It's Almost Supernatural

Cosatu's Masuku Guilty of Hate Speech

Hot off the press – The SA Jewish Board of Deputies has been successful in gaining a Hate Speech verdict from the SA Human Rights Commission against Cosatu International Relations Secretary Bongani Masuku. This report from The Richmark Sentinel:

Cosatu's Masuku guilty of hate speech Friday, December 04, 2009  The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has upheld a complaint of hate speech against Bongani Masuku, International Relations Spokesperson for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). The complaint, lodged by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) on 26 March 2009, is based on various threatening, inflammatory and derogatory statements made by Masuku against the mainstream South African Jewish community and its leadership. Zev Krengel, SAJBD National Chairman, said that the ruling had reaffirmed the zero-tolerance attitude towards any form of hate speech that underpinned the country’s democratic culture. As such, it should be seen as a victory for all South Africans. “While instances of racist and inflammatory rhetoric directed against sectors of society will inevitably occur from time to time, it is encouraging to see that this country has in place effective mechanisms to deal with them. We applaud the SAHRC for sending out a clear message that the right to freedom of expression does not include a license to indulge in hate speech and incitement” he said. The SAJBD’s complaint detailed how Masuku, in a public address at Wits University on 5 March, as well as in various written communications, had repeatedly threatened that Jewish South Africans would be targeted because of their support for Israel. This included statements that Jewish lives would be made ‘hell’, that vigilante action would be taken against Jewish families suspected of having members serving in the Israeli military, and that Jews who continued to stand up for Israel should “not just be encouraged but forced to leave South Africa”. In its ruling, the SAHRC noted the following: [Masuku’s] comments and statements made are of an extreme nature that advocate and imply that the Jewish and Israeli community are to be despised, scorned, ridiculed and thus subjecting them to ill-treatment on the basis of their religious affiliation. A prima facie case of hate speech is clearly established as the statements and comments by Mr. Masuku are offensive and unpalatable to society. The SAHRC requested Masuku to tender an apology to the SAJBD within 14 days, failing which the matter would be referred to the relevant Equality Court for final adjudication without further notice to him. Krengel said that although the SAJBD was prepared to go to court, he hoped that an appropriate apology from Masuku would make this unnecessary.

It all started soon after Cosatu marched with the Palestinian lobby against Israel, right outside the official Jewish community leadership centre in northern Johannesburg. Soon after the meeting, Masuku responded to coverage of the march by posting this comment at IAS:

Hi guys, Bongani says hi to you all as we struggle to liberate Palestine from the racists, fascists and zionists who belong to the era of their Friend Hitler! We must not apologise, every Zionist must be made to drink the bitter medicine they are feeding our broathers (sic) and sisters in Palestine. We must target them, expose them and doo allthat (sic) is needed to subject them to pereptual suffering until they withdraw from the land of others and stop their savage attacks on human dignity. Every Palestinian who suffers is a direct attck (sic) on all of us!

Soon after this, community member Anthony Posner emailed Masuku in an attempt to open up dialogue and invite him to an evening of poetry (yes, I'm serious). One thing led to another and soon I too was involved in dialogue with Masuku, which at first seemed quite promising but eventually degenerated into threats from Masuku that Zionists should be encouraged to leave South Africa (this from the leadership of a member of the ruling ANC’s tripartite alliance).

You can find all the details of the correspondence in this post: Cosatu spokesman calls on Jews to leave SA

Subsequent to this, Masuku addressed a PSC (Palestine Solidarity Committee) and Young Communist Leage event at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg where he threatened to ensure that the lives of Zionists in South Africa would be made hell – see Bongani Masuku at Wits

Masuku is currently in the UK where he alongside Ronnie Kasrils and Omar Barghouti is scheduled to address crowds for a series of BRICUP (British Committee for the Universities of Palestine) events calling for Sanctions and Boycotts. Find out more about BRICUP from Harry's Place. 

