Anti-Israel extremists call for arrests of random SA Jews

The anti-Israel lobby revealed its deeply-entrenched antisemitism last Saturday, 22 February, by printing the names and faces of randomly-selected South African Jews onto “wanted” posters, demanding that these individuals be arrested or deported.

The SA Jewish Report has been in contact with some of the people in question, who have committed no crime according to South African or international law, have never lived or worked in Israel, and are South African citizens and residents. According to posters held aloft by the baying mob of protesters, which included Reverend Frank Chikane and members of Gift of the Givers, “South Africa is not a home” for these Jews.

The protest was held on the Sea Point Promenade in spite of opposition from a swathe of Cape Town residents, who criticised the aggressive behaviour of the anti-Israel lobby during its frequent events in Sea Point. This includes breaking laws and verbal and physical assault.

In the past 16 months, “we have seen an alarming escalation in aggression, including the use of swastikas and rhetoric inciting violence against anyone who supports Israel”, says Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD) Executive Director Daniel Bloch. “This past Saturday, a group of 15 protesters physically assaulted a pedestrian, beating the individual with flag poles whilst verbally abusing him. There’s video evidence of this assault. We will be investigating this further and ensure action is taken against this clearly violent group.”

While insisting that their protest was “peaceful”, many called for violence, holding posters saying, “Peace isn’t the answer, liberation is the answer”; “Next 7 October, Palestine will be free”; “We trust the resistance”; “You can’t hide, we are coming for you”; and “Resistance until Palestine’s liberation.” Many signs had images of Palestinian terrorists with keffiyehs and rifles, and inverted red triangles, which symbolise Hamas terrorist attacks like the 7 October massacre. Protestors also made inverted triangle signs with their fingers. They shouted, “We don’t want no Zionists here,” and “Long live the intifada [violent uprising].”

“This isn’t protest, this is targeted harassment,” says Cape SAJBD Chairperson Adrienne Jacobson. “These protests are thinly-disguised antisemitism and intimidation. The protestors’ adoration of Hamas is even more concerning, particularly after the confirmed brutal murder of the Bibas children. Groups calling for another 7 October is further evidence of incitement to violence.”

Wrapped in a keffiyeh, struggle icon Chikane told the crowd, “You can’t be a Zionist and not be a racist. A Zionist is, by definition, racist. A Zionist does not recognise Palestinians as human beings. Zionism is equivalent to genocide. You can’t be a Zionist and not be genocidal.”

One supporter wrote on Facebook, “Did you see how much [sic] traffic cops is [sic] in Sea Point today to protect the so-called Jewish area Sea Point … today the whole of Cape Town is Hamas.” Another said, “The mayor of Cape Town is allowing a Zionist settler colony to grow in Sea Point”, calling Jewish residents “white supremacy Jews”. Nazier Paulsen of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) echoed this, saying, “The Atlantic Seaboard is a haven for mostly Zionists who are anti-black, anti-African, [and] Islamophobic. They should never be allowed to feel comfortable in a free, democratic South Africa!”

The African National Congress’ Muhammad Khalid Sayed said that political parties not at the rally “don’t only stand in support of Israeli Zionism, they stand in support of the very ideology that is linked to Zionism, which is racism. That is why they can publicly oppose the sale of public land for social housing.”

South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) spokesperson Rolene Marks says, “The SAZF unequivocally condemns Saturday’s hate fest as a dangerous display of antisemitism masquerading as political activism. By targeting South African Jewish citizens with “wanted” posters and explicitly declaring that South Africa isn’t ‘a home’ for Jews, the anti-Israel brigade has dropped all pretence that anti-Zionism is separate from antisemitism.

“The protestors’ glorification of Hamas terrorists, particularly after the confirmed brutal murder of the Bibas children, is unconscionable,” Marks says. “This vile demonstration undermines South Africa’s constitutional values and threatens the fabric of our diverse society. We call on all South Africans to reject this dangerous rhetoric that exploits our freedoms to promote hatred and division.”

Protesters and organisers seemed confused about the purpose of the event. Hajar Ahjum-Mathee of the Palestine Solidarity Association at the University of the Western Cape said the rally was because “there is a ceasefire, but there’s absolutely not a ceasefire”, therefore protesting the very demand the anti-Israel lobby has been making since the war began.

A Johannesburg remedial educator* says she was shocked to see her face on a poster, and was especially disturbed that the extremists chose a photo of her holding a young child. Having never committed any crime according to South African or international law, she says, “The most important thing is that when I saw it, I felt proud to be Jewish, and I will always fight for Israel’s right to exist. Doing this won’t change who I am.”

A Johannesburg man* was shocked to see his face and name on a poster held by the EFF. He has never committed any crime according to South African or international law, yet the sign said he wasn’t welcome in South Africa. “These posters make it clear that I’m ‘guilty’ because I’m a Jew,” he says. “It’s disturbing to see South Africans holding up posters of fellow South Africans demanding that they be punished because they are Jewish.”

Say Jacobson and Bloch, “Our message to the leadership of the Western Cape and South Africa is clear: Hamas is a terrorist organisation. Its violent agenda has no place in South Africa. Cape Town must not tolerate intimidation and hate. We call on all South Africans to reject this aggression. Protests must be peaceful and lawful. Assaulting people with flagpoles, blocking roads, and harassing individuals is unacceptable. We demand action from the authorities. The mayor, the premier, and South African Police Service must uphold the law and protect civilians.”

“We appreciate the increased security presence last weekend, but more needs to be done,” Bloch says. “A petition demanding an end to these aggressive protests has already gained more than 2 800 signatures and will be delivered to city leaders.”

“South Africa stands for peace, respect, and tolerance, not intimidation and violence. Let’s build a city where everyone is safe,” says Jacobson. “Join us. Speak up. Take action.”

The SA Jewish Report hasn’t named the people interviewed for their own safety.