Israel
SAIPAC to Govt – don’t let Leila into SA
DAVID HERSCH
Read how SAJR Online broke the story last week:
LEILA KHALED IN SA SPEAKING TOUR NEXT MONTH
DAVID HERSCH of Cape Town writes:
Before the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, President Jacob Zuma said after a terrorist attack on the Togolese soccer team in Angola “(this) should serve as impetus for the African continent and the world at large to work even harder to rid the world of terrorist activity and violence wherever it surfaces”.
Leila Khaled, the Palestinian terrorist double airline hijacker who was later released in a prisoner exchange for civilian hostages kidnapped by her fellow PFLP members, is again visiting South Africa on a BDS fundraising speaking tour February 6 – February 15.
Khaled first came to public attention for her role in a 1969 hijacking and the following year one of four simultaneous hijackings as part of the Black September timeline. Three of the aircraft were landed at Dawson’s Field in Jordan and later, after Khaled’s release, were blown up. While the majority of the 310 hostages were transferred to Amman and freed on September 11 that year, the PFLP segregated the flight crews and Jewish passengers, keeping the 56 Jewish hostages in custody, while releasing the non-Jews. Jordanian action enabled a deal in which the remaining PFLP hostages were released in exchange for Khaled who was being held in London and three PFLP members in a Swiss prison.
In July 2006 Khaled visited South Africa for the first time to attend the Encounters Film Festival in Johannesburg and Cape Town, where a documentary about her called, “Hijacker: The Life of Leila Khaled”, was screened. Among the politicians she met at the time was the then Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad.
The questions to President Zuma and the ANC is simply, in view of your statement above, with the most recent terrorist attacks in Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Nigeria and France, not to mention ISIS, and with South Africa’s international obligations and commitments to fight terrorism:
1. Why is this terrorist being allowed into South Africa?
2. What hold or influence do the Muslims/Islamists have over the ANC government?
3. Why is South Africa turning a blind eye to Islamic terrorism and by so doing is it buying off possible terrorist attacks in this country?
4. Is the ANC’s Achilles heel the fact that they once shared offices with the PLO and were both supported by the USSR?
5. How is this unpunished and known terrorist allowed into South Africa when a man who is the very opposite, the Dalai Lama, is not?
As South African citizens, we demand that Leila Khaled’s visa be immediately withdrawn and/or she not be allowed into this country and that you live up to your statement quoted above and your international commitments.
DAVID HERSCH
SAIPAC
The South African Israel Public Affairs Committee
Cape Town
Choni
Jan 11, 2015 at 4:54 pm
‘Wishful thinking David! Arafat was the biggest Jew killer since Hitler, and Abbas is following in his footsteps.
Both these terrorists were not only allowed into this country, but welcomed with loving embraces.
Worse still,our Jewish leadership joined in the welcoming party. I suspect some of our future young ‘leaders’ like Broomberg and co. will be there in their own Kaffiahs when welcoming Leila.’
BDS WORKS
Jan 12, 2015 at 11:02 am
‘Deputy Minister & ANC NEC member Ayanda Dlodlo to speak at upcoming South African events with Palestinian struggle icon Leila Khaled
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David Hersch
Jan 12, 2015 at 3:28 pm
‘Thank you BDS, that certainly substantiates my point of view and facts about who the ANC gets into bed with. It is a disgrace!’
Alison Weston
Jan 13, 2015 at 11:58 am
‘I cannot believe that dreadful woman is coming here again – the last time she was here Debra Patta (sp?) was falling over herself when interviewing her (I seem to remember an eminent Jewish person was due to be interviewed and was replaced by this Khaled creature). I expressed my outrage then to what has now become that rag of a newspaper The Cape Times. Needless to say there was no response.’
