Is Zuma Good for the Jews?

Jewish South Africans, like most other South Africans, have spent many hours during the Christmas holidays fretting about what Jacob Zuma’s decisive victory in the ANC elections means for the future of this country. Much of the worry centers on his potentially leftist economic policies, given his strong ties to Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Is this another Hugo Chavez some ask? Or perhaps like other ANC/COSATU/SACP socialist stalwarts he too will see the light and be reborn as a champion of business?

But in addition to economic policy, that age old question of is this good for the Jews has also been widely asked. Following the conference the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) rushed to issue a statement clearly designed to calm Jewish fears. In it SAJBD Chairman Zev Krengel, who together with the Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein attended the conference, declared “I would like to urge all members of our community to keep things in perspective and give the incoming ANC leadership – who in all likelihood will in due course become the leadership of the country as a whole - a chance to find its feet and prove itself.”

Looking on the ‘bright side’ Krengel notes that ‘what is nevertheless extremely encouraging is that the change was accomplished in a fair, transparent and scrupulously democratic manner’ and mentioned how Tokyo Sexwale, a leading businessman and ANC leader, remarked that the ‘robust give-and-take of opposing views reminded him of Israel's Knesset’. Unfortunately, I don’t find that very reassuring. Sure, the democratic display is creditworthy but the process does not in and of itself vindicate the outcome.

The truth is that Zuma and his backers are no friends of ours. The hatred that the ANCYL, COSATU and the SACP have shown towards Israel litters the pages of this blog. But what many of us may not know is that Zuma himself shares these same views. Here is a message he sent to be read out at the fundraising dinner of the End Israeli Occupation Campaign. Note the comparison of Israel to Apartheid; the thinly veiled accusation that Israel is committing crimes against humanity and more worrying that he supports mobilizing the people against Israel and its backers’ (does that include the SA Jewish community?).

Message from ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma to the fundraising dinner of the End Israeli Occupation Campaign Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:33:12 GMT Thank you very much for the invitation to attend the dinner in aid of the worthy campaign in solidarity with Palestine. I apologise that due to prior engagements, I am unable to attend. The struggle for liberation in South and indeed Southern Africa had been closely linked with the liberation struggle of the Palestinian people as much as with people of East Timor and that of Western Sahara. We in the ANC have a long tradition of international engagement and solidarity and for us the illegal military occupation of Palestinian land by Israel and the building of illegal settlement on occupied territory is cause for deep concern. The building of the Apartheid wall, which aims to de facto extend the Israeli boarders and imprison large sections of the Palestinian population into ghetto prisons, is calculated to destroy Palestinian family and economic life and entrap a whole nation into a life of poverty and dispossession. We South Africans cannot be indifferent to the daily suffering, humiliation and dehumanization of the Palestinian people. We who have experienced the racism of Apartheid colonialism will fail in our international duty if we do not strongly condemn the Israeli government and its many international backers for the brutal oppression of the Palestinian people. We also need to join the growing voices of condemnation around the globe and the call for people to take concrete action to register our abhorrence at the actions of the Israeli government. Israel has ignored all international laws and conventions, which were put in place after the atrocities of the Second World War to prevent the very type of situations that exist in Israel today. At all the conferences of the ANC we have passed strongly worded resolutions calling on Israel to immediately withdraw from all occupied Palestinian territory and the creation of an independent Palestine state within the 1967 boarders with East Jerusalem as its capital. We greet the "End Occupation Campaign" for their sterling work in highlighting the just cause of the Palestinian people on the 40th anniversary of the 1967 war and the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. In recent months, the internecine conflict between groups within Palestine has exacerbated tensions in the region. This conflict is not helpful to the fundamental problem between Palestine and Israel. It undermines the support provided to the Palestinian people by the international community and creates difficulties for those around the world acting in solidarity to identify which grouping to support. This in effect divides international support for the Palestinian cause. The unity of the Palestinians is a critical and fundamental element for the success of the struggle of the Palestinian people. If Palestinians are divided, they are certainly weaker but as a united front, they are stronger and able to unite international support behind the just cause for Palestine's liberation. Therefore, while we condemn Israel, we equally condemn the divisions among the Palestinians. We would certainly love to support the united people of Palestine. The campaign for Palestinian liberation needs to be intensified both at the national and international level. We South Africans need to establish solidarity links with the international solidarity movement and mobilize our people to condemn Israel and its backers and call for mass action to demonstrate our solidarity with Palestine. I wish you well in all your efforts to assist and support the people of Palestine.

