy centred around the participation on the programme of Lt-Colonel David Benjamin of the Israeli Defence Forces, labelled as a “war criminal” by pro-Palestinian factions on and off campus. Budlender based his conclusions on more than 70 written submissions received from those who were present on the day and individual interviews with some of the latter whose testimony was regarded as particularly significant. These included senior members of the Wits administration, Limmud, SAUJS, the SAJBD and the Palestinian Solidarity Committee. The SAJBD has welcomed Budlender’s findings, saying that the findings had vindicated all the essential points it had made in its own submission. SAJBD National Director Wendy Kahn, called the report balanced and thorough, and felt that Budlender had done “an excellent job” in getting to the heart of what had happened, without being swayed by people’s political agendas. “We were very disturbed that those protesting against Limmud resorted to baseless charges of racial profiling in order to smear our community. Fortunately, a thorough and non-partisan investigation has revealed these to be false,” she said.

Whilst some may be tempted to celebrate these findings as a resounding victory, the whole saga will ultimately prove to be a depressing defeat for South African Jewry. The Palestinian and Muslim lobby have sent a strong message to Jews in South Africa that not only will they not tolerate our political positions; but our deeply enshrined value of robust inner debate too, will not be allowed.

Are these just empty threats? The fraudulent tactics employed may be cheap, but they are not empty. In fact, they are very effective. Take one high profile consequence as an example, the gratuitous comments of the Wits Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor Loyiso Nongxa immediately following the allegations. Before even issuing an investigation, he lamented the appearance at Wits of anyone who seeks to justify Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip (by his language this would have to include the majority of Jewish students) and then, accepting the PSC accusations as fact, he proceeded to apologise to anyone who felt they were discriminated against during the Limmud event.

These comments confirm the strategic value of these mephitic accusations. The mark of Cain sticks, especially on campus but also in the minds of our community leaders who need to steer a course clear from the rough rapids that may capsize our boat.

This time a proper investigation has ruled against the PSC. But what of next time? Have we moved into a situation where we will need to spend energy defending ourselves following every event or activity involving Israel that takes place at a public premises. The answer may be to use a different and more private venue. To creep further and further into the shadows and to hope against hope that next time no-one will notice us. And that is exactly the nature of the PSC victory. They want us to consider the impact of their baseless accusations after each and every event so that we think twice before organising the event and so that we reconsider the people we invite.

It’s been a tough year for the community - protests within the hub of our residences, members of cabinet yelling that we control the world, unionist incitement via our inboxes, dock workers refusing to offload Israeli goods, accusations of racial profiling at an event usually renowned for its openness and courage of ideas. On the bright side, however, it’s good to end the year on a positive note. The efforts expended by our students on campus was inspirational and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for not taking this without a fighting response.

Though not involved in Limmud, SAUJS dealt with the consequences of Jews being accused of racial profiling on campus. I caught up with SAUJS National Chairperson Benji Shulman this week. He candidly explained that he was content with how the report revealed the truth despite the PSC’s coordinated lies. “The PSC were exposed and the report showed exactly how they like to operate on campus.”

The saddest part of the ordeal for Shulman was the conduct of the Vice Chancellor, who apologised to the students before waiting for an investigation. However, when there was basis for an apology, after the report ruled that Limmud participants had been abused and insulted, including being called “Nazis” and “child killers”, the Vice Chancellor was not so forthcoming. “This is something you don’t expect at a university” he lamented.

Perhaps not, but I for one wasn’t entirely shocked to read Nongxa’s remarks. Even despite his lashing of Israel, perhaps one can’t read too much into his political views from his statement alone. It’s worth considering the stressful nature of the pressure the PSC and co. placed on him, a pressure which may have forced him into reclaiming his liberal credentials in the simplest way possible – by giving into the anti-Israel line immediately and completely.

The report findings may not be irrelevant, but the true "victors" in this saga should be judged by Nongxa’s immediate and utterly foolish response.

Norwegian University Considering Boycott of Israeli Academics

Here's a disturbing piece of news from our friend Chaya who is the Chairperson of the Word Union of Jewish Students (WUJS). The Norwegian University of Science and Technology is considering a resolution to pass a boycott of Israeli academics.

Chaya penned a strong letter of appeal to student representatives at the university to vote against the proposed boycott.