Mordechai
Jan 14, 2015 at 7:56 am
‘Why is any member of the S African Jewish community surprised that this person will be visiting SA. Maybe the Jewish leaders who met Abbas will also meet this person as well, and maybe Zuma will present this person with the highest medal and give her a red carpet greeting with the presidential guard in attendence. Just look at the anti Israel actions of the S African government since the formation of the new South Africa (the so called rainbow nation). What surprises me is how proudly S African the S African Jewish Community are. What surprises me is the absolute silence of S Africas Jewish leadership and community while living in S Africa, and all the anti Israel actions and rhetoric of S Africa. What surprises me is the lack of urgency of South Africa’s Jewish youth to leave the Israel hating country. What surprises me is the Jewish leadership doing everything to keep the youth in the country and thereby showing how selfish the Jewish leadership is.’
Mordechai
Jan 14, 2015 at 8:17 am
‘David, while your efforts need to be applauded I regret to tell you that you are wasting your time. The S African government does not give a damn about the feelings of Israel and the S African Jewish Community. They will do anything and everything to insult the South African Jewish community and Israel. This has been proven to be correct, be it the co sponsoring in the UN with the Arab bloc of multiple anti Israel resoluTions and voting for all anti Israel resolutions, be it hosting Duban 1 anti Israel conference, , be it supporting BDS, be it being one of only 3 countries in the world to re call its ambassador to Israel after the flotilla issue with Turkey, be it Mandela having an official visit with Louis Farrakan, be it giving Abbas a Presidential reception and the highest S African civilian medal and the list goes on and on. So David don’t be surprised rather encourage S Africas Jewish youth to make Aliyah or at least leave this Israel hating land’
Myron Robinson
Jan 18, 2015 at 10:34 am
‘Well written David. What can one expect from a Govt. that bans the Dali Lamai & embraces people like Leila Khaled? As I have repeatedly said as long as the SAJBD tries to play both ends against the middle we will have \”guest speakers\” like Khaled invited to this country. The SA Govt. is acting like Nazi Germany in its policies towards SA Jews & the SAJBD is being too compliant in this situation. Why has the ANC not censured Tony Ehrenreich & other top ANC officials who call for the
death of Jews as a reaction to any Israeli action? If their gripe is against Israel why threaten SA Jewry. The reason is simple no distinction is drawn between Jews & Israelis. We therefore need to be very aggressive in
our approach by laying the cards on the table & not talking \”diplomatic speak\”‘ & clearly stating that anti-Zionism is nothing but anti-Semitism.
I quote Martin Luther who said in 1967. \”You declare, my friend, that you do not hate the Jews, you are merely ‘anti-Zionist.’ And I say, let the truth ring forth from the high mountain tops, let it echo through the valleys of God’s green earth: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews–this is God’s own truth. Anti-Semitism, the hatred of the Jewish people, has been and remains a blot on the soul of mankind. In this we are in full agreement. So know also this: anti-Zionist is
inherently anti-Semitic, and ever will be so.
\”Why is this? You know that Zionism is nothing less than the dream and ideal of the Jewish people returning to live in their own land. The Jewish people, the Scriptures tell us, once enjoyed a flourishing Commonwealth in the Holy Land. From this they were expelled by the Roman tyrant, the same Romans who cruelly murdered Our Lord. Driven from their homeland, their nation in ashes, forced to wander the globe, the Jewish people time and again suffered the lash of whichever tyrant happened to rule over them.
\”The Negro people, my friend, know what it is to suffer the torment of tyranny under rulers not of our choosing. Our brothers in Africa have begged, pleaded, requested–DEMANDED the recognition and realization of our inborn right to live in peace under our own sovereignty in our own country.
\”How easy it should be, for anyone who holds dear this inalienable right of all mankind, to understand and support the right of the Jewish People to live in their ancient Land of Israel. All men of good will exult in the
fulfilment of God’s promise that his People should return in joy to rebuild their plundered land. This is Zionism, nothing more, nothing less.
