Israeli rabbi says its OK to kill civilians, destroy Gaza https://youtube/watch?v=ijKRT09ekzY Let world see our Rainbow Nation July 31 2014 at 03:34pm By Warren Goldstein 1184089611.jpg ¬ INLSA OPPOSED: Thousands of people march through the Cape Town CBD to Parliament in solidarity with Palestinians. Let us discuss, debate and disagree in a rational and dignified manner without importing the awful hatred and bitterness from the Middle East into South Africa, says the writer. Photo: Willem Law Warren Goldstein Dear fellow South Africans, It would be a great tragedy if we allowed our South African dream of unity in diversity to be poisoned with the bitterness of the Gaza conflict, which we cannot hope to solve. The debates and protests about the war between Israel and Hamas have often descended into outright hate speech and vitriolic racism, which threaten the most precious values of our New South Africa. With the right of free speech comes the responsibility to treat our fellow South Africans, and all fellow human beings, with dignity and respect. To vilify or denigrate anyone who dares to express an opposing view is undemocratic and desecrates the sanctity of free speech. We need to find a way of unapologetically defending our own opinions, while at the same time not making sweeping, hate-filled statements about those who disagree with us. Street protests and social media comments are often filled with expressions of hatred and intolerance for fellow South Africans with opposing views. In France and Germany, protests have turned violent. Although we have thus far been spared this shame, we must be vigilant because verbal violence is in itself very destructive, and it can easily, also become physical. To allow angry divisiveness, blatant hatred and racism into our society would be to betray the legacy of Nelson Mandela, who taught us through his words and even more powerfully through his life, that we can create a South Africa of love, respect and unity in spite of our differences. As Mandela said: “Our nation comes from a history of deep division and strife; let us never through our deeds or words, take our people back down that road.” I would like to use this opportunity to call upon all fellow religious and political leaders, and indeed all South Africans, to join hands in the spirit of unity and South African fellowship, in spite of our differences, and particularly at a time which is so emotionally charged such as this, to reaffirm our loyalty and commitment to the South African dream of a society suffused with tolerance, respect and dignity. Let us show the world the beauty of our South African dream – that unity and diversity can flourish together. We need to export our South African dream, not import the nightmares of the Middle East here. In this context, it is so important that we all work to join hands to lower the levels of animosity and tension that surround this conflict. The Jewish and Muslim communities of South Africa have particularly strong and opposing views of how to interpret the conflict in the Middle East. Both of our communities need to respect the other and, together with all South Africans, should try to nurture an atmosphere of tolerance and human dignity. Only then can we engage in these discussions productively. Over the years, the Jewish and Muslim communities have made enormous contributions to the betterment of South African society, and continue to do so. Neither of these two communities need at any stage feel alienated or marginalised because of their identity or their religious or political views. Nor need any South African. This does not mean that open debate must be stifled – only that it be conducted with respect for the dignity and legitimacy of others. Every South African has the constitutional right to express their opinion uncensored and openly. My own views on the conflict are well-known, and I am proud of them. I strongly believe in the justice of the cause of the State of Israel, and that it has conducted itself justly in this conflict by exercising its right and duty to defend millions of its citizens from rocket fire and from terrorist attacks via the extensive network of tunnels, which run deep into Israel, threatening the defenceless people of its southern cities and towns. I believe that the responsibility for the awful tragedy of civilian deaths in Gaza lies with Hamas, which uses innocent Palestinians as human shields. These are my views. Many may disagree, but let us discuss, debate and disagree in a rational and dignified manner without importing the awful hatred and bitterness from the Middle East into South Africa. Let’s show the world what the Rainbow Nation is capable of as we reach out to one another in a spirit of compassion and human dignity and out of respect and love for one another. Despite our differences. Let’s banish the bullying, and the intimidation, vilification and divisiveness. Let’s work together as South Africans to address the serious challenges that we face as a society. Only by working together in a spirit of national unity and respecting the diversity of South Africa can we truly build a great country. As we celebrate 20 years of freedom and democracy, now more than ever we need to come together to address enormous problems of unemployment and inequality; to secure the basic aspirations for health and education of all South Africans. We need to work together to create a better South Africa, and that journey begins with mutual respect, warmth and dignity. “I have set my rainbow in the cloud and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Genesis 9:13). The rainbow was designated by G-d as a symbol of hope for the world after the enormous destruction of the flood, and so too our very own “rainbow nation” has emerged from the crucible of brutal apartheid as a symbol of hope for the world. Our rainbow nation reflects the strength, vitality and beauty of our diversity as human beings and the awesome Divine potential within each one of us. Let’s show the world how people of diverse colours, cultures and creeds can live together in harmony and respect. Let’s learn to see the light of G-d’s presence on the face of every one of our fellow South Africans. South Africa represents the hope of humankind encapsulated in the rainbow – the hope which has the power to uplift humanity and liberate it from the shackles of hatred and bigotry. This is the South African dream – let’s make it a reality. l Rabbi Dr Goldstein is Chief Rabbi of South Africa. Response to the Chief Rabbi on Gaza AUGUST 4, 20142 COMMENTS Karl Marx famously opined that ‘religion is the opiate of the masses’. He was influenced by his observation of religious authority, which more often than not, served as instruments of tyranny, while attempting to soothe the masses with niceties to accept their worldly state, promising a utopia in the afterworld. Such religious authority not only provides a veneer of morality to temporal power but also serves to corrupt religion itself. Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein gives credence to this with his article (iol.co.za/capetimes/let-world-see-our-rainbow-nation-1.1728669). In calling for civility in debate and invoking the notion of a rainbow nation he attempts to create a veneer of moral authority. One can never argue against the rationality of civil debate and the rainbow nation. Both are noble in themselves. But civility in debate should not mask the underlying violence in such discourse. The Chief Rabbi supports violence by being a cheerleader for Israel’s massacre of Palestinians. He compounds this violent discourse in blaming the victims for their own deaths, by invoking the tired myth of human shields. Despite claiming so, these are not simply his own views; he is uncritically echoing the Israeli propaganda narrative. One may ask: were the four boys killed while playing football on the beach human shields; were the five children killed on a playground human shields; were the seven children killed playing on a swing-set human shields; was the Christian woman killed a human shield; was the bombed home for disabled children inhabited by human shields; were those in a UN shelter human shields or were those lying sick in hospital human shields? Is the bombing of mosques, churches and hospitals justified? Such justification of Israeli violence betrays the Chief Rabbi’s agenda – which is to create a veneer of morality for such violence in the interest of the Occupation. The massacre of civilians can never be justified. Also sadly nowhere does he display an iota of compassion for those innocents killed – and there are over 1000 of them. The truth is that civilian casualties are part of Israel’s collective punishment and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Ayelet Shaked, the Israeli lawmaker spoke frankly when she called Palestinians “little snakes” and declared that “the entire Palestinian people is the enemy” – legitimating civilians as targets. The Rabbi’s chief concern is not justice or human rights but about good manners while justifying killing. His care and concern is limited to Israelis or Jews more broadly. Underlying such a parochial concern is a racist discourse which views Jewish life as more sacred than Palestinian life or non-Jewish life. Just listen to the Chief Rabbi’s speech at the memorial service for the three murdered Israeli teenagers from an illegal settlement and you will find it dripping with racism and Islamophobia. No platitudes or even sympathy for Palestinian victims. The Rabbi also disingenuously inverts the narrative thereby manufacturing victimhood, when he speaks of defenseless people of the southern towns of Israel. He perhaps missed the memo from the IDF which states that these ‘defenceless people’ have early warning systems, bombs shelters and the Iron Dome to protect them. Palestinians are caged in by Israel in an area 11km by 40 km and truly defenceless – at the mercy of the most sophisticated bombs available. Needless to say, nowhere does the Rabbi attempt to get to the root cause of the conflict – which is the Israeli occupation and the siege of Palestinian lands rendering them serfs in the land of their birth. The tunnels are built as a lifeline for a besieged population – or would the Rabbi rather that the population starves to death. Those of us who struggled against Apartheid remember that our rainbow nation was constructed out of a struggle against a colonial enterprise; the Palestinian struggle is no less. We remember all too starkly the Apartheid government’s frequent attacks on innocent civilians in the neighbouring countries in the name of fighting terrorism. One of our great freedom fighters, Ahmed Kathrada, recently condemned the Chief Rabbi on his bullying tactics. After personalizing his initial attack on the ANC’s Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte, the Rabbi then turned his ire on the Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Obed Bapela. The latter was called by the Rabbi and asked to dissociate himself from the ANC statement on Gaza and further demanded that it be removed from the ANC website. When Minister Bapela refused the Rabbi threatened that there would be “consequences” for the ANC. Such bullying by the Zionist lobby is not isolated; just ask editors at newspapers, radio and television stations. So it is rich irony when the Rabbi says “lets banish the bullying and the intimidation …’ while he and his constituency bully anyone willing to speak out against Israel’s gross human rights abuses. Just ask Judge Richard Goldstone. The Chief Rabbi did not stop there – he challenged the ANC to a public debate. The ANC did not respond to what it probably considered grandstanding. However Open Shuhada Street and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign took up the challenge of a debate and allowed the Chief Rabbi to choose between Professor Steven Friedman and Zackie Achmat to debate the contents of the ANC statement. The Rabbi baulked at the offer providing a cowardly reason. South Africans, appreciating the value of international solidarity from our own struggle, are known to stand up for human rights all over the world. Palestine is one such case. One can only agree with the Rabbi that this should not create conflict between communities in our beloved country. But how do we as a country deal with South African Jews who are enlisting in the Israeli army to fight in Gaza and are financially supporting Israel’s war effort, including through Magen David Adom (MDA), thereby bringing this conflict to our shores and being party to war crimes. Rabbi, let us move beyond the pious platitudes and give effect to the ideas of Nelson Mandela and the notion of a rainbow nation – which you so glibly invoke. Here is my challenge to you: let us hold hands and call for the establishment of a rainbow nation in Israel and Palestine, and do away with religious, ethnic and racial hatred. Let us support a unitary secular democracy for all of Israel and Palestine, with equal rights and opportunity for all its people – Jews, Palestinians and others living within its borders, including African migrants. After all it is the home of all three Abrahamic faiths. This would be faithful to this legacy – and not simply using it as a smokescreen for racism and religious bigotry. Would you baulk at this challenge as well? zanews.co.za/featured/2014/08/02/thuli-madonselas-wrecking-ball
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 08:50:16 +0000
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