Let us hope that the realities of power will serve to moderate these views. If not, Zionists in South Africa are in for a very rough few years.

Comments

[Roy]

Let's hope that the SA Jews can educate the poor old man about Israel before he get's into power...

[Derikboy]

A disconcerting trait I’ve noticed among South Africans these days, as I continue debating the demise of South Africa, is sudden Zuma support. A few months ago, everyone I spoke to were deeply concerned about Zuma becoming president, threatening immediate emigration, should Zuma even appear to be winning the presidential race. Now that it looks almost 100% certain that he will be the president in 2009, suddenly, the people I encounter think that he will be the “best thing” for this country. It’s concerning that the arguments as to why he would be a bad choice (2 months ago) are forgotten or are irrelevant now. I can only attempt to explain this using psychology rather than economics. I get a cold feeling in my stomach when I wonder what will convince people that there is no more grass left at out feet to compare to the grass on the other side. In short, I’m glad you guys also aren’t jumping on the “Hey, Zuma’s not that bad” train.

[Brett]

Roy
What you say is dependent on Zuma's attitude towards Israel being based on his knowledge of the truth. The anti Israel pandemic in South Africa is neither rational nor based in fact or understanding.

Derikboy, psychology is an amazing thing isn't it. People don't even realise when they've done a complete 180. If I were living in South Africa, an delusionally optimistic I would do one thing. Make an Alamo. Decide on what would bve the last straw, the line past which you believe SA will more likely than not go the direction of Zimbabwe, and decide to leave if such an event occurs. Without deciding in advance South Africans are going to be jump through hoops after every warning signal trying to convince themselves of the brightness of SA's future.

[Mike]

I think there are serious risks. I am extremely worried about a Zuma presidency. But what frightens me more is the immediate consequences of him not getting in because of a conviction in the courts. What will his supports do if he goes to jail? He has tapped into the anger of the ordinary people. If he is convicted they will see it as an attack by the elite on them. God knows what they could do.

[Roy]

Ya - Zuma president and possible Zumababwe on the one hand, and civil war if he is convicted on the other...eish!

[Derikboy]

Precisely!

The very fact that Zuma's financial advisor fingered Zuma several times as an accomplice and benefactor of his fraudulent dealings, should be enough to prove Zuma’s guilt. Zuma becoming president will only happen if the legal system fails. Zuma not becoming president will mean that justice was served, but to what end? As Mike points out, the options are not great. South Africa is in real trouble, and people are still justifying everything! Now I’ve heard every excuse under the sun why South Africa won’t “go Zimo” (I believe I’m the first to use this term), and I notice that nobody says the same thing about why it won’t go Zimo. Everyone has their own ‘special’ reason why it won’t go Zimo, and each reason is a little different then the last. This doesn’t make me feel like there is an extensive list of reasons, this makes me feel like there isn’t actually a proper, clear and valid reason why South Africa won’t go Zimo.

[Roy]

Ok, just to add an extra view:

If Zuma is not found guilty (i.e. he is not a criminal at all), he will be our president for 5 years. As long as our democracy is still intact, he will be replaced by some new face in 5 years time.

So while at the moment it seems as though the writing is on the wall, I believe SAfricans are blowing the whole matter out of proportion. (Remember pre-1994?)

