Greta’s fake war

The image of the once international teen-environmental-activist darling with a silly grin on her face as she happily accepts what was said to be a pastrami challah sandwich from an Israeli soldier was so revealing.

This clearly happy young woman was purporting to be a “hostage” at the time, having apparently been “kidnapped” by Israeli soldiers. Frankly, Greta Thunberg makes a mockery of what it really means to be kidnapped and held hostage. In fact, with Hamas holding Israeli civilians’ hostage for 615 days, this is disgusting.

In her and her comrades’ publicity stunt this week, they did a fine job of taking attention away from the real issues of the war and genuine suffering. Supposedly, their intention was to draw attention to the real pain and suffering being experienced, but they did nothing of the sort. It was so clearly all about them.

They claimed to be bringing much-needed aid to desperate Gazans. Did you see how much aid they brought? Sorry, dear Greta, but your paltry offering wasn’t going to touch sides. As it happens, on Tuesday – the day Thunberg was flown out of Israel – 108 humanitarian aid trucks carrying flour and food went from Israel into Gaza. And as for her hissy fit about Israel not sending aid, this was inaccurate. Israel did temporarily suspend aid, but resumed it on 19 May. Since then, 1 459 truckloads of aid has gone into Gaza.

I cannot say that Palestinians in Gaza aren’t suffering. They are. They are at the heart of a war. However, our dear Greta and her friends, a few of whom have clear ties to terrorist organisations, will see only one side. Surprise, surprise!

Was it any wonder that they refused to watch the 7 October footage which was taken by Hamas and its fellow terrorists on bodycams during the 7 October massacre? I wonder what they were afraid of seeing?

Were they scared to see what brought on the war? Were they afraid that they would see that the rape, burning alive, and beheading of Jews actually happened despite their denial of it? Were they afraid that they would find that Israelis and Jews are people too? Were they concerned that their skewed but hard-held opinions would be seen to be wholly inaccurate? How terrible would that be? Imagine, they might find themselves understanding why Israel is so determined to make sure that Hamas can never again do what it did to Israel!

But, of course, they couldn’t do this. To do so would make them real human rights activists. It would enable them to see the humanity on both sides. Perhaps if Thunberg took her blinkers off and opened her eyes while in Israel, she might have seen that Israelis aren’t monsters.

Do you think when the soldier gave her the sandwich, she saw an ounce of humanity in him or her? I guess if she did, she forced herself to ignore it because how could she find balance in her views? It wouldn’t fit her narrative.

What is it about Thunberg and so many other people that they make a point of only seeing one side? Nothing can open both their eyes, even if it offers them a tasty sandwich and a bed to sleep on after days in a less than comfy boat. Lest they forget their mission: to ensure that the Jewish state looks like a genocidal horror no matter what.

There’s a similarity between these activists and those who attacked the Israeli runners while running the gruelling Comrades Marathon. Singling out athletes because of their ethnicity is appalling. Then harassing, threatening, and humiliating them while running is unconscionable.

Who gave these bullies the names and Comrades numbers, and why? How would they get this information from a non-political athletic organisation like the Comrades Marathon?

The information was put out in a press release from the ANC Youth League. It shouldn’t have found its way into its hands. There’s something very ugly in that.

I appreciate that the Comrades Marathon went off super smoothly and most of the more than 22 000 people taking part had an amazing race. This organisation is a well-oiled machine that makes it possible for so many people to have brilliant runs every year, no matter what.

However, somehow, I feel a little less secure in knowing that private information found its way into politically-charged hands. I understand that these “activists” have a mission, but that political mission cannot be enabled by the Comrades Marathon.

People come from all over the world to run this race. It’s a sporting event, not a political rally. It’s about everyone being “comrades”, and enjoying the melting pot that is this marathon. However, this year, it changed. Handing out that information and enabling people to harass Jews will always leave a bad taste in many of our mouths.

When you’re running such a distance, you’re vulnerable. It’s just you and the elements. That’s the joy of running.

However, attacking people at their most vulnerable must be the lowest these “activists” have sunk. These activists make such assumptions, never actually checking on the politics of those they attack. How do they know who does or doesn’t support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government? How do they know that those very people aren’t protesting outside Netanyahu’s house every week to try and stop the war?

So, in other words, holding an Israeli passport makes you a monster, finish and klaar.

It reminds me of the story of the children of anti-apartheid activists on page 8. In it, Peta Wolpe, the daughter of Harold Wolpe, speaks about feeling like she had to hide the fact that she was a white South African in England because it was shameful. Nobody asks what Israelis or Jews think, they are just tarred with the same brush. Seeing the need for a Jewish state isn’t a sin and it doesn’t make people evil, but antisemites apparently can’t see that.

Shabbat shalom and have a great Youth Day!

Peta Krost

Editor