World Union of Jewish Students urges board members of Norwegian university to fight proposed boycott of Israeli academics JERUSALEM - Chaya Singer, the South African Chairperson of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS), has urged student representatives on the board of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim to vote against the proposed resolution calling for a boycott of Israeli academics. In her letter, the WUJS leader appeals to NTNU student leaders - "as the trustees of the traditions of the university as a bastion of open debate and education, and the safeguards of academic freedom and tolerance" - to take a firm stand and vote, on behalf of young people everywhere, against the boycott. If the board at its meeting on 12 November votes in favor of a boycott, NTNU would become the first Western university to enact a boycott of Israeli academics. WUJS has been in contact with various students and representatives of student bodies at NTNU, and responses indicate that many students are against the boycott. As one student representative commented regarding the students on the board of Norway's prestigious university, "I would be surprised if they voted for the boycott, because academic freedom is important for them as well." "The idea of a university calling for a politicized boycott of academics on the basis of their national origin is utterly absurd in a 21st century characterized by globalized information sharing and open-source education", Chaya Singer declared. "This would be a violation of the most fundamental principles of academic freedom and indicative of an anti-Israel agenda that unfortunately has been growing in strength recently, especially in Europe. The World Union of Jewish Students condemns such threats of boycott as an assault on academic freedom and the universal values of education and academic pursuit," she added. WUJS was established in 1924 under the chairmanship of Albert Einstein to combat the rigid quotas against Jewish students in European universities. As the umbrella organization of independent Jewish student unions around the world, WUJS cooperates with a broad network of Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and student bodies to battle anti-Semitism on campus and to provide Jewish students with a voice in the political youth arena. Contact: Chaya Singer Chairperson, WUJS

Zaptrash - A Fraudulent Recall of Berlin

I’ve been away for a while but there is no scarcity of content to start again with some updates. First in line is the stinky pencil belonging to Jonathan Shapiro (aka Zapiro).

Close your eyes, and imagine if you will, an alternate universe where the Berlin wall was built by Communists to prevent the flood of Westerners from illegally entering their territory in order to enjoy the prosperity that Western governments were failing to deliver. Try to imagine the Soviets building the wall in order to defend their citizens from Westerners who were trying to cross into their territory in order to kill and maim. Now look at the cartoon.

Does it work for you? No? Not very clever is it?

The Berlin wall was built by East Germany to prevent East Germans from escaping East Germany. Israel has not built any walls to try and prevent Israelis from escaping Israel. Israelis don’t want to escape Israel the way Palestinians want to escape Hamas.

Ultimately, any powerful imagery, no matter how fraudulent can and will be used against Israel in the court of public opinion.

By the way, Goldstone's report concerns the war which took place in Gaza and there is no Israeli wall around Gaza.

Dugard Heads Witch Hunt of South African Jews

Former Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Israeli-Palestinian Disputed territories John Dugard and the Media Review Network are considering an application to the International Criminal Court to bring the charge of war crimes against 75 South Africans who allegedly served in the IDF during the recent war in Gaza.

Last month we blogged about the anti-Israel lobby’s attempt to convince the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to charge 75 unnamed South Africans who allegedly took part in the recent war in Gaza.

Since South Africa is a signatory to the Rome statue, its citizens can be prosecuted at home for war crimes committed elsewhere.

Professor John Dugard is leading the attempts, flanked by a possy of Jew haters at the Media Review Network, which has recently featured hate stories on their website about Israelis kidnapping Palestinians in order to steal their kidneys. They have also featured articles about Holocaust denial and about a Jewish Broederbond conspiracy in South Africa. Dugard should be judged by the company he keeps.

Since the NPA has up until now not investigated the charges, Dugard is threatening to take the charges to the International Criminal Court.

Even though Dugard concedes that “except for one individual, whom he declined to name, there was scant proof that these soldiers actually participated in the fighting” he has nevertheless wasted the time of the NPA and intends to do the same with the ICC. Its not like the NPA are busy with a serious crime problem!

Since there is no attempt to call for charges against war crimes committed by Hamas, since there is no proof that the 75 South Africans actually took part in the fighting, and since there is no proof that even if they did that they were involved in war crimes, I can only conclude that this is nothing but a sinister witch hunt against South African Jews.

Here’s the full report from IOL: War crime warning to SA

Mail & Guardian Interviews Finkelstein

Is it just me, or is there something wrong with the tone of the introduction to this interview? MG: People exploit tragedy for personal gain.

