ANT KATZ

Last week Thursday evening the leadership of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and the SA Zionist Federation met with President Jacob Zuma and members of his Cabinet at his Mahlamba Ndlopfu residence in Pretoria. The delegating briefed the president on the sharp rise in anti-Semitic activity in South Africa, including threats and intimidation against the Jewish community and its leadership.

Also discussed was the Israeli-Palestinian question and ways in which South Africa could assist the parties in reaching a long-term peace settlement, said a statement issued by the Board last week Friday.

In the course of the meeting, say the Board’s chairman, Mary Kluk, and president, Zev Krengel, “President Zuma rejected unequivocally all forms of anti-Semitism and intolerance, and stressed that his government remained committed to combating such prejudice. He further emphasised the need for there to be harmony between people of different backgrounds and opinions in South Africa. 

President Zuma was accompanied by the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Ministers in the Presidency Jeff Radebe and  Susan Shabangu and DG in the Presidency Dr Casius Lubisi.
The SAJBD delegation was led by Zev Krengel (president) and Mary Kluk (national chairman) and included Jeff Katz, Raymond Goss, Eric Marx and Wendy Kahn from the SAJBD and Jonathan Silke and Ben Swartz from the SA Zionist Federation.

Board welcomes President’s firm assurances

On the Palestinian-Israeli question, says the SAJBD, “both the President and the Board expressed their support for the two-state solution of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peaceful co-existence and reiterated South Africa’s willingness to support all sides to find a solution.

“The SAJBD welcomes President Zuma’s firm assurances that his government will not accept anti-Semitic bigotry and intimidation, and fully endorses his belief in the importance of maintaining harmony between South Africans of diverse backgrounds.” 

The SAJBD also endorsed the government’s National Development Programme, they told Jewish Report last week Friday, “and pledged the assistance of the Jewish community in its implementation.

“The meeting took place in a very warm and constructive atmosphere, and the two parties have agreed to meet in the near future to take the discussions further,” said the Board afterwards.