Kesher Talk

South African Jews Haven't Learned a Thing: The Washington Post reports on a growing furor in SA about a "declaration of conscience" published in a local newspaper and taking up less than half a page.

Written by two Jewish heroes of South Africa's liberation struggle against the white government's apartheid system, and signed by 220 Jews, the document asserts that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is the cause of the escalating violence in the Middle East and denounces Israel's campaign of violence. Titled "Not In My Name," the declaration acknowledges Israel's right to exist and its valid security concerns but compares Israel's treatment of Palestinians to the oppression of South Africa's black majority under apartheid.

It is pathetic that they cannot tell the difference between a society where Blacks were denied the rights of Whites and one where Arabs were given the same rights as Israelis. They've been clamoring on like this since Yasser Arafat met with Nelson Mandela years ago, and can't seem to understand the meaning of freedom - something Arabs get in Israel, but not in their "own" countries.

posted by Howard @ 12/19/2001 02:04:17 PM