The past few days, we have been engaged with intense discussions and debate regarding one of our leading youth movements, Habonim Dror South Africa. It must be stated, that we consider Habonim to be an essential part of our community, and we hope that it grows from strength to strength. That being said, it is important that our Habonim cheveirim understand, that being part of the Jewish community, we as, community members, have a right and an obligation to be concerned regarding the involvement of specific individuals, of whom are prominent spokesmen for the Jew’s of ‘conscious’ movement, who represent and express ideas that directly challenge Habonim’s Zionistic ethos. These individuals support the Boycott, isolation and demonization of Israel, and are supporters of organizations that are currently threatening the cultural appreciation that the Jewish community in South Africa have for the land of Israel, the state of Israel and Jewish self-determination, communicated on a national level, being Zionism. We understand and appreciate Habonims commitment to free speech and the sharing of opinions. However; just as Habonim being a proudly liberal movement, would not indulge the involvement nor the free expression of individuals with racist tendencies, the same can be expected to those, whom have a clear prejudice against the Jewish state, and like the anti-Israel lobby, have demonstrated their bias against Israel, by singling out Israel, and have converted Israel’s complex history to a fictional narrative that which they have re-written history and adjusted the reality of the conflict with the Palestinians, to be aligned with an intense propaganda campaign against the Jewish state. We would like to remind Habonim, that their commitment in developing ‘critical’ thinkers, requires individuals of whom have a critical approach to Israel, and not those, from either extreme of right or left, of whom can see no other reality other than their own opinions and bias. It is time, Habonim stop behaving like victims, and realize they are part of a community, that is concerned and their leadership have an obligation to be sensitive towards such concerns and respond appropriately. We call on Habonim Dror to condemn these mens actions and completely dissociate themselves with them on any level. If HDSA are indeed Zionisitc, we would like to see them fighting alongside us against BDS, Media Review Network, NHG. The ball is in your courts guys....
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:17:26 +0000
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