SA Keeps Israeli Options Open

The Independent on Saturday reported that whilst the South African government is not yet considering cutting ties with Israel or imposing sanctions, it is open to debate on the issue. This was the message expressed by Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad who said

The question of imposing sanctions isn't a matter that can be taken lightly and should be treated with great seriousness. So the government is ready to discuss the issue with any organisation, but (we) support the Palestinians and oppose the escalation of tension in the Gaza as well as in Lebanon.

In an excellent post, Commentary highlight the dishonest diplomacy emanating from our Foreign Ministry and ask their readers to email the Ministry with their comments.

The South African Government is greatly concerned at the increasing cross-border violence involving Israel, the Gaza Strip and now also Lebanon. The escalating Israeli military strikes into Gaza after the capture of an Israeli soldier has now reportedly been followed by rocket attacks into Israel from Lebanon as well as Israeli military incursions and air attacks into Lebanon, resulting in the capture of two other Israeli soldiers and the death of seven Israeli soldiers. — From the South African government’s statement on the Lebanese-Israeli conflict.

Go on...check your eyes and read that again. The SA Foreign Ministry has used a time - slicing machine to change the order in which events occurred thereby allowing them to pound Israel with the blame.

The Israeli military incursions did not result in the capture of two Israeli soldiers and the death of seven others. The Hezbulla attack occurred first. That is not open for debate.

Commentary ask the question

"Why deny that Hezbollah crossed the border to kidnap those Israeli soldiers, when the fact is not in serious dispute?"

Comments

[ahmedinajad]

ISLAM IS THE RELIGION OF ABRAHAM, MOSES, JESUS AND MUHAMMAD (PEACE BE UPON THEM ALL).
THINK ABOUT IT HOW COULD AN ILLITERATE MAN INSPIRE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND 1400 YEARS LATER STILL BE HAVING AN EFFECT ON THE WORLD.
WAKE UP FEAR THE GOD OF ISRAEL AND THE UNIVERSE.
AS A WESTENER THE RATE OF ISLAMS INFLUENCE IS SKY ROCKETING ESPECIALLY IN EUROPE. SO STOP BURYING YOUR HEADS IN THE SAND (no pun intended) LIKE OSTRICHES.
STOP DEMONISING THE FUTURE FAITH OF MANKIND.
IF ISLAM IS AN ARAB RELIGION FOUNDED BY AN ARAB IT WOULD NOT HAVE SPREAD FURTHER THAN MECCA OR MEDINA.

Visit the following websites for further information on ISLAM.
http://www.al-sunnah.com/muhammad_in_the_bible.htm
(MUHAMMAD IN THE BIBLE)
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MB_BQS/default.htm
(Quran and Science)
http://www.harunyahya.com/
http://www.barnabas.net/
http://www.answering-christianity.com/ac.htm
http://www.islamicity.com/
http://www.islamonline.net/english/index.shtml

[Chris]

I guess your commentator explained part of the reason why -- fear. Is he doing anything to stop Hezbollah or Hamas? No, but he'd sure like to convince you that his religion is serious about peace and tolerance.

Likewise our South African friends would like to export their lessons -- but that would mean applying those lessons to people they consider friends.

Regardless of past comradery in arms, ties with Castro, Che, Palestinians, etceteras.

Truth and reconciliation requires, well,
truth. You know, the real thing -- not newspeak. What a shame that people settle for the semblance.

Chris :-)

[DB]

"Why deny that Hezbollah crossed the border to kidnap those Israeli soldiers, when the fact is not in serious dispute?"

Because Hezbollah did not cross the border into Israel. Israel sent a commando force into southern Lebanon and it was subsequently attacked by Hezbollah near the village of Aitaa al-Chaab, well inside Lebanon’s southern territory. It was at this point that an Israeli tank was struck by Hezbollah fighters, which resulted in the capture of the two Israeli soldiers

[Steve]

This issue has been discussed at Commentary in this thread.

to quote Darren

Soon afterwards, it became clear that the initial reports were mistaken, as Hezbollah's spokesmen began speaking to reporters and the group's Al-Manar TV station announced that the raid had been conducted across the Blue Line with the express intent of kidnapping IDF soldiers.

As a result, subsequent reporting by the BBC, the Washington Post, Gulf News, ITV, Chosun, the Arab Times, MSNBC, The New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Mail and Guardian, the Globe and Mail, SA's Independent Newspapers, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP and a ton of others are all unanimous in their reporting that Hezbollah crossed the border. So much for Israeli propaganda.

But if that's not enough, its seems the governments of Germany, the UK, France, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Canada, the US, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE and Bahrain as well as Amnesty International, Kofi Annan and Pope Benedict XVI all condemned Hezbollah for the cross border raid as well.

Plus, in the midst of all this condemnation and accusation, Hassan Nasrallah has not once claimed that the IDF soldiers were captured in Lebanon. In fact, he dismissed world reaction as irrelevant, and boasts that the operation took five months to plan.

Even Robert Fisk acknowledges that Hizballah crossed the border.

Lebanon, as usual, was paying the price for the Hizbollah-Israeli conflict - as Hizbollah no doubt calculated they would when they crossed the Israeli frontier on Wednesday and captured two Israeli soldiers close to Marwaheen

So every major news agency in the world has lied? All governments have lied? Get over yourself.

You obviously don't really mind lying do you?