Daniel Bloch is executive director, Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies.
The Cape SAJBD is countering a letter written by Shireen N which appeared in the Cape Argus on Wednesday 9th October (LETTER: SAJBD should be taken to task for supporting genocide).
This letter was in response to our initial communication about the Jewish woman who was physically assaulted outside Parliament on 27 September.
Firstly, her subject line is defamatory. We have never and will never support a genocide. During the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, we have continuously condemned the tragic loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives. Something which the anti-Israel movements fail to do.
We have called for the return of all the hostages from Hamas and for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Shireen N writes “presented by the writer, who claims to represent the Jewish community.” The South African Jewish Board of Deputies has been in existence for 120 years and is democratically elected by our community. We protect the civil rights of the Jewish community including their right to religious freedom.
As the Executive Director of the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies, I represent the Cape SAJBD and in turn act as the official spokesperson on behalf of the Western Cape Jewish community.
Ms Shireen N clearly enjoys the John Wick franchise of movies, wherein John Wick, highly skilled in the art of combat, can single handedly fight off a large group of assailants.
Unfortunately, the senior Jewish woman who was assaulted, is not John Wick and did not attack any protesters. When a pro-Palestinian protester claims that he or she has been attacked, it is reported immediately in print media with calls to arrest the aggressor.
Nothing was reported following this recent incident and now only after the pro-Palestinian was cited as the aggressor, is there now a response and counter-accusations. In fact, a case of harassment, and violence with grievous bodily harm was opened, by the Jewish woman, on the day of the assault.
Regarding the incident involving the elderly Christian man who was assaulted. Shireen N mentions that he punched a female protester first before being pushed away – that is a lie. T
he video footage of this assault clearly shows the “female protester” shoving the Christian man first, then slapping him in the face, before the Christian man justifiably defended himself. The “female protester” then kicked the elderly man in the stomach before many of the other protesters heckled him further.
Finally, in the video, the “female protester”, is concealed from head to toe in Hezbollah garb, thereby preventing identification. How can Shireen N with confidence proclaim the gender of the protester?
Shireen N demands that anyone supporting genocide should be “proscribed” and the Cape SAJBD fully supports that. Does that apply to the anti-Israel organisations and individuals who continuously call for the death of all Zionists and the destruction of the State of Israel?
Calling for the death of 9.5 million Israeli citizens as well as the death of possibly hundreds of millions of Zionists worldwide, would constitute a genocide.
Be careful what you ask for Shireen N, you may not like the answer.
* Daniel Bloch, Executive Director, Cape SAJBD.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Do you have something on your mind; or want to comment on the big stories of the day? We would love to hear from you. Please send your letters to arglet@inl.co.za.
All letters to be considered for publication, must contain full names, addresses and contact details (not for publication)
Related Topics: