Threats of arrest and violence couldn’t deter Peres

Nathan Cheiman

However, MRN (Media Review Network) put out a statement prior to Peres’ visit, saying that “the MRN is pleased to announce that urgent steps are underway to secure the arrest of a senior Israeli war criminal, Shimon Peres”.

Not content with this absurd statement, the group announced that lawyers from the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) had been briefed to lodge documents with the National Prosecuting Authority, requesting its intervention.

Many South African luminaries attended the event, such as Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and Mosiuoa Lekota, to name but two.

Peres is not only an elder statesman but also a mensch. He was never going to be put off by threats for his arrest, let alone by the MRN and MLA (Muslim Lawyers Association). In a similar manner to the “arrest warrant” relating to the Mavi Marmara incident, their threats were hollow and were never manifested.

Peres’ political life spans many decades and he is credited with much wisdom. He said: “The most important thing in life is to dare. The most complicated thing in life is to be afraid. The smartest thing in life is to be a moral person.”

Perhaps the extremists have never read about the life and sayings of Shimon Peres. Hence their partisan and unmerited request for his arrest.

He also wanted people to understand Israel’s history, and once said: “Look, we have existed for 4 000 years – 2000 years in Diaspora, in exile.

Nobody in the Middle East speaks their original language but Israel. When we started 64 years ago we were 65 0000 people [in the newly-proclaimed country]. So, you know we are swimming a little bit against the stream, but we continue to swim.”

In the light of Peres’ words on the Jewish people, I continue to be bewildered by BDS, MRN, MLA and others that attempt to attack and obstruct Israel and Jews from their routine by protest, violence, threats and war. 

What do they not understand about Israel and the Jews’ ability, throughout history, to sustain themselves, and survive all the tribulations confronting them?

Northcliff, Johannesburg