\”And what is anti-Zionist? It is the denial to the Jewish people of a fundamental right that we justly claim for the people of Africa and freely accord all other nations of the Globe. It is discrimination against Jews, my
friend, because they are Jews. In short, it is anti-Semitism. The anti-Semite rejoices at any opportunity to vent his malice. The times have made it unpopular, in the West, to proclaim openly a hatred of the Jews. This being the case, the anti-Semite must constantly seek new forms and forums for his poison. How he must revel in the new masquerade! He does not hate the Jews, he is just ‘anti-Zionist. My friend, I do not accuse you of deliberate anti-Semitism. I know you feel, as I do, a deep love of truth and justice and a revulsion for
racism, prejudice, and discrimination. But I know you have been misled–as others have been–into thinking you can be ‘anti-Zionist’ and yet remain true
to these heartfelt principles that you and I share. Let my words echo in the depths of your soul: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews–make no mistake about it.\” From M.L. King Jr., \”Letter to an Anti-Zionist Friend,\” Saturday Review XLVII (Aug. 1967), p. 76.
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nat cheiman
Jan 18, 2015 at 12:40 pm
‘Boko haram has already warned Zuma and his not clever pals that Boko Haram will be targeting SA if they interfere with them in Africa. Mr Zuma thinks that \”he who feeds the crocodile in the hope that the crocodile will eat him last is mistaken\”. Therefore, who cares about Khaled and you know who\”. They will be the only people attending the show apart from a few morons and the odd cretin.People in the western world are gatvol of Radicals and \”you know who\”and it may be interesting to see how much money is raised for BDS in this instance.
Desai is a genius businessman and I’m sure he’s going to make a small profit on this obscene fixture. Desai must be reminded of what Idi Amin did to sections of the population in Uganda. Zuma is no different’
ANT KATZ
Jan 18, 2015 at 3:35 pm
‘I hate to burst you bubble, Myron, but don’t worry – you seem to be partly correct, and in good company among those taken in too!
So impressed was I by this that I went a-Googling (you know we journos always have to second-source things)
and typed the following into the search engine: “M.L. King Jr., \”Letter to an Anti-Zionist Friend,\” Saturday Review XLVII (Aug. 1967), p. 76.” – or you can simply CLICK HERE. Guess what? It’s a hoax! But it could be partly correct, definitely covers MLK’s viewpoint and has been quoted by some big-wigs in some high places as factual – so don’t feel too bad.
Check it out on WIKIPEDIA
The same non-existent letter was quoted by:
ARIEL SHARON before the KNESSET in 2005;
The ADL in testimony before the US CONGRESS; and
NATAN SHARANSKY in Nov ’03 in COMMENTARY MAG.
Pity. It would have been nice…, oh well… C’est la vie!
ANT KATZ’
Myron Robinson
Jan 18, 2015 at 5:38 pm
‘Ant Wikipedia’s explanation does not deny the existence of the thrust of the quote viz. that \”The letter may have been based on a statement attributed to King at a dinner event in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[2] According to Seymour Martin Lipset, an African American student made a statement sharply critical of Zionists at a dinner that Lipset recalled as having taken place in 1968, and King replied: \”Don’t talk like that. When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You’re talking anti-Semitism.\”[3]
\nThe above caveat (The letter may have been based on a statement attributed to King at a dinner event in Cambridge, Massachusetts) is in contradiction to Wikipedia’s declaration that the letter is false. If that is so should the substance of the letter viz., that anti Zionism is the same as anti-Semitism, also not be refuted by Wikipedia. Draw your own conclusions.
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Sure – I spent over an hour researching it and, as I said:
\n\”It could be partly correct, DEFINITELY COVERS
\nMLK’S VIEWPOINT and has been quoted by some
\nbig-wigs in some high places as factual…\”.
\nRegards, Ant Katz, online.editor@sajr.co.za
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Spotlighting
Jan 20, 2015 at 7:05 am
‘A petition has been started to say NO to importing terror into South Africa. Please sign and show your support: CLICK HERE
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