“Those South Africans with an interest in the conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories would have had a field day recently. First, there were speaking engagements by Alan Dershowitz, the pro-Zionist author of A Case for Israel, followed by discussions and talks by David Benjamin, legal adviser to the Israeli Defence Force.”

It doesn’t say Jews or Zionists have had a field day, but it still sounds to me like a taunt. If there is some kind of comparison between what the Israel supporting and Israel hating crowds have been up to however, then to say the Zionists have had a “field day” is crazy talk. First of all, there were no “speaking engagements by Alan Dershowitz” - he was not even in the country. His film was screened recently, but that hardly amounts to a speaking engagement! The Israel haters on the other hand have been entertained by a type of Harlem Globetrotters Finkelstein tour where he spoke at every opportunity, on virtually every campus and every radio station. He was typically left unchallenged on his every point, and this interview is a fine example.

The interview questions say it all, here’s a sample, but go see for yourself.

Although you are generalising, you talk about a superior ethnic identity complex amongst Jews in the US. Have you found the same thing here in South Africa? How is it that Alan Dershowitz has managed to garner so much support in the US?

Oh dear. 

Carte Blanche: El-Al a Front for Spooks

Sunday’s episode of Carte Blanche featured an expose about a former El-Al security official’s shocking allegations of race profiling, degrading interrogations, and operating illegally under the nose of South African authorities at OR Tambo international.

Jonathan Garb went to Carte Blanche with these allegations after being dismissed from El-Al presumably for leading a protest for higher pay and better medical benefits.

Although most allegations were about racial profiling, considerable time was devoted to Virginia Tilley’s interrogation by El-Al in South Africa on her way to Israel. Tilley is a white woman who is one of the foremost anti-Israel lobbyists in South Africa. Had Carte Blanche done some research they would have found nothing at all sinister about a country interrogating someone who is leading the calls for the destruction of said state.

The Star reported on the story yesterday, claiming that Garb is leading a trio of former employees claiming that their former employer is a front for Israeli spooks.

The Star reports that Acsa’s Solomon Makgale said El Al had security threats because of the Middle East conflict but that the allegations were of concern.

If you missed the show, our friends at the Media Review Network (who are still pushing the blood libel that Israelis kidnap Palestinians to steal their kidneys) have the entire transcript, so you can find it there.

As for the response from El-Al, you can find it here: El-Al responds to Carte Blanche Allegations

El-Al Response Last night’s Carte Blanche insert on the El Al airline showed the public only too clearly the dangers faced by the Israeli airline from terrorists and fundamentalists determined to attack innocent passengers irrespective of their ages, colours and creeds, and blow them into oblivion. The security regulations enforced by El Al to ensure the safety of all its passengers, which is the first and most vital aspect of any passenger airline, are of the highest standard, and were attested to by the complainant himself who said that had El Al security been active at the time of the World Trade Centre attacks in New York in 2001, there would have been no 9/11. Because of the nature of the threats made against the airline, El Al unapologetically questions and challenges any suspicious person or passenger. That is the airline’s right, and is similarly carried out by airlines all around the world. The accusation of racial profiling, however, is completely without justification: Virginia Tilley is white, and an outspoken enemy of Israel. In addition, among all the tens of thousands of people of different colours and religions who travel safely and regularly to Israel, the statements of two men cannot be taken as testament to a policy which in fact does not exist. No-one who travels to the USA can deny that the security into and out of that country, and the checks at the various airports, are thorough and unpleasant but are necessary in these days of increased and unrestricted acts of terror and murder. While South Africa has to date remained fairly immune from such acts, no-one can afford to be complacent; and the fact that EL Al makes every effort to protect the lives of the passengers should be highly commended rather than condemned.

Update at 2009/09/03

A comment from the Blacklisted Dictator highlights the special need for El-Al security at foreign airports:

L.A. AIRPORT GUNMAN IDENTIFIED AS EGYPTIAN IMMIGRANT  The FBI identified the gunman who shot and killed two people in the Los Angeles International Airport yesterday as Hesham Mohamed Hadayet, a 41-year-old Egyptian who came to the United States ten years ago. On the Fourth of July holiday, Hadayet opened fire at the LAX ticket counter of the Israeli national airline El Al, killing two and wounding several others. He was subsequently shot and killed by an El Al security guard. According to the FBI, the gunman used a .45-caliber handgun in the shooting, and was also armed with a 9-mm pistol and a six-inch hunting knife. In the shootout, Hadayet killed 25-year-old El Al employee Victoria Hen and 46-year-old Jacob Aminov, who was waiting at the ticket counter. A 61-year-old Canadian woman was shot in the ankle and a male victim was treated for injuries received from being pistol-whipped. The El Al security guard who finally shot Hadayet was also treated for a knife-wound.