We must commend the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) for resolutely taking on this case of Hate Speech and eventually winning it. It's now the second time this year that senior members of the ruling tripartite alliance have been found guilty of Hate Speech directed against the Jewish community (previously, the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Fatima Hajaig asserted at a local Palestinian lobby rally that America is in the hands of Jewish money).

The response from the SAJBD has been to use the existing mechanisms and institutions of our State to deal with both incidents and they have achieved a favourable outcome on both occassions (and let's not forget the Budlender report) but questions will be asked about what they do with winnings that, with the evidence on hand, would have been criminal to lose. In this case, they seem content with the ruling that Masuku issue an apology within 14 days. Many in the community will question why Masuku will be allowed to continue in his position as International Relation secretary of an organisation with an excess of powers under the Zuma administration. Perhaps they did push for more, and if so, I have no problem with their acceptance of the ruling. Either way this is another victory for the community in a year tainted with mountainous challenges and irreplaceable losses and for that I will applaud the SAJBD for their effort and leadership throughout this most difficult year.

I eagerly await the SAJBD chairman's next column in the Jewish Report where I hope he will shed some light on what their goals at the HRC were and the thinking behind them.

But let’s not be too quick to discount the value of an apology. The HRC ruling and the subsequent apology ensure broad coverage of the issue and this helps fight the perception that Jews have a persecution complex – it demonstrates unequivocally that the levels of incitement used against ordinary Jews against the backdrop of the Palestinian conflict have crossed the lines from reasonable political opposition to Israel into the realm of classical hate speech. It tars not only Masuku, but those that support him, such as the PSC and Young Communist League who entertained him as a guest speaker at the event at Wits.

Update at 06/12/2009

To be fair, we need not wait for the Chairman of the SAJBD to explain what he aimed to achieve. The SAJBD offered an explanation when they laid the initial complaint. See Jewish Board Confronts Masuku Threats. The central aim is to ensure we continue to enjoy an environment on our university campuses and in South Africa in general, where all South Africans are free to express their views without fear of persecution.

Don't Trust the Jews!

From the UK's Independant, Oliver Miles: The key question – is Blair a war criminal?

"Rather less attention has been paid to the curious appointment of two historians (which seems a lot, out of a total of five), both strong supporters of Tony Blair and/or the Iraq war. In December 2004 Sir Martin Gilbert, while pointing out that the "war on terror" was not a third world war, wrote that Bush and Blair "may well, with the passage of time and the opening of the archives, join the ranks of Roosevelt and Churchill" – an eccentric opinion that would seem to rule him out as a member of the committee. Sir Lawrence Freedman is the reputed architect of the "Blair doctrine" of humanitarian intervention, which was invoked in Kosovo and Afghanistan as well as Iraq. Both Gilbert and Freedman are Jewish, and Gilbert at least has a record of active support for Zionism. Such facts are not usually mentioned in the mainstream British and American media, but The Jewish Chronicle and the Israeli media have no such inhibitions, and the Arabic media both in London and in the region are usually not far behind. All five members have outstanding reputations and records, but it is a pity that, if and when the inquiry is accused of a whitewash, such handy ammunition will be available. Membership should not only be balanced; it should be seen to be balanced." Oliver Miles is a former British ambassador to Libya

(Via Anthony)

Are Jews exerting an excess of power in your government? Write to Oliver Miles and let him know!

Catch Up Post - SA Govt Slams Israel

Here's a quick catch up post linking you to the SA government's condemnation of Israel last week, and the response issued by the SA Zionist Federation.

