The ANC and anti-semitism

On 18th January, David Saks reported on the Mail&Guardian blog that at a solidarity rally for Palestine organised by Cosatu in Lenasia the previous week, "Deputy Foreign Minister Fatima Hajaig informed a deliriously cheering crowd that America, as well as other Western countries, was in the grip of Jewish money power". (See here). Saks described this as the "first instance of public Jew-baiting by a member of government in over half a century" (that is, since the first decade of government by the National Party, with its residual sympathies for the racist totalitarian regime of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany and its genocidal conquest of most of Europe).

Saks quoted Ms Hajaig as stating: "They [ie, the Jews] in fact control [America]. No matter which government comes in to power, whether Republican or Democratic, whether Barack Obama or George Bush. The control of America, just like the control of most Western countries, is in the hands of Jewish money and if Jewish money controls their country then you cannot expect anything else."

Saks reported that this remark by Ms Hajaig "was greeted with a particularly enthusiastic roar of appreciation by the audience". He noted that various other speakers at the rally also "made threatening statements against the local Jewish community".

In the following week, Politicsweb reported a statement by five anti-racist activists in South Africa, who wrote that they had sent a fax to Ms Hajaig on 21st January asking her to deny by 26th January having made the anti-Semitic remark attributed to her, but had received no reply. They had, however "received confirmation of receipt of our fax". (See here).

One must conclude that the Deputy Foreign Minister's remark was accurately reported. It is identical in spirit with the Charter of the Palestinian Islamist organisation, Hamas, adopted in 1987, which states that Jews have accumulated "huge and influential wealth", which it states Jews use to implement their "dream". According to Hamas, this wealth supposedly permitted Jews to foment both the French (1789) and the Russian (1917) revolutions so as to "fulfil their interests and pick up the fruit", as well as start both world wars and "promote clandestine organisations which are spreading around the world to destroy societies and promote Zionist interests", among which Hamas lists the Freemasons, Rotary clubs and Lions clubs.

The programme of Hamas, with which the African National Congress now appears to have aligned itself at governmental level, is indeed a racist and genocidal programme. This is evidenced by Article Seven in the Charter of Hamas, which incorporates a direct incitement to the murder of Jews from a well-known Hadith (or reputed saying of the prophet, Mohammed). Article Seven of the Hamas Charter states, "The Prophet, prayer and peace be upon him, said: 'The [end of days] will not come until Muslims fight the Jews and kill them; until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: 'Oh, Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him!''"

Ms Hajaig's remark aligns the foreign policy of the South Africa, governed by the ANC under the presidency of Jacob Zuma, with an anti-Semitic totalitarian programme which replicates the forgery of Russian tsarism, the so-called "Protocols of the Elders of Zion".

This is the first time that the ANC, now nearly a century old, has identified itself with one of the prime ideological sources in the mass murder by the Nazi regime of six million Jews, and this in the words of a senior party official responsible for the foreign policy of the state. It is evidence of an epoch-making shift in the ANC from its previous stance of universalism and non-racialism, and suggest a similar metamorphosis in the public ideology of the South African Communist Party, the dominant influence and organiser in Cosatu, which hosted the rally in Lenasia at which these racist remarks were made.

It would be hard to imagine a more striking sign of the degeneration of the ANC from the best heights of its previous history.

Every one of the whites arrested at Lilliesleaf Farm in Johannesburg in June 1963, in the police raid that resulted in the Rivonia Trial, along with Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Elias Motsoaledi and Ahmed Kathrada, was Jewish. Denis Goldberg, who was arrested at that time and who was the only white person sentenced to life imprisonment in that trial, alongside Nelson Mandela, was Jewish. Goldberg served 23 years in Pretoria prison. The second longest-serving white political prisoner, David Kitson, sentenced to 20 years in Pretoria prison for his role in the second tier of of leadership of Umkhonto weSizwe following the Rivonia arrests - a sentence served in full - was also Jewish.

