‘Israel has answers for SA’, say unrepentant political leaders

Patriotic Alliance (PA) President Gayton McKenzie is unfazed by criticism from Israel haters over his party’s fact-finding visit to Israel last month, calling members of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement “shysters”.

The controversial politician and former bank robber turned motivational speaker said he was unafraid of a backlash from critics of Israel including the ruling African National Congress which condemns Israel as an apartheid state, describing himself as a “friend of the Israeli people”.

“I will be restoring the status of the South African embassy in Israel when I form part of a national coalition here as a condition of whoever wants to be in partnership with us. I will agitate for stronger ties between South Africa and Israel without any fear of any backlash,” he told the SA Jewish Report.

His remarks follow heavy criticism from the South African BDS Coalition, which accused McKenzie and the party’s deputy president, fellow ex-convict and socialite Kenny Kunene, of being “reactionary ideologues”.

The pair travelled to Israel on 23 July to learn about coalition governments and water management and wastewater treatment. Their visit coincided with widespread protests in Israel over the coalition government’s decision to pass the controversial judicial overhaul bill.

BDS SA condemned the visit and criticised the politicians, saying, “Convicted bank robber McKenzie resigned as mayor of the Central Karoo District after questions were raised about millions of rand that were meant for the eradication of bucket toilets in the area. Kunene, his robber side-kick and a convicted fraudster, is a notorious misogynist, hosting parties in 2011 where guests ate sushi off the bodies of half-naked women. These are Israel’s new South African friends.”

It further accused the PA of “reproducing the disingenuous claims of Israeli propaganda for its management of water resources and other technological innovations”.

In response, McKenzie told the SA Jewish Report, “BDS SA should go and find day jobs like the rest of us. Their gig is becoming irrelevant as more and more Muslim countries are starting to work with Israel and not these shysters calling themselves BDS.”

He said his party’s decision to visit the Jewish state was correct. “Israel has many of the answers to the problems being faced by South Africa, and we need to work with each other. South Africa needs friends, not enemies,” he said.

He said Kunene was misunderstood and unfairly criticised when he said the late President Nelson Mandela had received no criticism when he visited Israel.

“He wasn’t comparing himself to Madiba, he was pointing to the fact that Mandela showed the example of building bridges and opening dialogue, which we also believe in doing. Being pro-Israel doesn’t mean you have to be anti-Palestine. That’s a false dichotomy that will take us nowhere. We cannot – and should not – wish for Israel to stop existing, which unfortunately is the starting point for many of those who are ostensibly on Palestine’s side. That cannot, and will not, happen. What’s important is to look at solutions to improve life for Palestine and everyday Palestinians without needing to wipe Israel off the map.”

The controversial politicians met Israeli President Isaac Herzog, from whom they gleaned valuable information about coalition governments. McKenzie is adamant that the PA will be a key player in coalitions next year.

“Israel has never had one party get a majority of the votes. Even Labour couldn’t achieve that, in spite of enormous momentum. South Africa is destined to become a true multiparty, coalition-driven democracy, and we learnt a great deal about coalitions such as the kinds of agreements that need to be signed by different parties, how coalitions with vastly different aims can be held together for a full term, and the compromises that have to be made on all sides. It was truly enriching for us as PA leadership.”

He said Israel’s lessons on water management were “appropriate for South Africa”.

“So many of our towns and cities are losing half of the bulk water before it even reaches our residents for consumption. In Israel, they lose 2% at most, and process all the wastewater in a truly cyclical system. The sewage gets turned into fertiliser for farming, the wastewater is used for irrigation, and the sludge processing produces methane that powers 80% of the needs of the water treatment plant. Israelis don’t waste anything. That’s a powerful lesson for South Africa, whatever your politics may be,” McKenzie said.

Being in the country during the widespread protest was “eye-opening”, he said.

“Israeli democracy is loud and fractious, but it’s robust. It was eye-opening to witness the anger against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government and its decision to rein in the power of the courts. The protests made me feel right at home, and the constant electricity made me realise I wasn’t at home,” he said.

Benji Shulman, the director of public policy at the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF), said, “The SAZF welcomes the PA’s recent trip to Israel and encourages all political parties to engage regularly with their Israeli counterparts. Israel remains a dedicated and committed partner for sustainable development in our country, and as such, we should seek to leverage the best that Israel has to offer South Africans today. To date, Israeli innovation, technology, and organisations have been mobilised to provide access to clean drinking water to more than half a million people in our country. There’s absolutely no reason to inhibit our collective access to life-changing resources from the holy land of Israel.”

Their visit included meetings with various politicians including Ruth Wasserman Lande from the Blue and White Party and Tzachi Hanegbi, the head of the National Security Council of Israel in the prime minister’s office.

“I had an incorrect perception about Israel before going there. As a Christian, my visit gave meaning to the Bible. I have no regrets about visiting, I will be going back with my family and friends,” McKenzie said.