SA Response to latest Israeli settlement activities in East Jerusalem

The South African government expresses its concern at the latest round of Israeli settlement activities in East Jerusalem and registers its condemnation of Israel's approval of 900 new settlement units in the settlement of Gilo, south of East Jerusalem. South Africa is aware of the statements of the Palestinian leadership that this settlement expansion on the part of Israel will result in an increase in the Israeli settler population over the next two years that will exceed the previous two. South Africa takes note of the statements by United States President Barack Obama who stated that: "I think that additional settlement building does not contribute to Israel's security, it makes it harder for them to make peace with their neighbours. I think it embitters the Palestinians in a way that could end up being very dangerous." We also take cognisance of the statements of the European Union presidency which said that: "If there is to be genuine peace, a way must be found to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states." South Africa maintains that these attempts by Israel to create facts on the ground imperil attempts to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict, namely that of two states, Israel and Palestine existing side by side in peace within internationally recognised borders. South Africa emphasises that the issue of Jerusalem is one of the final status issues that needs to be part of a negotiated solution to the conflict in the Middle East. The actions on the part of Israel are in opposition to the will of the international community as expressed in United Nations Security Council resolutions 242, 338, 1515 as well as the Arab Peace Initiative. We condemn the fact that Israeli settlement expansion in East Jerusalem is coupled with Israel's campaign to evict and displace the original Palestinian residents from the City. South Africa stresses that these actions on the part of Israel jeopardise the prospects of resuming peace talks aimed at arriving at a final settlement to the conflict. South Africa is deeply concerned that these activities by Israel will only serve only to deepen the cycle of violence in the region. As an occupying power, Israel has specific and clear obligations under international law. We call upon the Israeli government to cease their activities that are reminiscent of apartheid forced removals and resume negotiations immediately.

Here's the response issued by the SA Zionist Federation:

The SA Zionist Federation rejects with utter contempt the statement by the South African government which condemns Israel’s “settlement activities” in East Jerusalem and “Israel’s campaign to evict and displace the original Palestinian residents from the City”, and which calls on the Israeli government to “cease their activities that are reminiscent of apartheid forced removals and resume negotiations immediately.” The Israeli government is legally entitled to allow for the natural expansion of the Jerusalem suburb of Gilo in east Jerusalem.  People, whether Jew or Arab, are being removed from their homes only because those homes are illegal. Any increase in the cycle of violence in the region will come from the radical Palestinian element determined at all costs to ensure that peace remains forever elusive.  The SA Zionist Federation notes that the South African government has never publicly condemned the Hamas, which has for 8 years unceasingly pounded the south of Israel with rockets and mortars, thus risking the lives of more than 1 000 000 innocent Israelis.  Nor has it ever condemned Iran, a member of the UN, for its threats against Israel and its determination both to destroy the country and instigate a genocide against its citizens. The radical Palestinian leadership has time and again proven itself unwilling to enter into any kind of negotiations with the Israeli government.  Without a partner for peace, Israel cannot move forward in that direction. The SA Zionist Federation is appalled that the SA government compares the situation in Israel with that of “apartheid forced removals.”  The apartheid regime was radically immoral: for the SA government to compare the two shows a regrettable lack of understanding of both and simultaneously makes a mockery of the tragedy of apartheid. The SA Zionist Federation is greatly concerned as to why the SA government released this harsh and one-sided statement, which will do little more than create and heighten tensions within the local Jewish community and with South Africa’s radical pro-Palestinian elements. The South African Zionist Federation condemns the double standards applied only to Israel by our government; and questions again why Israel is always judged to a standard different from that of the rest of the world.  I'm sure that when Allister Sparks comments on this he will light a new fire of lies and again claim that the Jewish Community has called the government antisemtic.

Mike Berger and Milton Shain Respond to Stephen Friedman

Here's an excellent response by Mike Berger and Milton Shain to Stephen Friedman's recent article in the Sunday Times, published at Politicsweb.co.za: A reply to Friedman

You can find Friedman's original article here: Talk rights; not real estate

Predictable, Berger and Shain have already been accused of labelling Friedman an antisemite or self hating Jew, even though they never said anything close. It's the typical response to anyone defending Israel. People, without even reading the arguments jump up and down claiming that the response calls everyone an antisemite and/or self hating Jew.