"This too will pass"

[Joel Pollak]

Let me add my two cents here. I was one of those NOT terribly worried about a Zuma presidency before he won the ANC race. A third term for Mbeki would have been pretty much the worst thing imaginable. Not that I am excited about Zuma--his stance on Zimbabwe is far worse than his stance on Israel--but I think that both the fear of a Zuma presidency and the sudden enthusiasm for Zuma are quite exaggerated. The good thing is that Mbeki--and Kasrils--have been rejected by the ANC. The bad thing is that Zuma's got his own crowd--the Shaiks and Max Ozinsky and so on. The thing to be most concerned about is the damage that will be wrought over the next year or so as Mbeki and Zuma continue their struggle through state institutions. The MOST IMPORTANT thing is that political leaders and journalists (and blogs like this one) continue to speak clearly and openly and fearlessly about what is going on. The BS meters are going to be off the scale and the need for straight talk is greater now than ever.

[Steve]

Excellent comment Joel,

I have to admit that I was one of those that exaggerated about immigration if Zuma won and have now tempered my opinion.

Perhaps my dislike of Mbeki has tainted my reluctant acceptance of a Zuma presidency.

I think we can all agree that we are more scared of Zuma's supporters than then man himself. But he can't please them all. He can't please Phosa and Nzimande at the same time can he? So who will it be? At this stage no-one knows.

The fight with him and Mbeki will dominate and we won't know until it happens!

This morning the Scorpions boss was jailed. Things look bad.

[Mike]

Joel, I agree. There is clearly a perception that Mbeki is using the courts against Zuma. I am not entirely sure if this is true or not but the perception alone is very dangerous. If there is no faith in the independence of the judiciary or in fact it proves not to be independent then we are in real trouble.

[Hillel]

I've never been a Zuma fan, but I don't think he's diabolically evil - just corrupt. In other words, he's in it for the money, and himself. He doesn't appear to be a demagogue.

On the other hand, one shouldn't forget Lord Akton's aphorism.

Joel is quite right, a third Mbeki term would be worse because of its imputed meaning on the state of democracy in SA. At least a Zuma government allows the chattering classes to pretend democracy is still alive in SA and in general as a concept outside of the big Evil Satan - the USA. The more pertinent question is perhaps whether JZ will keep this hope alive at the end of his 2 terms, that is assuming he doesn't forget to take a shower next time he doesn't take "no" for an answer and survives 11 yrs.

Back to the initial point though, assuming JZ doesn't decide to dabble in a dose of demagoguery, (as I've pointed out before on this blog) he's likely simply to follow the money. i.e. big business, and saudi oil. Big business might be rational and may not punish the Jews or Israel - Saudi oil money though (and the sha[i]k[e] dispensers thereof) are a different story altogether.

[Steve]

Saudi oil money though (and the sha[i]k[e] dispensers thereof) are a different story altogether.

hahaha

Well we not the only one's that will be enamoured with it.

[Hillel]

Mike, it is difficult to use the courts against someone who is squeaky clean. However,

The fact that the perception exists points to an already existing lack of faith (or down right hostility) to the judicial system. This may be part of the "legacy of apartheid" or it may just be the spreading americanisation - either way I don't think it's a problem unique to SA. (See for instance the M&G's Thought Leader on the Belgian paedophile)

What such a lack of faith bodes for society as a whole is a different story - one perhaps already hinted at by current crime levels.

[Steve]

On the judiciary, it amuses me how the ANCYL shout with glee about how the courts have foudn JZ innocent after the rape trial and then they say that the courts cant be trusted to give him a fair trial with the corruption case.

They really are an entertaining bunch. Really, read Mbalula's story of the fishing expedition. Its hillarious. The ANCYL should rather not speak and not remove out doubt about their ability to think.

http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Insight/Article.aspx?id=672919

[Gary]

Let me be upfront. I dislike the ANC/SACP as a party but I have not been one to single out Zuma for criticism or mistrust.
I am not one for this Zumaphobia, but I am not happy about SA's future as long as the ANC rules.

I believe he is no worse than Mebeki, Lekota, the Pahads etc.
But Joel
Why do you say: "Not that I am excited about Zuma--his stance on Zimbabwe is far worse than his stance on Israel".
If naything his stance on Zim is better than Mbekis.
He criticized Mbeki's mollycoddling of Mugabe a few days before the Polokwwane Conference.
Also Mo Shaik is reputed to have said that a Zuma gov will concentrate more on Africa than the M.E.
If Zuma is more vicious on Israel than Mbeki has been I will soon grow to hate him though.
But hey- every cloud has a silver lining- and let us take pleasure and joy from the fact that Kasril's evil star is on the wain.