Joe Slovo, Chief of Staff of Umkhonto weSizwe, was Jewish, as was his assassinated wife, Ruth First. It would be pointless, as well as tasteless, to enumerate in full the names of Jews who contributed with a lifetime of struggle to the placing of ANC government in office, through the removal of the racial criterion in politics in South Africa - many of them, like Slovo, or Eli Weinberg, or Ray Alexander, Jews who had members of their birth family (brothers, sisters, aunts, cousins) murdered by the advocates of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

It would take a re-writing of history worthy of the calibre of a Joseph Stalin, or a burning of books worthy of a Joseph Goebbels, to refashion a history of the ANC worthy of the spirit of Ms Hajaig's remarks about "Jewish money", a remark that historically has served as the prelude and excuse for the spilling of Jewish blood.

One is bound to ask: where does this remark by the Deputy Foreign Minister leave her fellow Minister in government, Dr Z Pallo Jordan, the Minister for Arts and Culture, whose partner, Sue Rabkin, is Jewish? (Ms Rabkin, who worked for Umkhonto weSizwe in Mozambique, is the widow of David Rabkin, also a member of Umkhonto, who was killed in Angola in a training accident in 1985, and who was also...Jewish. David Rabkin was given a hero's funeral, and commemorated by the SACP here).

Further, where does it place Ben Turok, my old prison comrade, now the oldest member of Parliament, who "learned of serious anti-Semitism" in Russia while on a visit with his parents to the Soviet Union to see his uncles in 1974, when an old friend of the family told him that Soviet government "bore no relation to socialism but was based on nepotism"? (Nothing but the Truth, Jonathan Ball, 2003, p.232).

It suggests too that the ANC's tribute to the late Helen Suzman, also ...Jewish, who died on New Year's Day, (see here) was just a little less than sincere.

Coming from a politician with senior responsibility for South Africa's relations with the world, Ms Hajaig's anti-Semitic remark is a defining moment in the history of the country, a moment when a shift in the tectonic plates of South Africa's social, political, cultural and intellectual life indicated that the old, old demon of racism is far from dead in the chancelleries of government.

As the French would say, Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Thank you for enlightening us, Comrade.

