ANT KATZ
Calling Israel apartheid state ‘unfair’
South African Ambassador to Israel Sisa Ngombane, addressed the following e-mail to the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Brenda Steyn last Wednesday:
“I attended the ceremony last night at Haifa University and had an honour to listen to former President De Klerk make his acceptance speech (De Klerk was in Israel receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Haifa – Ed). This speech was very timely following days after Pope Francis’ visit.
“The South African mission in Israel would like to circulate the speech as widely as possible as it highlights key aspects of conflict resolution.”
Brenda Steyn promptly responded:
“Dear Ambassador Ngombane, thank you for your e-mail. I will speak to Mr De Klerk tomorrow and will then inform him of the e-mail. Please find attached a copy of Mr De Klerk’s speech, as requested.”
Ambassador Ngombane in turn forwarded the speech to SAJR Online which has been uploaded as a PDF document to allow users the convenience of being able to download it, print it and forward it.
FW DE KLERK SPEECH IN HAIFA – SAJR PDF
FW warns Israel not to fall into apartheid trap
South Africa’s last president under white rule has suggested that Israel risks “heading toward apartheid” if it does not reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.
De Klerk was in Israel receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Haifa.
In an interview aired Tuesday on Israeli Channel 2 TV, De Klerk said calling Israel an apartheid state now was “unfair”.
“The test will be, (does) everybody living then in such a unitary state, will everybody have full political rights?” De Klerk said. “Will everybody enjoy their full human rights? If they will, it’s not an apartheid state.”
He added: “There will come in Israel a turning point where if the main obstacles at the moment which exist to a successful two-state solution are not removed, the two-state solution will become impossible.”
Israeli
Jun 1, 2014 at 2:45 pm
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Much has been written and talked about Israel being an \”apartheid\” state. Apart from legislation on colour discrimination which Israel does not practice, what is so despicable about Israel being an apartheid state? When you get right down to it the entirety of the Jewish nation, as conceptualised as early as the giving of the Torah some 3600 years ago, ( which we celebrate this coming week) was the inherent separateness of Jews from all the worlds goyim.
Since the dispersion (exile) of Jews throughout the nations almost 2000 years ago Jews began a tug of war against discrimination and restrictions. All they achieved from all their efforts have been the ubiquitous expulsions of Jews from almost every Christian state in Europe during the middle ages, to the serious and successful attempt by the German Nazi government, and many willing allies, to exterminate all of the Jews of the world who could be caught in their grasp.
This being the case why should any Jew now living or wanting to live in Israel, not seriously learn the real lessons of history, as oppose to false notions of Western liberalism. Should a Jew not want to live in a state where he can live at arms length from the Goyim?
After almost 2000 years of exile, why should we now apologise just to exist in this world, and instead of bleating about injustices of apartheid and other charges, simply say:
So what? You don’t like us Jews, then get the heck out of our country. Go try life in any one of the 22 neigbouring Arab states if they suit you better. The Israeli nation owes you neither apologies or explanations. So stop sniping at us if we are some whimpering and whining Jews of the ghetto. All that has changed. Now we have Jewish F16 fighter pilots, a most efficient army and navy, and have learnt to kill our enemies when necessary.
Finally, only in our own Land can we keep our people ‘apart’ by simply not allowing any intermarriage between races. This is only one of many Torah laws which keep our people apart from the nations of the world.
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Rav Shalom
Jun 3, 2014 at 2:43 pm
‘Isaraeli you would have made a good Nazi.
I thought that the ideologies of racial and ethnic purity have be completely discredited by now.
The Nazi’s tried it and failed.
You may choose to marry and associate with whomever you want.
But please do not impose these restrictions on others.
Bigotoray and racisim are not Jewish ideals.
Please do not disgrace us as suggesting that they are.’
Israeli
Jun 7, 2014 at 5:16 pm
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This comment is not meant to be a reply to Rav Shalom’s contemptuous remarks likening my opinions on intermarriage to to Nazism.
I do maintain, however, that the very fact that in Israel the Law does not allow marriage between a Jew and a non-Jew, makes it a state apart from any other where there are large Jewish populations.
The very fact that this \”Apartheid\” law is in operation in Israel has prevented the rampant assimilation and intermarriage that is now taking place in the Diaspora- 60% in The U.S , 70% in Canada and Europe. ( even in S,Africa the figure is approaching 40%, in spite of a so called revival of Judaism).
So, Rav Shalom, and others who think that restrictions on marriage are racist and should not be imposed, let me say that this ‘apartheid’ law is the only way to preserve the Jewish nation. Don’t the above statistics prove this?
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Rav Shalom
Jun 9, 2014 at 10:12 am
‘Dear Israeli – I appreciate your honesty and candour.
I completely disagree with your ideology.
Socially and in every other way we have progressed since Biblical times.
We know more, can do more and as a result realise our potential to lead richer and more fulfilling lives.
Society as a whole reflects this progress in cultures and nations where cognisance to these advances is recognised.
Turning back the clock to insular, retrogressive and authoritarian regimes of governance invariably makes life worse for those living under this sort of structure.
So as much as I support the advancement and thriving of the Jewish people I emphatically cannot tolerate a system that dictates one’s choice of mate, lifestyle and any other personal choice that do not immediately impinge upon another’s freedom.
Judaism teaches us tolerance and understanding and the ability to make rational choice for ourselves. It is antithetical to these values to impose personal choice. If the ethos cannot persuade then that is where it must leave off.
It is not within your right – or that of government – to force the issues you hold dear onto others.’
Israeli
Jun 11, 2014 at 1:42 pm
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First off, I’ve just heard that the Israeli Kenesset has today rejected a bill to allow civil marriages by an overwhelming majority.
Mr Editor, I might be mistaken but is it not one of your condtions not to publish comments from (Jewish) people who do not believe in the Torah (bible). Did you not once wisely say that you were brought up to never question our Torah?
I realise you like to print all viewpoints, but surely the views put forward by Rav Shalom are heretical.
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