Letters/Discussion Forums
An open letter to 702’s John Robbie
Dear John,
Last week Friday morning you received a call from a woman named Fahima who referred to a local South African celebrity who was visiting Israel.
Victor Gordon
Fahima expressed her opposition to the visit as she firmly believed that Israel was an apartheid state. This elicited an enthusiastic “Yes” from you and the statement: “There’s many of us who believe that being critical of Israel is not being anti-Semitic at all. In fact, it’s being pro-Israel in the same way as us being anti-apartheid, and I’ll argue that with anyone”.
Here’s my counter argument:
Clearly, you agreeing with Fahima that Israel is an apartheid state reveals how little you appear to know about the country. Otherwise how would you explain how a country with full voting rights for all citizens; with five Arab parties represented in the Knesset; with Arab judges appointed to the judiciary (including the Supreme Court); where two Arab judges adjudicated the trials of a former state president and a former prime minister, resulting in both serving jail sentences; where two Arabs have acted as Israeli ambassadors; where the press is among the freest in the world; where there is complete freedom of association and of speech; and where the rights of gays are fully protected, can possibly be guilty of practising apartheid?
According to Freedom House, the independent monitor of democracy worldwide, Israel is both fully democratic and free. Explain therefore, John, how a fully democratic country can simultaneously practise a policy of apartheid?
As for your patronising claim to be “pro-Israel” by applying “tough love” (which you say should never be construed as anti-Semitic), your hypothesis is shaky for the following reasons:
- Of course being critical of Israel is not necessarily anti-Semitic. None are more self-critical than Israelis themselves. However, when one’s criticism is continually directed at Israel alone, one is forced to ask what lies behind so one-sided a stance.
Sadly, with the worldwide surge of so-called “anti-Zionism” (read “anti-Semitism”) – and an equal hostility towards “Zionists” (read “Jews”), Jews can be forgiven for their sensitivity when the John Robbies of this world claim that their one-sided criticism is inspired by their concern for our welfare.
- I have never heard you express any understanding of Israel’s point of view, but only ever an appreciation of the plight of the Palestinians. In fact, you’ve repeatedly turned the past three wars against Hamas into no more than a numbers game based on comparative casualties figures with no appreciation of the factors that created these casualties in the first place.
- I have yet to hear you apportion any of the blame for the conflict to the Palestinians. Israel comes off as the eternal villain and the Palestinians the eternal victim.
Perhaps, John, the time has come to visit Israel to see things for yourself. A visit to both Israel and the Palestinian territories, free of any restraints, can be arranged.
Brooklyn, Pretoria
Gary
May 25, 2016 at 9:34 am
‘I dont expect the Irish Jew-hating coward to have the guts or decency to respond’
nat cheiman
May 26, 2016 at 7:38 pm
‘John Robbie is originally from Ireland, having arrived here at a time when he played rugby for that country.
\nI used to listen to his show, but don’t anymore because he purports to know alot about many things.
\nHe is the typical liberal, who knows little history, and doesn’t bother to look at both sides of the story. He shoots from the hip on the basis that if it sounds fair, it must be fair.
\nNobody has ever bothered to ask this ignoramus, precisely from which date in history, he bases his argument.
\nTypically, people like him talk of the Balfour Declaration and 1948 as their starting point. He and the UN ( and other European countries) have no knowledge of the old testament. Indeed, it may be true to say that they have little knowledge of even the new testament.
\nThey amble along in total ignorance thinking that they are garnering popularity, when in fact they nincompoops. The fact that they use the radio program as a platform to disseminate their claptrap is an insult to the radio staion and indeed, to intelligent people who are well informed. Robbie impugns peoples intelligence on a host of different subjects, daily.
\nFrankly, the man is stupid.’
Errol Meyersohn
May 27, 2016 at 8:15 pm
‘Well written letter to John Robbie. I doubt that he has got the \”‘balls” to visit Israel to see for himself. john Robbie is anti semetic PERIOD.3’
Yunus
July 21, 2016 at 8:08 am
‘the comments are from those that have little intelligence.normally the BIGGEST noise or splash is from the shallow end of the swimming pool.’