Allister Sparks was on Talk Radio 702 last week, speaking about Julius Malema's recent spat with the Young Communist League. Using Malema's tendency to play the race card as a segway, Spark's interview turned into an amazing attack on Israel, giving the impression that our leadership constantly overplays the antisemtic or self hating Jew card.

Whilst that card is often overplayed (by the likes of the target of my previous post), the leaders of our community and all official communal responses to attacks on Israel certainly do not employ this card in the way that the leaders of the ANC Youth League embrace it. Sparks should provide evidence to back up his comparison between the leaders of the Jewish community and the leaders of the ANC Youth League.

John Rustee is an Idiot

You could be forgiven for thinking that you were reading the Daily Sun whilst paging through this week’s Jewish Report. The culprit is the inclusion of a rather smutty opinion piece taken from an arb blog, written by an ex-South African living in Israel.

The article should not have been included. Not because I find it personally offensive (I find it offensive in the same way I find a rotting rat in the sewers offensive). The reason it should not have been printed is because of the associated reduction in perceived quality that people ascribe to the Jewish Report. If that meets the acceptable levels of criterion for inclusion as an opinion piece then it doesn’t say much about the regard I will have for any future opinion pieces in the weekly. (I understand that there is a difficulty in showing all views and opinions and the editor of the Jewish Report tries, mostly successfully, to portray as broad a perspective as possible.)

Rustee’s article is an infantile critique on the South African community who “are simply too selfish and ignorant to care about anything but the materialistic bullshit that blinds them from the truth that they live in a Third World Dump.”

It’s funny because, whilst his (lack of) insight into the South African community tells me nothing new about the South African community, it does tell me a lot about who John Rustee is. He is a bigot (“the death of every single Palestinian is met with calls of war crimes by every Muslim on this planet”), hypocritical, arrogant, patronizing and narcissistic. He also claims to speak on behalf of Israel (“and the more we wait for you to wake up out of your materialistic high, the more frustrated and disappointed we get”).

Rustee’s central thesis (the scarcity of coherence in his article makes it somewhat challenging to identify any thesis, but I’m trying) seems to be that Jews who don’t make Aliya do not care about Israel. We are fake Zionists.

His facts and conclusions are woefully incorrect. In terms of a factual critique, his knowledge of community activism is so far removed from reality that I doubt whether he actually ever lived here.

Rustee claims that nothing is being done about recent stressful events that the community has had to face – he lists some of the high profile incidents that have made the headlines in Israel, but neglects to mention other more serious incidents which he probably isn’t even aware of. I guess a monkey expects monkey behavior. Rustee assumes nothing is being done because he hasn’t seen South African Jews take up arms against all Muslims. He wants to see blood. In reality, the communal representatives are treating all matters he listed very seriously and if he read the Jewish Report he would know this. But monkeys can’t read, although strangely enough, this one can write.

His conclusion is as dramatic as his patronizing suggestion that GAP is a luxurious excess of a community that cares only about how many cars each member of the household has. He suggests that our failure to stand up and defend ourselves (whatever that means) will eventually lead to the destruction of everything Jewish in South Africa. Whilst his facts are wrong (we do have an active and vocal Zionist community) he still doesn’t even connect these faulty facts to his Armageddon-like conclusion.

His mess ends with a pretence of intellect, building up to the mirror-in-our-faces challenge. Do we want to live in the Diaspora and be assimilated, or to go to Israel and become real makoya Jews? He ascribes the existence of Jewish schools in South Africa (and by extension every other diaspora country) to South African Jews not wanting to mix with “blacks and gentiles”.

To be sure, there is space for a debate over the manner in which the South African community has reacted to incitement that has been directed against us over the years. I was in London recently where the Jewish community has had to deal with far more serious incidents than we have. Yet when they respond, it is out in the open, marching proudly through the city. Compare this to our behind closed-walls-approach and you have to wonder why we can’t take the risks that they feel they can. Our response to these issues deserves serious debate, but the claptrap stench of Rustee’s rantings certainly shouldn’t be the spark that triggers it.

