By DAVID COHEN, SAZF Cape Council Chairman
When you speak to Israelis about what is happening in Israel, they do not speak about post-trauma but the ongoing trauma that they have been carrying since October 7th, 2023. It has been well more than a year and while the intensity of the events ebbs and flows depending on whether there is an imminent missile threat from Iran, or just your standard rocket from Gaza, Israel has been trapped in a stasis to which it cannot move beyond until all of the hostages are returned and the tens of thousands of its citizens can return to their homes.
How do we help from here? Beyond the limitless opportunities to donate funds, more importantly, we must be proud and we must be educated. Our enemy is ignorance. In South Africa, we are constantly tested by our fellow citizens and by our government. We have a responsibility to advocate for Israel, and the truth is the easiest way to do so.
Here are some quick facts that everyone should know:
● 22% of Israelis are not Jewish. They are 18% Muslim, 2% Christian, and 2% Druze. All of these minorities have equal rights with representation in the Knesset and are full members of Israeli society. That is useful when people speak about Apartheid.
● There are approximately 160 000 Ethiopian Jews, also known as Beta Israel, living in Israel. That’s for all of those “Zionists are racists” accusations.
● Approximately 850 000 Jews were living in Arab countries in 1948. Now there are only a few thousand. Should they “go back to Poland” too?
If our government recognised these three simple facts, it might be easier for them to understand why Israel must defend itself and why the terms ‘apartheid’ and ‘settler-colonialism’ have no space in this conversation. With the help of this brave community, we will continue to advocate for Israel and our support for its people.
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