Zev Krengel replies to IAS criticism

Herewith, a response by SA Jewish Board of Deputies National Chairman, Zev Krengel, to our earlier criticism of an Above Board column he penned in the Jewish Report.

Your post of 15 October (“SA Jews must not pick sides in ANC fight”) is critical of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies for allegedly “openly aligning the [Jewish] community with the Motlanthe/Zuma/Malema camp”. Such an interpretation is highly misleading, not to say alarmist.

From the outset, it must be stressed that the SAJBD is not a political party. Its primary mandate is to safeguard the Jewish way of life in South Africa, while at the same time leading the Jewish community in being a role player in the development of South Africa. This aim we pursue through networking and building relationships with the government of the day, and with other political parties, different faith groups and NGOs. We will not, indeed cannot, take sides in political disputes.

The Board’s recent engagement with government and the ruling African National Congress in no way means that it is “taking sides”. In fact, the Board meets with political parties from rights across the political spectrum. This year, for example, we have met with the leadership of the Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party and African Christian Democratic Party. In the event of a new political party being formed by disaffected ANC members, we will certainly seek to meet with them as well.

Yet again, we see the same tired comparisons being made with the Jewish leadership of bygone years and its relationship with the old Nationalist government and that of today. This, too, is incorrect as well as unfair. During the apartheid era, the Board was compelled by the circumstances of the day to deal with a minority government that had no legitimacy, either amongst the great majority of the population or internationally. This is diametrically opposed to the situation as it exists today. We have a democratically elected government, a constitution that safeguards human rights at the highest level, an independent judiciary and an equally independent media, amongst other democratic safeguards.

It is true that any signs of incipient totalitarianism is something we all need to be extremely vigilant about, and certain recent developments are indeed a cause for concern. For all that, however, South African democracy remains vibrant and healthy. The fact that we have seen a regime change take place swiftly, bloodlessly and entirely in accordance with democratic procedures is surely proof of this. So far as criticizing the government of the day goes, our record shows that we have been willing do so, and strenuously, particularly where Israel is concerned.

In conclusion, promoting Jewish civil rights and working to ensure Jewish security, the Board often has to walk a difficult tightrope. Lobbying does not just mean talking to your friends but also trying to influence those who hold different views. On certain occasions, it does become appropriate for the Board to speak out on contentious issues, and our record shows that we have frequently done so. At other times, however, quiet diplomacy is often the preferable course of action. Whichever route we choose to go, it is always taken only after carefully assessing each situation on its merits and deciding which response is the most appropriate.

I would also like to point out that, contrary to what was implied in the above post, Kgalema Motlanthe was not a recent Shabbat guest at my home. This, in fact, took place three years ago.

ZEV KRENGEL
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
SA Jewish Board of Deputies

The criticism we volleyed can be found here: SA Jews must not pick sides in ANC fight

Comments

[Joel Pollak]

Please explain how South Africa's new president was elected "bloodlessly and entirely in accordance with democratic procedures." Reports of political violence between rival ANC camps are too numerous to ignore. Motlanthe has yet to face an election in which people other than MPs and ANC members can vote. No one in the world views what is happening in South Africa right now as a triumph for democracy. If Zuma's case had not been thrown out on procedural grounds South Africa would be facing a very undemocratic confrontation between a populist mob on the one hand and the judiciary on the other. Only when power passes peacefully from the ANC to the opposition in a democratic election will South Africa have met the standard you describe. May that day soon come.

[Lawrence]

Joel that day will come when the SA JBD grows a spine in combating the pervasive fashionable anti-Zionism (ie new anti-Semitism) in SA, especially in the media, instead of adopting their craven "hear-no-evil-see-no-evil-all-is-well" head in the sand position.

[Religious Fundamentalist 1]

Please excuse my ignorance but:
"a constitution that safeguards human rights at the highest level," this would be the same constitution that :
1) guarantees us protection from crime
2) guarantees the human rights of foreigners (read xenophobia etc)
3) guarantees the rule of law (cf Joel's comment on mob justice)

ok, just checking.

But as I said before. I think Zev is on the "correct path" - the Jews will be most comfortable in exile if we're as obsequious as possible. A little egg on the face for kissing the bums of the afrikaaners/apartheid regime is hardly a high price to pay.

Pukker up Zev, you're doing a good job. It's tough, it's thankless, but hang in there.