[Joel Pollak]

Zuma affirmed his essential agreement with Mbeki's approach to Zimbabwe shortly after becoming ANC president, I believe. (http://allafrica.com/stories/200712210972.html) Perhaps that's just talk, but I don't see Zuma doing much that's different, although Cosatu may have more leverage over his Zim policies than it did over Mbeki's.

On Israel, I don't anticipate any real changes. The bad rhetoric from South Africa will continue. The Israelis will mostly ignore it and continue to do business with SA--though, increasingly, it seems that Israel is developing other alternatives in Africa. Lev Leviev is building a new diamond empire in Namibia and Israel is quietly providing development and humanitarian assistance in a number of other places. In short, Israel will be less dependent on SA for mineral imports and diplomatic support. But SA will remain important as a possible go-between in Israel's confrontation with Iran. Its position on the Security Council makes it very important to Israel, at least for another year or so. I think the odd SA-Israel tension will continue, though it could get more interesting.

[Gary]

Israel has many friends in Africa and really doesnt need SA.
Nigeria and Cameroon attended the 40th Jerusalem Day anniversary celebrations along with 6 other countries.
Rwanda, DR Congo, Uganda, Ghana, Togo and Cote D' Ivoire all criticized SA's bias against Israel a few years ago.
Israel has very good relation with Ethiopia.
MOst African couintries did vote for Israel's readmittance into the Red Cross, even though SA didn't.
To dismiss SA's attitude to Israel as typical of Africa is a grossly ignorant mistake.
Most of Africa is on far better terms with Israel than SA is.
The question one maybe needs to ask is why SA has a particularly antagonistic attitude towards Israel.

[Lawrence]

it's important to understand that the ANC and for that matter Zuma's bias against Israel has been fully adopted/learned from European South Africans, this is where it comes from. The irony is that in their anti-Semitic prejudice the ANC, COSATU etc reveal themselves to be more like their hated enemy and former oppressors, the old NP and their supporters, than they could ever recognise. They have learned well, in times of turmoil and conflict, scapegoat the Jews (ie the Jew nation in contemporary times) as a diversion from your own corruption, brutality and incompetence - works like a charm.

Zuma is both incompetent, corrupt and stupid, partial to supporting Islamotheocrats and makes me very pessimistic about SA's future.

Expect the rand to dive further with his ascension to power.

[Joel Pollak]

I think Lawrence is correct that anti-Israel bias in South Africa is largely an elite phenomenon. Surveys show that South Africans, like Africans in other predominantly Christian countries (and one or two Muslim ones, too) side with Israel more than the Palestinians in the conflict. That isn't borne out in media coverage but it remains true beneath the chatter.

[Gary]

But without access to the internet where do the masses get any info other than the prejudiced crap dished out by the SA media?

[Steve]

Lawrence, the Rand hasn't really dived that much since Polokwane. Its at 6.85 or so as of today. Not such a dive since the Chinese move into Standard Bank which move it from about 6.15 to 6.60

The sub prime fall outs have affected the Rand more than his ANC election victory.

I see your point though, that it may dip if and when he becomes president and his policies may indeed be to weaken the Rand. Just nitpicking that you said, "expect it to divefurther" because it hasn't really taken such a knock yet.

[bigben]

I think the Zuma issue boils down to two factors.

Number one: Who is pulling what strings in terms of possible corruption?

Number two: How strong will the left be in pushing policy?

In terms of the left, the results so far dont seem to be one way or the other. Mixed in with the more radical stuff are a lot of policy suggestions are simply extentions of what Mbeki was doing already.

Hopefully Zuma will make Africa the focus of his international policy and Israel will fall off the radar. If the left is is very influential this might not happen.

On the first point: If you want a non-corrupt politician, vote for your granny.

[Gary]

Bigben writes: "Hopefully Zuma will make Africa the focus of his international policy and Israel will fall off the radar".
Having Fat Ronnie and the Pahads out of the picture might help.