Ronnie Kasrils’ intelligence deficit is frightening. As the minister in charge of South Africa’s equivalent of the Mossad, one would have expected him to have some advanced warning (or at least understanding of the possibility) of a Hamas coup in Gaza. Add to this his obsession with the Palestinian cause and the fact that a little over a month ago he spent a considerable amount of time in the Palestinian territories as head of an official South African delegation.
It is worth recalling Kasrils observations after his Palestinian visit. In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, he confidently declared that
I understand that they [Hamas] have accepted previous agreements arrived at between the Palestinian Authority and the government of Israel. Contained within these agreements are the recognition of Israel and renunciation of violence. |
It is clear now to everyone that not only did Hamas not accept previous agreements sign by the PLO and Israel, it did not even accept previous agreements that it itself had signed with the PLO. That our Minister of Intelligence so misread the situation, has further eroded South Africa’s international standing. Moreover, it brings into question Kasrils’ judgement and casts serious doubt on his competence as the Minister of Intelligence.
But Kasrils did not only gamble with South Africa’s credibility in order to provide international legitimacy to a bunch of thugs, he went as far as offering them our unconditional support. So taken was Kasrils with now former Palestinian Prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, that he jumped the gun on diplomatic protocol and invited him to head an official delegation to South Africa before receiving the backing of our head of State. And if this wasn’t enough, at their infamous meeting Kasrils publicly declared that 'We stand by you and support you'.
So I have some questions for Minister Kasrils and the South African government. Does our invitation to Haniyeh still apply? With or without the Madiba photo op? And if he does come in what capacity will it be? Palestinian Prime Minister? Hamas strong man? Or the Islamic republic of Gaza’s new caliph? Do we still stand by and support Hamas? If we do, that would place our foreign policy at odds with the positions of the vast majority of countries on the planet including the Arab League.
It’s about time the South African government put its money where his mouth is and as one of regular readers Anthony Posner put it, send Kasrils to lead a new Umkonto division to fight Kalashnikov to Kalashnikov with Hamas.
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