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responses to this article

Racists Any resemblance between most ANC members and racialists is not co-incidental. For a party that claims to be championing democracy, they ought to be hanging their heads in shame. by Richard on January 28 2009, 15:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Afrikaner - Nazi link bad for Jews and ANC - argument not convincing The English SA act of 1910 excluded blacks from politics and the 1913 Land act excluded blacks from land. That is the superstructure of apartheid. It was started by the English and after 1948 prolonged and pettied by the Afrikaners. It was the . .more English government of SA which precluded Jews from coming here after WW 2, untill 1948. Then the Afrikaners welcomed the Jews and had a good relationship overall with the Jewish people, except those Jews who stood for the Marxist policies , that made Moz, Zim, Ang and many other countries into basket cases in a very short space of time. The Afrikaner link with Nazi Germany was not in support of the Nazi policy against the Jews but because Germany was against England, who the old Afrikaner enemy was. (English concentration camps etc.) . .less by Jan on January 28 2009, 15:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ANC = HAMAS = TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, CORRUPT THUGS.. DESTROY WHATEVER IS ENTRUSTED TO THEM. by mossad on January 28 2009, 15:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I would love to see this "esteemed" Deputy Foreign Minister live under Sharia Law for a few years. For one thing she wouldn't be a Deputy Foreign Minister by Dave on January 28 2009, 17:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Afrikaner anti-semitism: The Ossewabrandwag, Nuwe Orde, and beyond Jan, I'm afraid you're seriously misrepresenting the facts. The Ossewabrandwag --- which I notice you avoid mentioning by name --- carried with it a very nasty strain of anti-semitism. They certainly weren't shy on the issue, shouting slogans about . .more `Jewish money power' etc. This wasn't an entirely marginal organisation either: membership of the OB was in the hundreds of thousands by the early 40s. Pirows' `Nuwe Order' was of course more explicitly pro-Nazi (but I think much more marginal? I really don't know the numbers). As for later... Activist Jews who found themselves in the hands of the Security Branch were pointedly reminded of their religion, and the SB's lack of affection for same --- this is related in almost every account I've heard. . .less by Gus Gosling on January 28 2009, 18:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Playing into Cope hands All our esteemed minister is doing is playing into COPE hands. Many ordinary South Africans are concerned with the shift in ANC direction over the past few years and this issue has got corridors of business talking. I know a number of previously loyal ANC . .more members talking of the ANC having lost its moral compass. The ANC is heading to losing their majority in Government come April and losing the right to appoint the next President. . .less by foolish on January 28 2009, 22:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ANC and ANTI-SEMITISM They wax lyrical about anti-semitism but please have them define it. by Brian on January 29 2009, 02:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Kay's complaint about Deputy Minister Does anybody really doubt that Jewsih money controls America ? Well said Mrs Hejaj. Senator De Klerk called Indira Ghandi a coelie maid. Did Jews object ? No, they sucked his toes and sent money out of the country, sabotaging the Rand . .more in the process. Remember?? Is it not the pot calling the kettle black. . .less by Andrew on January 29 2009, 02:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ANC "Anti-semitism"-dishonouring tradition Honourable tradition? Irgunun, Stern Gang and Haganah honourable traditions ? Shooting young boys and now razing Gaza and killing babes an honourable tradition ? No, they are the tradition. by Reuben on January 29 2009, 04:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Paul Trewhela's article. As a Jew, I am ashamed at such a childish piece. by Scher on January 29 2009, 04:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Paul Trewhela Look who controls Politicsweb. by Mabula on January 29 2009, 04:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Racism Define racism. I fail to understanding how making the statement she made can be interpreted as racism. There are people who would take it as a compliment if I told them they are controlling the world.Difference between stereotyping and racism. The . .more Zionists thrive on their paranoic vistim mentality. . .less by Nathie on January 29 2009, 08:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Paul Trewhela's article From some Jews who have responded it appears that all Jews who are called Jews are not Jews. I can understand when ANC supporters write their uninformed, ignorant drivel on these comments, because they are racially and politically biased, but for a Jew . .more to take a stand against Israel is deplorable. Your country of origin is fighting a war of terrorism and every action taken by them is NOT offensive but defensive. They only retaliate when cowardly Palestinians whether Hamas or whatever attack and mostly from behind women and babes. It is not for nothing that an email is doing the rounds which names the "real" name of Hamas as Hiding Amongst Mothers And Schoolchildren. This is what their despicable religiion tells them to do. Are you fools actually aware of the fact that wounded Palestinians are routinely treated in Israeli hospitals even when they are wounded because they are trying to kill as many Jews as possbile? Jewish people are not by nature murderous and there are many, many instances that can be quoted to prove this. Get your facts straight, NOT FROM THE MEDIA mind you, before you spouting your hateful and foolish utterances. . .less by ainos on January 29 2009, 09:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Response to anti-semitic comments The cowards who hide behind women and children i.e. Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organisations, would by now have levelled Israel to the ground if they had the air power to do so, but because they prefer to kill and maim and pilfer the millions . .more and millions of dollars that have been poured into their organisations from the West (much hated West but for their money and media) with their financial resources in stead of getting proper education, they don't have the finances to buy planes and helicopters. No, they would rather find stupid young fools to blow themselves up as bombs with all kinds of stupid, unbelievable promises of how their god will reward them in "Paradise". . .less by ainos on January 29 2009, 09:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Money, money, money .... Is Paul Trewhela seriously claiming that Jews don't have any money, or that if they do, they don't use it to further their aims? This is more than ridiculous, it's dishonest. There are Jews who are poor, Jews who are getting by, and Jews who . .more are fabulously wealthy and flaunt their wealth at every opportunity. They "buy" politicians in the same way as other wealthy people do, denying it is useless, and it's ludicrous to claim that Jews don't try to exercise their power and influence where they can. Pogroms are not imminent because someone refers to Jewish money and influence. Mr Trewhelha should take something for the hysteria and grow up. He should also take some French lessons. The phrase is "plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose". If he wants to patronise us in French he should at least make an effort to do it properly. . .less by George on January 29 2009, 09:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Fatima Hajaig And obviously Fatima Hajaig is also dancing and celebrating with the rest of the Palestinian community when a Jew is killed. How lovely! What a religion of peace! You never, ever, never, see this kind of thing done by Jews when Palestinians are . .more killed. After this recent cease-fire, who were the first to attack again? Hamas, killing an Israeli solder! Why is Israel bombing the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt? Because weapons are being smuggled in with the food. This is exactly the same as hiding behind women and children, in this case they are using food supplies to smuggle weapns, so very typical! So now every Jew-hater wants Israel to sit on its hands and do nothing? Would you, Jew-hater, just let others fire their rockets on you and sit still? I think not. . .less by ainos on January 29 2009, 09:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