You can read his full article here:SA Jews are nothing but a bunch of hypcrites

Carte Blanche Story on El-Al Security - Update

Courtesy of a comment from RZ, here’s a YNet update on the latest regarding the Carte Blanche feature on El-Al security at OR Tambo International (original story: Carte Blanche: El Al a front for spooks).

The security guard that questioned the Muslim person during the Carte Blanche show has been deported out of South Africa.

El Al security officer deported from South Africa via Ynet News Itamar Eichner The South African authorities several days ago deported a security officer working for Israel's El Al airlines, who is employed by the Israeli Embassy in the country and has a diplomatic passport. The authorities issued an ultimatum to Israel, saying that if an arrangement on the employment of El Al security guards is not reached by the end of the month, they would all be deported from South Africa. The Yedioth Ahronoth daily has learned that the Foreign Ministry immediately sent out a team of diplomats to South Africa to negotiate the matter, in a bid to have security guards stay in the county in favor of El Al's Johannesburg-Tel Aviv flights. The affair began about two months ago, when Julian Gareb, who had worked as a security guard for El Al for 19 years, was fired. In an act of revenge, he revealed the Israeli airline' security methods to a prestigious South African investigative television program. "We classify people on a racist, ethnic and even religious basis," he claimed. Gareb said that during his training he had been sent to Israel for advanced studies and was hired by the Israeli security services. "We trained with weapons at a secret base where the special Israeli forces train. We used guns and submachine guns in face-to-face combat." The program also sent a Muslim investigator with a hidden camera to El Al's security check station at a local airport. Within second, the man was stopped by an El Al security guard, who was later deported from the country. The program's reporter accused El Al of having a racist policy, of deceiving the South African authorities and of seriously violating the constitution. El Al officials expressed their hopes on Thursday that the Foreign Ministry would be able to solve the crisis. According to the sources, the flights from South Africa to Israel were not at risk of being canceled. Yossi Levy, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said in response that "the ministry cannot comment on security matters."

Sad Farewell to a Communal Giant, Mendel Kaplan, 73

Mendel Kaplan, aged 73, passed away last night after a sudden illness. His energy and leadership and commitment to Zionism will be forever missed.

The Jerusalem Post reports:

Mendel Kaplan, a prominent leader of the South African Jewish community, died in South Africa on Thursday evening at the age of 73 after suffering a massive stroke on Tuesday. He was a major figure in the world of Jewish organizations, especially renowned for promoting and mobilizing the issue of Soviet aliya after the fall of the Soviet Union. "Mendel was the most well-known southern African Jewish philanthropist, and will be sadly missed both in Israel and abroad," said Maish Isaacson, chairman of Telfed. Kaplan will be remembered as "a very committed Jew who continued to study Judaism until his last day," Alan Hoffman, director-general of the Jewish Agency's Education Department and a close friend of Kaplan's, told The Jerusalem Post. "He was a great Jewish leader who managed to go beyond South Africa," said Hoffman, adding that Kaplan had been gifted with a unique ability to combine "an enormous commitment to Judaism and the Jewish people and the ability to solve problems and deal with global Jewish issues."

Here’s the tribute from the SA Zionist Federation:

It is with great sadness that we notify you of the death last night of Mendel Kaplan. Mendel was a giant among men, a blessed tzaddik, a man for whom the future growth and success of the Jewish community in South Africa, in Israel and indeed internationally was enormously significant. His acts of kindness, charity and warmth will remain forever etched in the memories of all those he assisted and whose lives he touched. His concern and love for the State of Israel gave him international status within the Jewish community. The enormity of his loss cannot be measured, neither in words nor in deeds. The Chairman, President, Executive and staff of the SA Zionist Federation extend deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to his beloved wife Jill, his adored children and all the members of his family. We will never forget him. May he be blessed among all the mourners of Zion.

