Blue coalition shows grassroots but needs watering

Though the groups driving BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) activism in South Africa have found common ground in their opposition to Israel, so too have those who support Israel. However, the dynamics of the so-called “blue coalition” are quite different.

It’s essential to understand that this piece is simply to aid understanding. Reality is complicated, and while certain philosophical orientations may predispose people to support Israel, not everyone who holds these views will necessarily do so. Also, people may subscribe to more than one of these perspectives at once.

In South Africa, the blue coalition consists of five main groups who tend to support Israel: Zionist Jews; covenantal Christians; classic liberals; traditionalists; and economic actors. Each of these groups brings a unique perspective and motivation to its support for Israel, making the blue coalition diverse and diffuse.

Zionist Jews are at the core of the blue coalition in South Africa, and comprise more than 90% of the Jewish community in the country. They are organised, have some financial backing, and maintain strong connections with Israel, culturally and politically. This group often spearheads pro-Israel advocacy, and is instrumental in organising events, educational initiatives, and lobbying efforts. However, in spite of its influence, the Jewish community in South Africa is relatively small, comprising less than 0.1% of the population.

The second group, which for the purposes of this discussion we call “covenantal Christians”, is the largest contingent of pro-Israel supporters in South Africa. This includes a wide range of Christian denominations and individuals that take seriously the covenant that G-d made with Abraham about the future of Jews and the holy land. For these Christians, Israel holds a special place as the land of the Bible and as a source of blessings and prophecy. Covenantal Christians are some of the most enthusiastic supporters of Israel in the blue coalition but their level of exposure to contemporary Israeli issues can vary widely. Some are deeply active, engaged, and well-informed, while for others the topic is still fairly new.

Classic liberals form the third part of this analysis. These are individuals who focus on values such as democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and individual rights, principles they see embodied in the Israeli state. Classical liberals are typically wary of autocratic and totalitarian regimes. They contrast Israel’s democratic system with the more authoritarian regimes in the region, and find common cause with the Jewish state.

This group is politically active and often engaged in public debates. Classic liberals are often found in academia, think tanks, and the legal profession. Their support for Israel is usually intellectual and grounded in their philosophical commitment to liberal democracy.

The fourth part of the coalition, traditionalists, includes ethnic, tribal, religious, and cultural minorities, like Jews, who may feel vulnerable to the larger majorities and totalitarian agenda of the “red-green alliance”. For traditionalists, Israel’s military strength and its ability to provide a safe haven for Jews and other minorities in the Middle East resonate deeply. They see Israel as a model of how a small nation can protect itself and maintain its cultural identity in the face of external threats.

Traditionalists appreciate Israel’s focus on self-defence and its determination to preserve its unique cultural and religious identity. This group’s perspective is less ideological than that of Zionist Jews or classical liberals. Their alignment with the blue coalition is often based on shared experiences of persecution and an interest in co-operation in this regard.

Finally, there are economic actors, a diverse collection that spans a large selection of entities including government departments, large corporations, academic researchers, and entrepreneurs. This group is drawn to Israel for its technological innovation, its reputation as the “start-up nation”, its ready sources of globally competitive solutions, and its strong economy. It includes those who value its ethic of “tikkun olam” (healing the world) and the opportunities for collaboration to address developmental challenges. Economic actors are a powerful driver of the blue coalition, but they are always the most conservative looking to avoid public confrontation over political issues.

The differences between the red-green alliance and the blue coalition are immediately obvious. The blue coalition forms the moral majority of the country but the political minority. Based on values, most South Africans would fit into one of the blue coalition categories, but in Parliament, parties with this perspective represent perhaps only 35% to 40% of voters. The blue coalition also has far more grassroots support than the red-green alliance, which is an elitist phenomena to be found in government, media, trade unions, academia, and nongovernmental organisations. This elite layer has been boosted by until recently the hegemonic, concrete presence of the African National Congress (ANC) in national government. However, grassroots do grow and every so often, one finds someone breaking through the asphalt of the national discourse – a mayor here, a judge there, the occasional high-profile business person and celebrity, and of course, now, a whole raft of government ministers. As the rule of the ANC continues to crumble, watering the grass roots of the blue coalition will be crucial to continuing its growth trend in the public life of South Africa.

• Benji Shulman is an executive office bearer of the South African Zionist Federation.