A strong message

On Wednesday morning, we woke up to the news that Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, been assassinated in Iran. I’m not one to revel in death, but I do recognise that Israel’s aim is to chop of the head of Hamas, and this assassination sends a strong message.

No matter what the world may be saying, Haniyeh is no martyr or her0. He’s the political leader of the most heinous terrorist organisation in the world. He was one of the leaders behind Hamas’s devasting massacre in Israel on 7 October that killed 1 200 innocent people and took 251 hostage. It was his organisation that committed the most depraved acts on innocent Israeli women and children.

So, taking Haniyeh out of the picture is undoubtedly a coup for Israel, and the world can see, once again, that Israel means business.

However, I cannot help holding my breath on the southern tip of Africa in fear of what this will mean for Israel and our people there. It will also reverberate around the world, without doubt.

Haniyeh’s murder – especially the fact that it happened in Iran, where he had been a guest at the swearing-in ceremony of the new president, Masoud Pezeshkian – will cement the already strong bonds between Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas in their determination to eliminate Israel.

I have no doubt that the ANC and other anti-Israel political parties here will declare his assassination to be the murder of a hero and there will be no mention of his despicable acts or that of his terrorist organisation.

The killing of Haniyeh follows closely on an attack in Lebanon, which is believed to have killed Fuad Shukr, known as Hezbollah’s top military commander.

This attack by Israel was revenge for a rocket attack from Lebanon that killed children at a soccer field in the Golan Heights at the weekend.

Amazingly, the attack, which killed 12 Druze children, has received no mention by the South African government (see page 5), which always claims to be dedicated to human rights and humanitarian values. But I guess we shouldn’t be surprised as the ANC has long since nailed its colours to the mast in terms of Israel and its enemies.

Olympics

With all this happening in the Middle East, you may wonder why we chose to lead The SA Jewish Report with a story about the Olympics and the man at the helm of South Africa’s team.

Truth is, there’s a recognisable lightness in the air around the world associated with the Olympic Games. I know I’m not alone in the pride I felt in Tatjana Smith winning gold in the 100m breaststroke. She was our first gold medallist in this Olympics, here’s hoping others will follow.

I have never met her, but along with the whole country, I feel overwhelming pride as if she were my kin.

That’s what sport does to us.

I’m equally proud of South African mountain biker Alan Hatherly, who won the bronze medal in the cross-country event earlier this week. He gave us our first Olympic cycling medal since the Games were held in Melbourne in 1956. Truth is, he was so close to gold, he could almost smell it.

And, I can’t say I am totally surprised at our rugby sevens team winning bronze, but I’m proud of them too.

Having one of our brethren as the leader of the South African team is marvellous (page 1), as is having one of our own winning a bronze medal in women’s rugby for the United States. Who cares who she plays for, Sarah Levy is one of us, and we’re proud of her achievements.

The point is that sport, in this case Olympic sport, unites us as a nation and a world. It creates joy, and envelops us with pride. Around the globe, people are keeping tabs on the Games and enjoying the successes of their nation and others.

While you may want your country to win gold, there’s excitement in just watching gymnastics performed by anyone. In the end, it’s about the effort and passion people put into being the best in their sport.

At the same time as the Olympics, a team of South Africans are competing in the 2024 European Maccabi Youth Games in London. May they, too, get the most out of competing and recognise that it’s not all about winning but participating.

As 15-year-old Jonah Gruskin realised when he broke his collarbone (see story on page 16) and could no longer compete at the Maccabi Games, it’s more about the camaraderie and friendship than anything else. In his wisdom, he was only too happy to go along as national flagbearer just so he could be there with his teammates.

As we bask in their glory and feel their pain, we set aside our differences and enjoy our national pride. It’s not about what each person stands for politically or what school they went to, it’s all about the sport and that fabulous Afrikaans word “gees” (spirit and enthusiasm).

Unfortunately, there are always those who will use sport to engender hatred. People who, like our Israel-hating brethren, cannot allow the world to unite. They must bring in hate.

There’s no doubt the war in the Middle East is far from over, but Israel, like every country, is entitled to send its sports people to compete in the world’s biggest sporting tournament.

For Israel to send its sportspeople to France is risky at the moment, but it’s important for the country’s spirit and integrity. The threat level against its players is the highest since the Olympic Games in 1972, when 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Black September terrorists in Munich.

President Isaac Herzog, who was himself exposed to a death threat in Paris, thanked French President Emmanuel Macron, saying, “I appreciate your work in the fight against antisemitism and your contribution to ensuring the ability of the excellent Israeli delegation to compete with respect and fairness in the Olympic Games.”

I wish them and every other sportsperson at the Olympics and Maccabi Games, behatzlacha! May you all come home victorious!

Thank you all for lifting our spirits!

Shabbat Shalom!

Peta Krost

Editor