As fellow South African Jews, we were deeply dismayed by your report on Gaza, which reproduced the UN's bias against Israel
Avrom Krengel, The Guardian "Comment Is Free", 5 May 2010
In the past three weeks the Jewish people have commemorated two of the most important events in their 4,000 year history. On 11 April we commemorated Yom Hashoah.
This is the day that we remember the 6 million Jews of Europe who were murdered by the Nazi's during the second world war. We also remember the six years preceding the war, when not a single nation was prepared to provide a safe haven to the Jews wishing to flee from Nazi tyranny. A week after Holocaust Remembrance Day we celebrated one of our most joyous occasions, the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
Sixty-five years after the liberation of Auschwitz and 62 years since Israel's independence, Jews throughout the world live lives of unprecedented freedom, dignity and security. The vast majority of Jewry attribute this remarkable transition to the existence of the State of Israel. After 2,000 years, Jews finally have a refuge to where they may flee in times of trouble, and a country that will always protect and defend them, whether they are suffering persecution under communist Russia or are being held hostage in Entebbe, Uganda.
While Diaspora Jewry enjoys all the benefits that the state of Israel bestows on us, it is only the citizens of Israel that bear the burden and make the ultimate sacrifice in order to ensure the continued existence of Israel. Hence, Diaspora Jewry feel a deep sense of gratitude towards and solidarity with Israel and its citizens. We recognise however, that in Israel's continuous fight for survival, it is not exempt from any international law or rules of warfare which apply to every nation.
The South African Zionist Federation is an organisation established 112 years ago to allow South African Jewry to assist in the creation of a Jewish homeland. Today, it is the organisation which represents the South African Jewish community in matters relating to Israel. Every Jewish organisation in South Africa which supports Israel in some form or another is an affiliate of the Federation and their members span the entire spectrum of our community. The functions and events organised by the Federation in honour of Israel are by far the largest gatherings of South African Jewry.
It is in my capacity as the chairman of this organisation that I address you today, to express our deep disappointment and dissatisfaction, with your involvement, as a South African Jew, in leading the United Nations fact finding mission on the Gaza conflict.
The United Nations Human Rights Council, which established your fact finding mission, is notorious for its bias against Israel.
Submitted by Sullivan on Wed, 2010-05-05 22:02
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