Budlender Report - No Racial Profiling Took Place at Limmud

Advocate Geoff Budlender last week rejected allegations made by the Wits Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) that Limmud’s security marshals carried out “racial profiling” against students and academics of colour during the course of the Limmud event on August 9.

David Saks reports in last week’s Jewish Report:

THE INVESTIGATION instituted by Wits University into the events that took place on campus during the Limmud event on August 9 this year, has rejected allegations that Limmud’s security marshals carried out “racial profiling” against students of colour. In a report that overwhelmingly vindicated Limmud, Advocate Geoff Budlender SC did, however, say that Limmud marshals overstepped their authority and appeared “heavyhanded”. But he found no male fides on their part. His 13-page report found that Limmud participants were subjected to offensive slurs and intimidation by those protesting outside the university. The controversy centred around the participation on the programme of Lt-Colonel David Benjamin of the Israeli Defence Forces, labelled as a “war criminal” by pro-Palestinian factions on and off campus. Budlender based his conclusions on more than 70 written submissions received from those who were present on the day and individual interviews with some of the latter whose testimony was regarded as particularly significant. These included senior members of the Wits administration, Limmud, SAUJS, the SAJBD and the Palestinian Solidarity Committee. The SAJBD has welcomed Budlender’s findings, saying that the findings had vindicated all the essential points it had made in its own submission. SAJBD National Director Wendy Kahn, called the report balanced and thorough, and felt that Budlender had done “an excellent job” in getting to the heart of what had happened, without being swayed by people’s political agendas. “We were very disturbed that those protesting against Limmud resorted to baseless charges of racial profiling in order to smear our community. Fortunately, a thorough and non-partisan investigation has revealed these to be false,” she said.

Whilst some may be tempted to celebrate these findings as a resounding victory, the whole saga will ultimately prove to be a depressing defeat for South African Jewry. The Palestinian and Muslim lobby have sent a strong message to Jews in South Africa that not only will they not tolerate our political positions; but our deeply enshrined value of robust inner debate too, will not be allowed.

Are these just empty threats? The fraudulent tactics employed may be cheap, but they are not empty. In fact, they are very effective. Take one high profile consequence as an example, the gratuitous comments of the Wits Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor Loyiso Nongxa immediately following the allegations. Before even issuing an investigation, he lamented the appearance at Wits of anyone who seeks to justify Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip (by his language this would have to include the majority of Jewish students) and then, accepting the PSC accusations as fact, he proceeded to apologise to anyone who felt they were discriminated against during the Limmud event.

These comments confirm the strategic value of these mephitic accusations. The mark of Cain sticks, especially on campus but also in the minds of our community leaders who need to steer a course clear from the rough rapids that may capsize our boat.

This time a proper investigation has ruled against the PSC. But what of next time? Have we moved into a situation where we will need to spend energy defending ourselves following every event or activity involving Israel that takes place at a public premises. The answer may be to use a different and more private venue. To creep further and further into the shadows and to hope against hope that next time no-one will notice us. And that is exactly the nature of the PSC victory. They want us to consider the impact of their baseless accusations after each and every event so that we think twice before organising the event and so that we reconsider the people we invite.

It’s been a tough year for the community - protests within the hub of our residences, members of cabinet yelling that we control the world, unionist incitement via our inboxes, dock workers refusing to offload Israeli goods, accusations of racial profiling at an event usually renowned for its openness and courage of ideas. On the bright side, however, it’s good to end the year on a positive note. The efforts expended by our students on campus was inspirational and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for not taking this without a fighting response.

Though not involved in Limmud, SAUJS dealt with the consequences of Jews being accused of racial profiling on campus. I caught up with SAUJS National Chairperson Benji Shulman this week. He candidly explained that he was content with how the report revealed the truth despite the PSC’s coordinated lies. “The PSC were exposed and the report showed exactly how they like to operate on campus.”

