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South Africans at the Jew-nited Nations
The World Jewish Congress in New York resolved last week to urge Internet companies to implement mechanisms to remove illegal and offensive content from their platforms, according to Wendy Kahn, South African National Jewish Board of Deputies director, who attended last week’s WJC Plenary Conference as a delegate.
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This resolution followed the release of a WJC report on online hatred. The congress also passed another vital resolution, urging “law-enforcement agencies in all countries to closely monitor all anti-Semitic acts and to enforce existing legislation proscribing hate speech and acts to the fullest extent”, says Kahn.
The 600-strong conference, which takes place every four years, represents the Jewish communities of some 90 countries, ranging from those numbering in the millions, like the United States, through to those, like Bahrain, which number only a few dozen.
The WJC concerns itself with the welfare of Jews all over the world, including Israel.
Conference delegates called for renewed efforts to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, with the WJC clearly declaring that the only solution was a two-state solution because “two states for two peoples is the only workable, realistic basis for a true and lasting peace”, relayed Kahn.
The South African delegation – punching way above its weight in global Jewish politics – was led by SAJBD national president and WJC executive member, Mary Kluk. She chaired the Nominations Committee that conducted the elections for the incoming international WJC executive.
SAJBD Gauteng Council co-vice-chairman, Marc Pozniak, was elected to the new WJC executive, despite representing a country outside of the powerful Latin-American and Euro-Asia blocs. At the conference he chaired a session on cyber hate.
Pozniak had previously served as chairman of the WJC’s Jewish Diplomatic Corp.
The rest of the South African delegation included Eric Marx and Chaya Singer, who were joined by Karen Miller and Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft from the African Jewish Congress.
Kluk described the plenary as “an opportunity to meet and share ideas from colleagues from around the world” while also showcasing the important projects spearheaded by the WJC.
Kahn said that the South African Jewish community have experienced first-hand the impact of the WJC, which has supported it on a number of occasions on issues of concern in their countries.
With reference to the conference, Kahn said: “Ninety countries bring 90 unique sets of issues. The WJC addresses the individual issues as well as the issues that affect all of us, such as growing anti-Semitism, the delegitimisation of Israel and global concerns around terror. It is truly a privilege being part of what was referred to as ‘the Jew-nited Nations’.”
Ronald Lauder was re-elected for his third term as WJC president. In his opening address, he echoed Kahn’s characterisation of the organisation’s international reach, saying: “We come from different places, we speak different languages but in the end we are one people.”
Commenting on the continuing unfair discrimination against Israel at the United Nations, Lauder observed that the previous year, the UN had passed one resolution against North Korea, three against Syria and 20 against Israel. Cause for cautious optimism, however, was provided by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley.
In his address, Guterres stated: “The modern form of anti-Semitism is the denial of the existence of the State of Israel” and urged that Israel be “treated like any other member state”.
Haley, who was greeted with a standing ovation, assured the plenary: “It’s still early in my time as ambassador but I think I can safely say that it’s a new day for Israel at the UN.”
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, remarked: “Today, whenever there is anti-Semitism, the WJC is there. What a fight that is! The obsession with Israel never stops.”
Unesco Director General Irina Bokova, said that she considered the work of Unesco against anti-Semitism to be a core part of its mission to build peace and prevent extremism.
In launching Unesco’s new policy guide on Holocaust Education and Genocide Prevention, she said: “When people say the Shoah is a myth, we need to equip young people with these documents and stories to respond.”
She likewise acknowledged that a new anti-Semitism today was “expressed through the denial of Israel’s right to existence”.
- The Next WJC National Directors’ Forum will be held in Cape Town.