Update at 2009/09/03

The SA Jewish Report has reported today that since the labour lawsuit has taken a political twist, Michael Bagraim has recused himself from the case.

Wits Responds to Allegations of Racial Profiling at Limmud

I’ve received a couple of emails asking about a recent letter the Vice Chancellor of Wits University sent to the entire campus. The letter was a response to allegations lead by the Palestine Solidarity Committee that “apartheid era” styled racial profiling took place on campus during Limmud.

During Limmud, a small silent protest was allowed just outside the entrance to the building where the lectures took place. I have been told that the number of protestors allowed was agreed upon prior to the start of Limmud.

Outside the campus, some individuals, draped in Palestinian regalia, were prevented from entering the university. Whilst private security was on-hand to ensure the safety of all Limmud attendees, when I entered the campus it was the Wits security that allowed me in whilst preventing a young screeching Muslim man from entering. It is clear to me that race was not a factor in deciding who to allow onto campus. In fact, during the course of Limmud, I noticed many black students attending some of the lectures I was in. But even if I hadn’t seen black students, why on earth would Limmud, a liberal and progressive Jewish movement, prevent black and Muslim people from entering the campus? What would they possibly have to gain from such discrimination?

I’d be interested to know why it seems that students reported their allegations of racial profiling to the PSC. Are they the gatekeepers of racial equality on campus? My conclusion is that people who were barred entry, were those that were looking to join the protest, which had already used up its allowed quota. I say this because the allegations have been spearheaded by the PSC, whose strategy on campus is often to hurt Israel by painting its supporters as apartheid loving racists. The PSC’s cries of racism are equivalent to Bernie Madoff shrieking antisemitism!

I have reprinted the letter from Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal professor Loyiso Nongxa. It’s a despicable display of cowardice, giving into the accusations, almost accepting them as fact, and then ordering an investigation. In the letter Prof. Nongxa explains his personal view, that anyone (and that would include students) who can justify what happened in Gaza, should not be welcome to Wits University. This means that almost all Jewish students who support Israel’s right to self defence, in the eyes of the Vice Chancellor, should not be allowed at Wits.

It’s an extremely heated issue and its obvious from his personal views that Prof. Nongxa has sympathy with the cause of the students making the allegations. Without the investigation even starting, he issues an apology and thereby accepts the allegations as fact – “I would like to apologise to the all people who felt targeted because they were Black.”

The investigation will be headed by former apartheid activist advocate Geoff Budlender.

