Response to Fatima Hajaig’s Anti-Jewish Cabal

It’s taken a while, but there’s finally been some public statements released in response to South African Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Fatima Hajaig’s fevered conspiracy theories about Jewish power money controlling America and the Western world.

The press has finally caught onto these remarks and reports today have appeared in some of the leading dailies. But there has been no real outcry. I doubt we will see many opinion pieces bemoaning the high-level problem here – that there has been an insufferable wound to the vital trust between a government and a community of her people.

Besides for the blogosphere, where David Saks, associate director of the Jewish Board of Deputies South Africa, broke the news, the first group to publicly respond to the Minister were guys I recently had a run-in with - Nathan Geffen, Doron Isaacs, Jonathan Berger, Zackie Achmat and Faizel Slamang. It should be said however, that the Jewish Board had already laid their complain of hate speech with the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), so although they weren't the first to release a public statement, they were the first to react and we commend their strong response.

The Geffen, Isaacs et al. letter is available here. Not able to separate a response to blatant anti-Semitism from their politics, the letter begins with this opening salvo:

“We are deeply concerned about the recent invasion of Gaza. We are also deeply concerned by the manner in and the extent to which the South African Jewish Board of Deputies has expressed its unqualified support for Israel's attack which left over 1,200 people dead. Three of us, who are members of the Jewish community, have signed a widely published statement in this regard.”

I don't quite see what relevance their rejection of the Jewish Board and their widely-published but poorly supported petition has. Do their political positions lend their criticisms additional weight? If not, what is the value of stating these positions?

Let’s use the same model but switch the variables – say a Jewish Minister in the South African government made some crude anti-Islamic remarks. Should a condemnation of those remarks begin by expressing criticism of Al-Qaida or Hamas? It's not necessary. If someone at my work says that “Muslims control the world,” I won’t begin my rejection of that opinion with “I condemn Islamic terrorism but what you said is...”

The Democratic Alliance has also responded with Tony Leon, their spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, quoted as saying that Hajaig must apologise or be sacked. I don’t think an apology should cut it – she is responsible for her statements and, as I have already said, for violating the important trust between a people and their governmet. As a consequence she should be sacked. Tony Leon writes:

"This makes it clear that she feels absolutely no contrition, nor believes her comments to have been offensive. "Ms Hajaig’s allegations are nothing more than bargain-basement conspiracy mongering, which would be unacceptable coming from a senior member of any government anywhere in the democratic world." Leon warned that if the comments were ignored, it would create the impression that they reflect the views of the South African government. "President Motlanthe therefore needs to deal with this issue with the forthright decisiveness which it so clearly merits."

Finally, the Jewish Board od Deputies has laid a formal complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission. The full press release has been included below:

The SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has laid a formal complaint against Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fatima Hajaig, with the SA Human Rights Commission for anti-Jewish hate speech. The complaint is based on statements made by Hajaig at a pro-Palestinian rally in Lenasia on Wednesday 14 January, in which she alleged that the control of the United States and most other Western countries was in the hands of “Jewish money power”. What Hajaig, speaking in her capacity as Deputy Minister, said was the following: They in fact control [America], no matter which government comes in to power, whether Republican or Democratic, whether Barack Obama or George Bush. The control of America, just like the control of most Western countries, is in the hands of Jewish money and if Jewish money controls their country then you cannot expect anything else. SAJBD Director Wendy Kahn strongly condemned what she termed “classic anti-Jewish stereotyping and conspiracy-theory mongering”, which were typically used by those seeking to portray Jews as scheming, manipulative and disloyal to the countries in which they lived. “The Jewish community is outraged by such a public display of bigotry by a senior government representative. As South African citizens, we cannot allow this kind of comment to be brought into this country” she said. SAJBD Chairman Zev Krengel observed that the decision to lodge the complaint had not been taken lightly, but that there had not been any realistic alternative. He commented that not since the era of pro-Nazi Nationalist MPs more than half a century ago had such statements been made against Jews by a senior government official, nevertheless emphasizing that Hajaig’s views were her own and in no way representative of Government as a whole. Charisse Zeifert Head: Communications SA Jewish Board of Deputies

The deputy Foreign Affairs Minister should be sacked not only for her anti-Jewish remarks but also for the lack of diplomacy she showed in her recent "dressing down" of the new Israeli ambassador to South Africa Dov-Segev-Steinberg. She unleashed her fury for 45 non-stop minutes not allowing the ambassador a word in edgeways. Steinberg said that in all his years as a diplomat, years which include spells in the Arab world and Far East, he has never been treated so appalingly.

Haaretz today also reported that the deputy Minister accused the ambassador 'of bringing a diplomat of Ethiopian descent to the embassy "only because he was black"'.

