Temple Mount protests hit SA shores

NICOLA MILTZ

“You can see how these activists continue to escalate tensions and try to incite more anger and rage,” Ben Swartz national chairman of the SA Zionist Federation (SAZF) said on Tuesday, referring to the BDS-planned protests.

The SAZF and the SA Jewish Board of Deputies have condemned Palestinian incitement to violence in their reaction to the recent events on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

“The President of Egypt implored all sides to calm down and that’s the kind of leadership we should be seeing here in South Africa and in the rest of the world,” said Swartz.

Following the fatal stabbing of two Israeli Druze policemen at Lions’ Gate recently, rioting and violent attacks erupted in Jerusalem and other locations. In response, added security measures in the form of metal detectors were erected at the holy site of Al Aqsa Mosque. These were aimed at protecting all prayer-goers and civilians.

This angered Palestinians. Their leadership “chose to inflame passions” within the Palestinian community by claiming that the holy site was in danger and called for a “Day of Rage”.

To defuse the crisis, Israel removed the metal detectors earlier this week. Palestinian leaders saw this as their victory over Israel.

“It was this day of rage that led to the brutal murder of three Israeli civilians last Friday evening,,” said Swartz.

Palestinian terrorist, Omar al-Abed, 19, wielding a knife, stormed into a Jewish home and attacked a family who were celebrating the Sabbath and the birth of their new grandchild.

The SAZF and the SAJBD noted “with concern” a lukewarm statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on this matter and expressed “extreme disappointment” that no context was provided as to what gave rise to the current escalating conflict.

They felt strongly that the South African government should have condemned the brutal terrorism against Israeli civilians.

DIRCO’s statement expressed concern over the increased political tension due to the security measures being “imposed by Israel” on worshippers.

It said: “The heightened security measures with the installation of metal detectors is viewed as a means to change the status quo of the Al Aqsa Compound…

“The South African Government calls on both the governments of Israel and Palestine to resume final status negotiations in order for the two nations to live side-by-side, in peace, and within secure and recognised borders,” said the statement.