On Friday the ANC submitted a completely one-sided draft resolution on Israel and the Middle East to parliament. The resolution was a cut-and-paste compilation of the usual allegations designed to denigrate Israel.
After an intense Parliament session the ANC decided that the debate should be paused to allow for further discussions.
The resolution condemned Israel's "disproportionate" military action in Lebanon but did not condemn Hizballah for starting the war or for firing from within civilian areas. It accused Israel of collectively punishing innocent Lebanese but did not condemn Hizballah for firing indiscriminately on Israeli civilians. It accused Israel of violating international laws but did not accuse Hizballah of the same (or Lebanon for failing to even try and dismantle Hizballah).
"There is no attempt whatsoever to be fair. The draft resolution marks the abandonment of any pretence by the ANC of even-handedness on the Middle East, its proclaimed policy," said Michael Bagraim, national chairman of the Board.
The draft resolution confirms what we have all suspected - the ANC can never be an impartial mediator in any conflict involving Israel.
The extent to which a distinction needs to be made on this issue between the ANC and the government of South Africa is open to debate.
The government’s veiled attempts at neutrality (and there have been many) seem to be either an attempt to irritate their hated Cosatu rivals or to position themselves into a space of power where they can be seen to be influencing events. (And perhaps winning the all important permanent seat on the UN Security Council.)
Ideologically however, I see no difference between the stance taken by the Government and the destructive position of the ANC.
Does the ANC decision to interrupt the debate indicate divisions within the ANC over the issue of the Middle East and Israel (as Michael Bagraim suggests)? The fact that the issue was brought to parliament for consensus when the ANC could have used their overwhelming majority to automatically pass the resolution indicates that there may be an internal rift over this issue.
But this rift would be far more insignificant than the Zuma rift and certainly not along the same lines. Ronnie Kasrils for instance has been personally targeted by the pro Zuma crowd yet he would surely be trumpeting the anti-Israel camp that was behind this juvenile resolution. Whatever the case it is clear that there is an overwhelming majority within the ANC that supports terror over Israel and this resonates through to government as seen by their knee-jerk support to the many anti-Israel UN resolutions. (The most recent of which called on the reformed UN Human Rights Council to convene a special session to take issue on the gross human rights violations by Israel in Lebanon.)
Instead of using the unique lessons learned in their struggle to positively influence the Palestinians against their demands for a total victory the ANC has sadly become just another blinkered lamb following the directives set by the Islamic bloc of nations. Instead of choosing to lead the ANC has decided to follow. Instead of selecting integrity the ANC has selected narrow self interested pursuits.
Click "Continue Reading" to read the message sent by the SAJBD to the Jewish community.
SAJBD RESPONDS TO ANTI ISRAEL ATTACK IN PARLIAMENT
Yesterday Parliament debated a motion on the Middle East crisis proposed by the African National Congress. The wording of the motion was shockingly biased against Israel and in the course of the debate many vitriolic, slanderous and palpably untrue accusations were levelled against the State of Israel.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies responded to this very serious attack on Israel, and by implication on its supporters in number of ways. We released a strongly worded media statement slamming the ANC resolution. We were very pleased that the statement received extensive coverage throughout the national media. The full statement is attached.
We further engaged in extensive lobbying of as many of the relevant parties we could access prior to this debate. During the debate itself we ensured that the Board was present to listen in. In the end despite the violently hostile statements against Israel that were made the final decision was to adjourn the debate with a view of arriving at a wording of the motion that would be acceptable to all. We are thankful for the strong opposition to the motion that was expressed by Mr Tony Leon and Mr Douglas Gibson (Democratic Alliance), Dr Ruth Rabinowitz (Inkatha Freedom Party), Rev Kenneth Meshoe and Steven Swartz (African Christian Democratic Party), and Corne Mulder (Freedom Front Plus). This combined with our own lobbying efforts resulted in this very damaging motion not being passed.
Please be assured that the SAJBD will continue to strenuously lobby government on Israel's and our own community's behalf in the quest for Justice and balance.
Yours sincerely
Michael Bagraim
Chairman SA Jewish Board of Deputies
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