From: Vivienne Rowland On Behalf Of #Dept-Marketing-WitsNews Sent: 13 August 2009 04:28 PM To: #Dept-Marketing-WitsNews Subject: MESSAGE TO THE WITS COMMUNITY Dear Members of the Wits community Yesterday, at rather short notice, I met with a group of students who issued an ‘open letter’ that was circulated widely, expressing their concerns at Wits having hired one of its venues to an external Jewish organisation, Limmud, who invited a controversial speaker to their event over the weekend. I undertook to initiate a formal investigation based on the disturbing allegations contained in the letter and in other communications that I have received in this regard. It was brought to my attention, during the meeting, that (certain sectors of) the University community wanted a public statement to be issued from the University about the events of the last few days. The students informed me that failure to do so would lead to the conclusion that the University associates itself with the views and actions of the controversial speaker. I found this assertion disturbing, particularly because it reduces the commitment of the University to issues of human rights, freedom of speech and the right to protest, to a single event and how we respond to it. My position as the Vice-Chancellor does not always qualify me to speak on behalf of the Wits community on all matters. Sometimes I do, when I am confident that the majority of the University community would support that stance, the Dalai Lama issue being a recent example. I don’t feel confident that I can speak on behalf of the Wits community when it comes to the complex politics of the Middle East, and especially the ongoing conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis. I do have personal views that I will express below, knowing that certain members of the Wits community will be vehemently opposed to them. As a South African who lived under Apartheid and who was once stripped of South African citizenship and declared, against my wishes, a citizen of a pseudo-country which I did not recognise, I am appalled at what is happening in the Middle East. There can be no justification for what I see as atrocities committed against civilians. My late mother taught me that, as an adult, we should treat every child as our own. The traumatic experience of the children of Gaza haunts me. The destruction of people’s homes and livelihoods and the loss of their limbs and body parts horrifies me. The human being inside me would find it difficult to welcome to my home, and Wits is my home, anybody who would justify what has happened there, whether it’s based on legal, religious or historical grounds. But we live in a diverse community and a country which values and celebrates differences and diversity and as the Vice-Chancellor of a public institution which invariably reflects this diversity, I have to uphold the values of freedom of expression which is an integral part of academic freedom. I believe that many of us have not thought carefully about what it means to live in a society that celebrates freedom of speech – universities are spaces where all views should be aired and heard. Many of us have not thought carefully about what it means to live in a non-racial or non-sexist society. Sometimes we tend to impose on others our sectarian view of that future democratic, non-sexist and non-racial society. Let me now offer a preliminary response to some of the allegations in the “open letter”. The first time I received notification about the weekend event at which Lieutenant Colonel David Benjamin was to speak, was on the morning of Friday, 7 August 2009. I responded to the student concerned and informed her that I was leaving for the Eastern Cape and that I would refer the issue to colleagues in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. The students that I met with yesterday seem to disbelieve this response and one even called my response “outrageous”. The investigation will possibly throw some light on this issue. I appointed one of my senior colleagues as Acting Vice-Chancellor in my absence. On Saturday, I received correspondence between the Acting Vice-Chancellor and the students on their concerns and endorsed what was being discussed. The correspondence was cordial, respectful and spelt out the University’s views on freedom of speech and right to peaceful protest. On Tuesday, I received a briefing on how the difficult situation was managed in my absence and at short notice. I take full responsibility for all the decisions that were taken on my behalf while I was away - they are now my decisions. Let me stress that I am appalled by allegations of racial profiling. There is no place for that in South African society and certainly no place for that at Wits. I would like this to be part of the investigation. If we are to look at this as an opportunity to learn about what it means to live in South Africa in the 21st Century, I would like us all, as members of the Wits community to reflect on our own prejudices around this matter. How many of us become uneasy or even panic when we see a Black, African male at night and instinctively worry about being robbed? What comes to mind when we see a Muslim woman wearing a burka or a Rastafarian student donning his colourful garments? This is racial profiling that we may be guilty of knowingly or unknowingly. There have been questions raised about the presence of external security on our campus. This is a complex matter on which the University community should advise. There have been many instances when external security has been present on our campus without incident. Possibly the key issue here is how they behave when they are on our campus. It has been brought to my attention that people were photographed and that there are concerns that these photographs could be used for illegal or suspect purposes. I have already raised this matter with the parties concerned. Another issue has been the use of University venues and how the University should exercise its responsibility in managing what takes place in these venues. This is again another complicated matter. Wits provides a platform for various (and often conflicting) views to be aired, and forms part of our commitment to freedom of expression and freedom of speech. As the Vice-Chancellor of Wits, I was not given the power to ’vet’ people who come onto campus, nor do I think that any one person within the University should have the right to do so. Lastly, the students that I spoke with seem to feel that the senior management of the University have let them down, in not living up to their expectations with regard to the values to which they are committed and that they believe this University stands for. I am saddened by that and would like to apologise to them for feeling that way. I would like to apologise to the all people who felt targeted because they were Black. Earlier this year Prof. Yunus Ballim and I met with students who felt hurt that they have been targeted because they identified themselves with the State of Israel. They told me that this is part of their identity and upbringing. I was equally saddened by that and again will apologise to them for that hurt. I am saddened by the feeling of alienation of some Black students at Wits and apologise to them for that hurt. I am saddened by cases of violence against women students, in many cases these perpetrated by fellow male students. I would like to apologise to them for the hurt, some suffer in silence and never report these incidences. I am saddened by the acts of violence against gay and lesbian people. I am saddened by the intolerance that I witness in our community. As I have indicated, I will be appointing an investigation into the matter and I will advise the University community as soon as more details pertaining to the terms of reference and timelines are decided. Prof. Loyiso Nongxa Vice-Chancellor and Principal Wits University 13 August 2009