The saddest part of the ordeal for Shulman was the conduct of the Vice Chancellor, who apologised to the students before waiting for an investigation. However, when there was basis for an apology, after the report ruled that Limmud participants had been abused and insulted, including being called “Nazis” and “child killers”, the Vice Chancellor was not so forthcoming. “This is something you don’t expect at a university” he lamented.

Perhaps not, but I for one wasn’t entirely shocked to read Nongxa’s remarks. Even despite his lashing of Israel, perhaps one can’t read too much into his political views from his statement alone. It’s worth considering the stressful nature of the pressure the PSC and co. placed on him, a pressure which may have forced him into reclaiming his liberal credentials in the simplest way possible – by giving into the anti-Israel line immediately and completely.

The report findings may not be irrelevant, but the true "victors" in this saga should be judged by Nongxa’s immediate and utterly foolish response.

Norwegian University Considering Boycott of Israeli Academics

Here's a disturbing piece of news from our friend Chaya who is the Chairperson of the Word Union of Jewish Students (WUJS). The Norwegian University of Science and Technology is considering a resolution to pass a boycott of Israeli academics.

Chaya penned a strong letter of appeal to student representatives at the university to vote against the proposed boycott.

World Union of Jewish Students urges board members of Norwegian university to fight proposed boycott of Israeli academics JERUSALEM - Chaya Singer, the South African Chairperson of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS), has urged student representatives on the board of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim to vote against the proposed resolution calling for a boycott of Israeli academics. In her letter, the WUJS leader appeals to NTNU student leaders - "as the trustees of the traditions of the university as a bastion of open debate and education, and the safeguards of academic freedom and tolerance" - to take a firm stand and vote, on behalf of young people everywhere, against the boycott. If the board at its meeting on 12 November votes in favor of a boycott, NTNU would become the first Western university to enact a boycott of Israeli academics. WUJS has been in contact with various students and representatives of student bodies at NTNU, and responses indicate that many students are against the boycott. As one student representative commented regarding the students on the board of Norway's prestigious university, "I would be surprised if they voted for the boycott, because academic freedom is important for them as well." "The idea of a university calling for a politicized boycott of academics on the basis of their national origin is utterly absurd in a 21st century characterized by globalized information sharing and open-source education", Chaya Singer declared. "This would be a violation of the most fundamental principles of academic freedom and indicative of an anti-Israel agenda that unfortunately has been growing in strength recently, especially in Europe. The World Union of Jewish Students condemns such threats of boycott as an assault on academic freedom and the universal values of education and academic pursuit," she added. WUJS was established in 1924 under the chairmanship of Albert Einstein to combat the rigid quotas against Jewish students in European universities. As the umbrella organization of independent Jewish student unions around the world, WUJS cooperates with a broad network of Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and student bodies to battle anti-Semitism on campus and to provide Jewish students with a voice in the political youth arena. Contact: Chaya Singer Chairperson, WUJS

Zaptrash - A Fraudulent Recall of Berlin

I’ve been away for a while but there is no scarcity of content to start again with some updates. First in line is the stinky pencil belonging to Jonathan Shapiro (aka Zapiro).

Close your eyes, and imagine if you will, an alternate universe where the Berlin wall was built by Communists to prevent the flood of Westerners from illegally entering their territory in order to enjoy the prosperity that Western governments were failing to deliver. Try to imagine the Soviets building the wall in order to defend their citizens from Westerners who were trying to cross into their territory in order to kill and maim. Now look at the cartoon.

Does it work for you? No? Not very clever is it?

The Berlin wall was built by East Germany to prevent East Germans from escaping East Germany. Israel has not built any walls to try and prevent Israelis from escaping Israel. Israelis don’t want to escape Israel the way Palestinians want to escape Hamas.

Ultimately, any powerful imagery, no matter how fraudulent can and will be used against Israel in the court of public opinion.

By the way, Goldstone's report concerns the war which took place in Gaza and there is no Israeli wall around Gaza.