boere and banks if i said the sa banking industry is controlled by the "boere volk", would i also be hauled before the hrc? i certainly do not see any racism in what she said....she was just stating the obvious. jews no different from blacks, always want to hold the . .more victim mantle . .less by gimme-a-break on January 29 2009, 09:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ainos Where do you get your facts from, if not from the media? by Caleb on January 29 2009, 10:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Jan, jou doring! So 'n bek moet jam kry! by Pierre on January 29 2009, 10:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Fatima is telling us Jews that WE ARE INDEED THE CHOSEN PEOPLE!! As a Jew I wont get too worried about this rabid anti semite's comments. In a very peverse way she has paid us a compliment!! The comments infer that we Jews are indeed the chosen people!!!!!! We are a drop in the bucket (numbers wise) in . .more relation to the world's population yet according to this esteemed Fatima we manage to CONTROL THE WORLD and money ....and we are EVERYWHERE "spreading our evil"....WOW FATIMA....HOW CAPABLE we Jews must be!!! Only Gods chosen can do all that!! . .less by David Allan on January 29 2009, 11:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

george first they came for the jews and we said nothing, then they came for the foreigners we said nothing, then they came for the indians, we said nothing, when they finally came for us we had no one to say anything to by frosty on January 29 2009, 11:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Fatima It's true anyway ,everybody knows Jews are manipulative & are a scourge. by Ndaba on January 29 2009, 12:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ainos You are quick to accuse others of bias, racism, ignorance and hatred, but seem to be unaware of the bias, racism, ignorance and hatred that drips from every word in your posts. Who are you to call other people fools? Who are you to write off a religion . .more and all its followers as being "despicable"? Perhaps you haven't seen the pictures of Israelis watching the bombs fall on Gaza through binoculars, laughing all the while, but others have seen them. We've seen the dear little Israeli girls kissing the missiles that were intended to kill Palestinians. We've seen the video of the charming young Israeli squatter, sorry settler, in the West Bank, carrying his bottle of booze, who tells the British film crew "You and your f...ing Jesus can kiss my A**, screw you, screw your mothers, we killed Jesus and we're proud of it, this land belongs to me, God gave it to me, f... you, I'll kill the Palestinians and I'll kill you", what a lovely advertisement he is for a peaceful, loving religion and its followers. You might "never, ever, never" see these things but millions have. It's hardly edifying and gives the lie to your protestations. Plenty of hatred emanates from the Jewish community, your posts are good examples. . .less by George on January 29 2009, 12:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Mr Trewhela's French I see that Mr Trewhela has removed his "Tout ca change, tout c'est la meme chose" and has replaced it with the correct phrase. Thank you Mr Trewhela. How about a post in the comments acknowledging your mistake? by George on January 29 2009, 12:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@George Hi George Slow down a bit on singling out the settlers and their behaviour - you certainly cannot claim they represent Israeli society, or Jews in general. The settlers who behave like that are constantly having confrontations with Israeli . .more police and authorities, and draw opprobrium from the majority of Jews in Israel and around the world. So please keep your generalizations to yourself, and if possible go familiarize yourself with Israeli public opinion as well as broad Jewish public opinion and you'll revisit your view of how much hatred emanates from the Jewish community. There are countless JEWISH human rights organizations in Israel and around the world who do amazing work for the Palestinians, as well as healing divisions between Jews and Muslims. I'm yet to find a Muslim organization who does the same. . .less by Saffir on January 29 2009, 13:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Ndaba "....It's true anyway ,everybody knows Jews are manipulative & are a scourge..." Well Ndaba, thanks for your honesty. Pity for you Apartheid has ended in this