So many anomalies in the claims made in the 500’s advertisement

Allan Wolman

This clearly demonstrates the humanity of the Jews that some would go so far as to pay for this advert – and this must demonstrate notwithstanding the worldwide vitriol and racist attacks on the Jews these past few weeks, that we care and are concerned for the Palestinian peoples.

I for one applaud their stand and would add that those withholding their names from this document need not fear recriminations from their fellow-Jews, but by identifying themselves they may well become victims of anti-Semitic attacks. I therefore caution others from adding their names during these dangerous and volatile times for the Jew!

While applauding the stand of the 500 for peace, democracy and human rights in Israel and Palestine, why do they confine themselves to only one section of the Palestinian people?

Why do they ignore the “forgotten or invisible” Palestinians? In Syria and Lebanon, almost a million of their brothers live a far more precarious existence and face death and degradation on a daily basis.

Do our Jewish brothers believe that Arabs killing Arabs have a lesser value? Yet they state: “Just as we resist anti-Semitism, we refuse to dehumanise Palestinians (but not all Palestinians) in order to make their deaths lighter on our collective conscience. We sign this statement in order to affirm their humanity and our own.”

There are, however, some anomalies that I struggle with in the advert:

• They state “this is the third assault on Gaza in six years”, presupposing that Hamas has not provoked such actions; the blame is squarely placed with Israel. Is this entirely honest?
• They mention a seven-year-long blockade, insinuating that it’s only Israel enforcing such a blockade. For the uninformed this clearly states that Egypt has played no part in the blockade, notwithstanding that that country has enforced it more vigorously than has Israel.
• They claim that despite Israel’s physical withdrawal, Gaza still remains “unfree”. At the same time they mention that the people of Gaza have every right to make the choice of leaders they wish. Somewhat of a contradiction: If Gaza is not free, how can they have freedom of choice who to elect as their leaders? 
• They claim that 70 per cent of the casualties are civilians. This is a figure released by the Hamas Ministry of Health. Is this a reliable source? And how can they be sure that of the figure they claim to be civilians, none are combatants, when militants do not wear identifiable uniforms?
• They claim that a quarter of the civilians killed are children. That presupposes that no children participate in combat operations. This again presupposes that child soldiers are only found in West Africa?
• The logo appearing in this advertisement says: ”500 Jewish South Africans for peace, democracy and human rights in Israel and Palestine”. Again to the uninformed: This implies that neither Israel nor Palestine are democracies, yet these 500 categorically said that the Palestinians elected their leaders. Was this not a democratic process?

Allan Wolman

Rosebank, Johannesburg