Nathan Cheiman
Firstly, Tau supports BDS and was the keynote speaker at the opening of Israel Apartheid Week.
Secondly, Tau, despite having been invited to many Jewish events in the city, had not attended any.
Thirdly, Tau was not available to meet with Nir Barkat (mayor of Jerusalem) in March this year.
Surely, if one applies a small amount of logic, one will come to the conclusion that Tau has given us Jews the finger. He wants nothing to do with us.
Whether we look at it in legal terms or not, beyond a reasonable doubt or on a balance of probabilities, Tau does not wish to associate himself with Israel, nor with Jews.
How difficult is that to understand and accept?
BDS is an organisation which is anti-Semitic and even moderate Muslims know this and many do not support this racist ideology.
All South Africans know that when the mayor wants to buy a luxury vehicle, or when he takes a trip overseas for one reason or another, he makes time for those very important things. He could have made time for Barkat and other invitations.
So, when it comes to things Jewish, the mayor has no time at all.
The excuse that he tried to set up a meeting with Barkat, but he had already left the country, is so disingenuous and immature that it is indicative of his anti-Jewish stance.
But a further question must be asked, namely: Why is it important to get anti-Semites in government to like us?
The mere fact that Johannesburg has twinned itself with Ramallah surely must speak volumes for what posture our country has adopted, not only against Israel, but it also has ties with Iran, North Korea and Cuba.
Apart from that, the dysfunctioning state entities (SAA, Sapo, Eskom etc) and our president’s expenditure on his Nkandla homestead (and the handling thereof by the authorities), and now our alleged involvement with Fifa’s corruption scandal, has made us virtually global nonentities, perhaps, even polecats.
For these reasons our country under this government is the laughing stock of the world. I wouldn’t waste a worry about Tau and friends.
Northcliff, Johannesburg
