Leaders need to protect not scapegoat us

When CSO Johannesburg – those smart fabulous people who are out there protecting Jewish lives – warns of an increase in aggravated antisemitic incidents, it is hard not to become a tad concerned. 

On Monday, CSO explained that these incidents “included verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment in public spaces, and in a low number of cases, physical assaults”. 

In South Africa, we have been fortunate in not having the kind of antisemitism experienced in other parts of the world – and I don’t believe there has been a huge change in this. 

CSO makes it blatantly clear that there is no indication of a specific or imminent threat to our Johannesburg community, but we must be aware and prepared. We daren’t rest on our laurels or claim we don’t have problems. We cannot play ostrich and bury our heads in the sand. 

The point is: could we really be surprised if there was an uptick in antisemitism? We have a predominant political party in this country that has literally set this up to happen. 

In our last election, the ANC literally used hatred and denigration of Israel to gain votes. On 25 May 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa deviated from his prepared speech at his final election-campaign rally to lead the crowd in chanting “Free, free Palestine. From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free.” 

We all know this is calling for Israel to be obliterated to ensure that the Palestinians have all the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, which is the whole of Israel today. 

And that is just one tiny example of how our government, or at least the biggest party in it, has taken sides against the Jewish State. Now, no matter what our haters will tell you, Jews and the Jewish State go hand in hand. When you denigrate the Jewish State for its very existence, you are doing the same to the Jewish people, no matter how much you may claim this isn’t true. 

The reality is that Jews know that they can hold their heads up high, no matter what, because there is an Israel. So, while nobody is obliged to love the Israel government of the day, or all its policies, they cannot call for the destruction of Israel without it being blatant antisemitism. 

What Ramaphosa and so many in his party, and other parties, call for is exactly that. In their eyes, Israel can do no right. At no time since 7 October, since the increase in antisemitism, have our leaders come out in support of the Jewish community. 

Now, whether people want to admit it or not, most of those outside the community lump Israel and the Jewish people in the same boat. Not a flotilla, just the same boat. 

And as Jews, while we have different political views and beliefs, we want the Jewish State to survive and thrive. And people who want this, and only this, are called Zionists. 

A Zionist is not someone who wants to commit or support genocide; it is someone who wants Israel to continue existing. That’s all! Despite this, “Zionist” has become a swearword and if you attest to being one of “them”, those who don’t like Jews will tar you with a “genocidal maniac” brush. Even if you support Shalom Achshav (Peace Now movement) in Israel or are socialists. 

The whole issue of antisemitism is painting Jews as all bad or responsible for everything bad in the world. Doing the same to Israel is just antisemitism in newish clothing. 

So, when we hear of an increased number of antisemitic incidents, can we really be surprised when our own leaders have taken sides against us? 

In the International Court of Justice (ICJ) story on page 1, we recall how the government in December 2023, less than three months after the 7 October massacre in Israel, went to the highest court to demand an urgent stop to Israel committing what it called “genocide”. 

Truth is, if Israel wanted to commit genocide, it could have destroyed Gaza in far less time, only it didn’t. South Africa threw millions at this case – and is still throwing millions at it close on three years later. Only now, it is not in such a hurry, for a few reasons. First, the damage of the world calling Israel responsible for a “genocide” is already done. And second, the truth is South Africa obviously cannot prove Israel is committing “genocide” otherwise it would have already done so. So now it is in the government’s interest to drag things out. 

The alternative is to lose the case sooner – and that could impact the world continuing to see Israel as a demon. So, rather push out this “urgent” case for another three years. The longer it’s drawn out, the more damage is done to Israel and the Jewish community. 

In every single anti-Israel protest around the world, Israel is blamed for a “genocide”, and Jews are being threatened because they support Israel. It works with the narrative. 

Now, as related in our story on page 3, the rising xenophobia in South Africa is also being blamed on Israel. You might ask how in the world this is possible because this xenophobia is actually from South Africans against other Africans. No Middle East people involved at all. 

However, if you want to make Jews look bad, blame them for everything so people hate them more. And this is exactly what is happening now right here. In fact, our minister of international relations and cooperation just last week claimed that diplomatic pressure on South Africa over xenophobia is being partly coordinated by state and non-state actors linked to the country’s ICJ case against Israel. What the hell is that about? 

So, when we see a rise in antisemitism and Jews being harmed in this country, I blame the ANC and its leaders as they are not protecting us, the Jewish community of South Africa. They are literally pushing people to hate and turn on us. Shame on them! 

They won’t’ succeed, but they need to look long and hard at what they are doing and stop. 

Shabbat shalom! 

Peta Krost 

Editor