Don’t judge Krengel’s silence until you know all the facts

David Saks, associate director of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies

The slurs and ad hominem attacks in the letter do not warrant a response. However, the board is accountable to the community and there are real questions which do. The real questions that should have been posed (by the anonymous armchair critic) are whether the course of action pursued by the board was reasonable under the circumstances, and if not, what alternative action was possible?  These valid questions have already been substantially dealt with in the weekly Above Board column, where our chairperson provides feedback and accounts for the actions taken by the board to our community. For purposes of this reply, however, a brief review of how events have unfolded is necessary.

At the ANC’s policy conference in July, it was decided that the question of downgrading the embassy would be debated and voted upon at the party’s elective conference in December. Our board’s president, Mary Kluk, was told by the chairperson of the ANC’s international relations committee that, as there was a divergence of views on the issue, a risk analysis would be conducted and stakeholders like the board would be included in the process. Based on this assurance, the board embarked on a multifaceted campaign to identify the various areas in which an embassy downgrade might negatively impact on South Africa, both domestically and in terms of its foreign policy.

We consulted with the various stakeholders, including representatives of the business and Christian Zionist communities, and made every effort to bring our findings to the ANC’s attention, including through face-to-face meetings, mainstream and social media platforms, public consultations and the publication of a booklet of submissions. An academic think-tank was commissioned to report on the possible economic implications. Through this, the board ensured that when the discussion on the downgrade took place, conference delegates had the necessary information allowing them to come to an informed decision readily to hand.

Unfortunately, and despite previous assurances that our views would be aired and discussed, the session turned out to be just another cynically orchestrated Israel-bashing propaganda session.

However, we would like to assure our community that this fight is by no means over. The ANC vote for a downgrade does not automatically mean that it will become government policy. The board will continue to fight this at all levels and engage with political leaders across the spectrum, as well as with all stakeholder groups, to convey to them why a downgrade will do nothing to further peace prospects in the Middle East, and will serve only to undermine South Africa’s own best interests.