SA communal leaders affirm Israel connection at high-level meeting

Jewish communal leadership met Israel’s new foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, on 2 February to discuss the challenges facing South African Jewry in the wake of the 7 October attacks and the unpleasant dynamics in South Africa-Israel relations.

The high-level meeting which took place on Zoom on Sunday was attended by senior figures from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD): Zev Krengel; Karen Milner; Mary Kluk; and Wendy Kahn, as well as South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) leaders Rowan Polovin and Jeff Shankman.

During the discussion, Kahn, SAJBD national director, gave a briefing on the status of South Africa’s Jewish community, highlighting the pressures it has faced since the Hamas massacre of 7 October 2023 and the ensuing war in Gaza.

“We stressed the many South African friends that have stood with South African Jewry during this difficult time,” Kahn said. “The African National Congress [ANC] stance certainly doesn’t reflect the feeling of the majority of South Africans toward Israel. We also discussed the broader relationship between South Africa and Israel.

“We shared with him those that have stood with and supported our community in the past 16 months including many of the churches and political parties,” Kahn said.

Despite South Africa’s increasingly hostile stance toward Israel, the delegation emphasised the resilience of the Jewish community and its unwavering commitment to countering misinformation, diplomatic aggression, and anti-Israel bias within South African political and media circles.

“We shared with Minister Sa’ar the many ways our community had countered the hostility in the media, in opposing certain ANC and government decisions and statements, and in campaigns on the street,” Kahn said.

“We emphasised that our community and its allies are tenacious, and have responded emphatically to the appalling treatment of Israel by certain figures in our government.”

Minister Sa’ar, in turn, gave an update on Israel’s evolving diplomatic strategy, particularly its growing engagement with African nations. He highlighted the recent opening of an Israeli embassy in Zambia as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties across the continent, a move that stands in stark contrast to South Africa’s diplomatic isolation of Israel.

Kahn described the meeting as “warm and engaging”, noting Sa’ar’s willingness to collaborate with South African Jewry and the many non-Jewish South Africans who continue to support Israel despite the ANC government’s adversarial policies.

The delegation also briefed Sa’ar on the profile of the government since the last election in May 2024, with the formation of a government of national unity and the shift in government dynamics.

Kahn stressed the importance of ongoing dialogue between South African Jewry and Israeli leadership, particularly given the global rise in hostility toward Jewish communities.

“It’s imperative for our community, with our close relationship with Israel, to maintain strong communication with key government leaders. Just last year, a delegation from the SAJBD and SAZF met several Israeli government ministers, President Isaac Herzog, and others. We continue to see a deep concern for the well-being of diaspora communities, especially in these times of escalating hostility.”

Polovin said the meeting was important, reaffirming the “enduring and unbreakable bond between South African Jewry and Israel”.

“We emphasised that the ANC-led government’s position on Israel doesn’t reflect the views of the majority of South Africans. Pretoria’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which attempts to delegitimise Israel’s fundamental right to self-defence against a genocidal entity, undermines South Africa’s international standing and works against the interests of ordinary citizens.”

Polovin said the SAZF and SAJBD remained committed to maintaining this “vital relationship” on behalf of the community and the country.

Former Israeli minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz held discussions with the community in February last year as part of ongoing communications between the two countries.