Al-Qalam 
The Jewish Board of Deputies had “maligned” the minister in an article in the SA Jewish Report, hoping she is not reappointed to the international relations portfolio, but there is a pushback, writes an Al Qalam Reporter.
Palestine activists, including political parties, Islamic, Christian and Jewish groups have come out forcefully in defense of Minister of International Relations and Cooperation , Lindiwe Sisulu, after she came under attack by Zev Krengel of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies who claimed in an article that she was the “single biggest threat” to the Jewish community in South Africa.
The attack followed Minister Sisulu’s announcement that South Africa had downgraded diplomatic relations with the State of Israel (and in particular that SA had downgraded its Embassy in Tel Aviv to a Liaison office). South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has referred to the downgrade as a form of “pressure on the government of Israel,” adding that “our position is very clear on this and that is the policy of our government and that is the way we are going to proceed”.
Tisetso Magama, spokesman for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS-SA) movement said in a statement this week the Israeli lobby has a history of attacking, undermining and vilifying government officials and political leaders who articulate and carry out decisions of government and ANC policy.
“Their continuous attempts at trying to draw a wedge between our representatives is reprehensible and must come to an end,” he said. He added that it was “desperate and malicious attempt” to unduly influence government deployments.
“The Israeli lobby has failed to stop the already implemented downgrade of the Embassy in Israel but is still trying to sell a myth to its Israeli supporters that the downgrade has not taken place. They are insulting their own backers. The Israeli lobby should accept the downgrade as well as the South African government policy on Palestine-Israel that represents the majority of our people.
“We call upon the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and their appendages to stop conflating ‘Jewishness’ with support for the murderous and discriminatory policies of the Israeli Apartheid state. Those two identities are different. One can be Jewish and yet still be critical of Israel. The patently false and dangerous conflation is also severely undermined by the fact that, millions of Jews in SA and around the world engage in daily protest as their collective expression of disgust at the systematic ethnic cleansing and other violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians.
“Instead of the Minister being isolated, the plan by the Israeli lobby has backfired. BDS-SA joins the overwhelming chorus of support for Minister Sisulu, the ANC and South African Government in their steadfast and unanimous support for the Palestinian struggle against Israeli Apartheid, Magama said.
In a statement, the ANCsaid: “The views expressed by Minister Sisulu on the Palestinian Question are consistent with the position of her organization, the African National Congress. Minister Sisulu’s integrity is beyond reproach. She enjoys the respect of millions of South Africans as well as leaders from many nations.
“The ANC is satisfied that Minister Sisulu has recalibrated South Africa’s foreign policy so that it reflects the people of South Africa’s profound opposition to gross human rights abuses and colonial occupation of Palestine.
The ANC called on the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) to appreciate and respect growing concerns for the ongoing human rights atrocities being visited upon the people of Palestine by the government of Israel.
“It remains our considered view that Israel must be part of a solution towards peace and human dignity for the Palestinian people and that such is not a religious or tribal matter, nor is it directed at any group or religion. In fact the stance taken by South Africa to downgrade its relations with Israel has been welcomed by people of all religions who are concerned about the impunity with which Israel has been allowed to act against civilians in the occupied Palestinian Territories.
It further added: “Peace and reconciliation will be achieved when recognition is given to the rights of the people of Palestine to their land and freedom, in line with a two-state solution and when Israel complies with international law.”
