We can’t ignore South Africa, says visiting Knesset member

STEVEN GRUZD

Shai, from the opposition centre-left Zionist Camp (incorporating the Labour Party), is one of five MKs currently visiting South Africa, on a trip jointly organised by the Jewish Agency, the Knesset, and the South African Zionist Federation.

He was speaking on Tuesday at a luncheon for the South African Friends of Israel (SAFI) at the Women’s Jail on Constitution Hill – a place of fear, transformed into a museum, dialogue space and a symbol of hope.

In the shadow of Johannesburg’s iconic Hillbrow Tower, approximately 130 mostly Christian supporters of Israel, heard speakers optimistically emphasise how much South Africa and the African continent could gain if only they embraced warmer ties with the Jewish State.

Shai told the SA Jewish Report: “Even if [this trip] doesn’t work perfectly and we don’t get all our meetings, this is an important visit. We can’t ignore South Africa, especially as the Israeli government is increasing its contact with Africa.”

He said: “Israel is ready to give and share. We can have a new chapter now… we have so much to offer South Africa – hi-tech, agriculture, water technology, education, creativity.”

Politicians talk for a living, so when the other four MKs – Amir Ohana (Likud), Nurit Koren (Likud), Michal Biran (Zionist Camp), and Zouheir Bahloul (Zionist Camp) – were asked to introduce themselves, each had to make a little speech.

Ohana invited the Christians to “walk in the footsteps of Jesus” in Jerusalem, while Biran, stressed her secularism and that for her, Judaism meant “tikkun olam – repairing the world”. She mentioned her work against racism and discrimination in Israeli society, and her desire to see two states for two people, and a Jewish State that retained its democratic values.

Koren spoke as a child of Yemenite immigrants to Israel, and her involvement in selecting judges, proudly noting Israel’s recent appointment of two female Ethiopian Jewish judges.

Most memorable was Bahloul, who described himself as “Muslim, Arab, Palestinian and a proud citizen of Israel”. He warned that if the occupation persists, Israel was headed for what he had seen in the Apartheid Museum that morning.

“The Jewish people will lose the treasure of their values,” he said, and pleaded for freedom, independence and hope for both his grandchildren and those of Jewish Israelis.

Israel’s new ambassador to South Africa, Lior Keinan, told the SA Jewish Report: “It is important to connect the MKs with Israel’s many friends in South Africa. It is a beautiful opportunity for me, just a couple of weeks into my posting. We want to foster co-operation, not just politically but on a people-to-people level.”

Keinan said his embassy always would be open to approaches for assistance.

SAFI, initiated in 2010 by the SAZF to mobilise, connect and channel non-Jewish supporters of Israel, has grown exponentially. SAZF chairman and SAFI co-chairman, Ben Swartz, acknowledged the love for Israel across the spectrum of Christian churches and communities.

He said they wanted to show the MKs “the depth, width and degree of support for Israel by ordinary South Africans, and not just the Jewish community… Israel shouldn’t lose hope in South Africa.”

Reflecting on ANC hostility to Israel, the most recent manifestation being the call at the July policy conference for downgrading or even closing the South African embassy in Tel Aviv, Swartz said: “Tell the ANC… that the majority of South Africans do not want a downgrade in diplomatic relations.”

SAFI’s other co-chairman, Mark Hyman, noted that only Israel protects Christians in the volatile Middle East, and said: “We believe that within our country we can take back the narrative of what it means to be proud of Israel and not rely solely on mainstream media and hate groups for biased half-truths and misinformation.”

To enthusiastic applause, Swartz and Hyman urged SAFI support for a planned protest march to the Department of International Relations and Co-operation in Pretoria before the ANC’s December conference.

Reverend Andrew Mutandoro of Oasis Christian Ministries said he was blessed to “hear the heartbeat” of the MKs and the new ambassador. “Israel has so much knowhow it wants to share with whoever is willing to receive it.

“Technology transfer can really help our communities. In 70 years, this tiny country has achieved so much. Many politicians in this country convey misinformation about Israel. SAFI is needed to counter this narrative. The truth will always prevail.”

Ambassador Keinan was reluctant to reveal the MKs’ itinerary or comment on meetings already held, not wanting to jeopardise their trip, given the sensitivities and complexities of Israel-South Africa political relations. “We’d rather talk about them after they happen,” he said.