It's been a poor start to the year for our Foreign Affairs department, and as my next post indicates, I suspect things may get a lot worse. 

Comments

[Blacklisted Dictator]

From: "Leader"
Date: 27 January 2009 3:16:14 PM
To: "ANTHONY POSNER"

Dear Mr Posner

Thank you for contacting the office of Helen Zille. We are in the
process of responding to your letter and will revert to you as soon as
possible.

Kind regards

Gaironesa Sonnenberg
Leader's Office
Democratic Alliance
Parliament

-----Original Message-----
From: ANTHONY POSNER [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 27 January 2009 02:38 PM
To: It's Almost Supernatural
Cc: Tony Leon; David Sacks; Leader; Wendy Kahn
Subject: {** SPAM **} Please Supernatural blog

Mike,
I have written to Tony Leon suggesting that he demands Fatima Hajaig
is sacked by The ANC following her antisemitic outburst. But will he be
prepared to upset some Muslim voters in The Cape who might have a
propensity to vote DA? I have my doubts and I imagine that Tony will
keep shtumm. Politics is a dirty business and none so dirty when
antisemitism rears its ugly head.
Let's hope that I am wrong and Tony puts principle before party
political advantage.

[Michael Aikon]

After accusing Steve and IAS of antisemitism yesterday, it waters down his (Nathan's) true charges today of antisemitism!!!!!

Nathan, you cant keep crying antisemitism.

Silly lad!

[Mike]

I think the SAJBD, the DA and Tony Leon should be praised for their stance to this ugly situation. Zev Krengel’s statement was very strong . I think he was right to mention that we have not seen such anti-Semitism from government ministers since the dark days of Apartheid. I do think though as Steve implied they could have reacted faster. That press release should have gone out the day of Saks column.
I am particularly impressed with Tony Leon and the DA. As Anthony points out this could be a politically costly move months before an election. It is good to know that they have no sold out their principles for power. I think Leon and Steve have got it 100% calling for her resignation. I think the SABJD probably should have demanded that too. But I guess if it does not happen (which is likely), they will look weak.
I think this is a watershed event for the relationship between SA Jews and the government. I am no prophet but there will be a point in the near future I recon when we will have to go the Venezuelan Jewish route.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1059580.html

[the pil]

It is not clear to me why Geffen and the rest needed to take on the issue. Did they feel that SABJD response was not good enough or was there another reason that they responded to the comments. Perhaps the answer is that again they wanted to separate themselves from the Jewish community and to make it clear that they are not represented by the SABJD and thus also needed to respond to the comments.

[Steve]

Mike you right, it was a strong response by the Board.
If I were to make one criticism however, perhaps it should be left to government to say that Hajaig's views don't represent them.

[Lawrence]

kudos to Leon for once.

as for Geffen you gotta be kidding! Geffen has no right to accuse anybody of anti-semitism, not even Hajaig. Since Geffen is on record as considering support for a boycott against Israel, a blatantly anti-Semitic stance (and plenty else) who is he to stand up against anti-Semitism? Is nobody else going to point out Geffen's chutzpah here, his unbelievable hypocrisy? The fact that he has zero credibility here.

[Religious Fundamentalist 1]

pil,
Nathan et al long ago chose to separate themselves from the Jewish Community.

They do however like to keep their "Jewish ID" handy - it helps them to get into the right clubs, otherwise their antisemitic rantings would simply be lost amongst the rest of the shouts from the "independent minded herd". (Hat Tip Nick Cohen)

It's the ultimate in multi-culti street cred. It's identity politics for people who want recognition. I think Nathan, Doron and Davis are actually doing very well at the game. It's a shame history will ultimately laugh them out ...

[Blacklisted Dictator]

Dear Nathan, Doron and Jonathan.

You now have to ask yourselves, as you desperately try to remove yourselves the anti-semitic venom emanating from Fatima Hajaig's tongue...

(1) Why has it all ended in tears for you and The SAHRD?

(2) Why has Prof Farid Esack / "Muslims Against Racism" let you so badly down?

(3) Why were your political calculations regarding Muslim community leaders and ANC deputy foreign ministers so widely off the mark?

(4) Why don't you understand the basic political Islamic agenda of those with whom you are trying to create alliances?

(5) Why are you so naive?

(6) Why don't you understand that anti-zionism and anti-semitism go hand in hand?

(7) Why don't you listen to those in the SA Jewish community who, unlike you, actually understand what is going on in SA and the Middle East?

(8) Why do you label legitimate criticism of your activities as "anti-semitic" and as "hateful invective".

(9) Why don't you just have the good grace to apologize ?

viva
blacklisted

Ps: (10) Why, btw, is Farid Esack so "wonderfully interesting"? Is it because he is so "wonderfully ambivalent"?