country - with views like that you could have held a very senior position in . .more government. Although, you may well still achieve a decent position in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. What an asset you'll be for this country! . .less by Saffir on January 29 2009, 13:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@frosty Who said those words lamenting inaction among those who saw persecution in front of their eyes. by Mavi on January 29 2009, 15:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Saffir Perhaps you could slow down and re-read what I wrote. Nowhere did I claim that the settlers represent Jews in general. I wrote about three specific incidents. If anyone was generalizing it was 'ainos', who dismissed an entire religion as "despicable" . .more and wrote "And obviously Fatima Hajaig is also dancing and celebrating with the rest of the Palestinian community when a Jew is killed....You never, ever, never, see this kind of thing done by Jews when Palestinians are killed." Now that is generalizing in a big way. My post simply pointed out to 'ainos' that there are indeed examples of hatred coming from the Jewish community. I don't need to familiarise myself with Jewish opinion, I know full well that decent Jews are as appalled by such excesses as anyone else, but I have to say I don't know it from newspapers, TV, radio, or the writers on blogs like this one. Perhaps the more moderate Jews could consider making their views public more often, and brave the opprobrium and accusations of "self-hating Jews" that will come their way from the self-righteous bullies we usually hear from. That would at least put a spoke in the wheel of the real anti-semites. . .less by George on January 29 2009, 16:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@David Allen Although not Jewish, I have to agree with you! I would also take it as a compliment. by AP on January 29 2009, 16:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@George Hi George Thank you for your balanced response - appreciated. Admittedly my back gets up when people bring up the settlers on this forum, or when the Arabs bring up the Anti-Zionist Neturei Karta black-hats from New York, and quote them. The . .more truth is, (if i may be so bold as to state), that neither groupp can in any way be quoted as representing the Jewish people. My long experience with Jews, suggests that the great majority are completely oriented towards social justice, and usually left of center, or "centrist". Similarly, usually anti-Semites are the ones who pick and choose through the Jewish issues and through much more light on the "Self Hating" idea. I think i've heard that term mentioned by Jews no more than ten times in total, and usually referring to the likes of Norman Finkelstein etc. It really isn't common. The Jewish world is alive with debate and discussion, and even though the vast majority will support Israel, i have never ever seen any Jewish people rejoicing at the death of Palestinians. Quite the opposite. There is a large initiative right now in the UK, where young Jews are raising money for the civilian victims in Gaza, as well as Sderot in Southern Israel. These are the seeds of building bridges, and i hope to see similar from the Arabs . .less by Saffir on January 29 2009, 17:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Not see what the fuss is about?? The term Jew is no different from Arab, Indian, Chinese , Black etc. I'm neither Jew nor Arab, but why hide from the truth, the only reason that USA sides with Israel is because the Jewish lobby in the USA is very influencial. Whilst there are Jews around . .more the world who despise the Zionist Govt for their actions in Gaza, the vast majority silently or vocally approve of it. You cannot punish a nation because the elected hamas by closing borders etc and then cry foul when they find ways to overcome their deplorable lives. Sad to say, Israels actions goes towards creating more suicide bombers as people in Gaza are desperate and find no other way out.Cycle of violence continues...guess Jesus not coming to that part of the world any time soon. . .less by Klapp on January 29 2009, 17:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Klapp Thank God, Jesus is not coming soon! by Ca Bez on January 29 2009, 19:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

By repeating a negative stereotype the deputy minister is ensuring continued hatred of the targeted group. This is racism. So much for the ANC's stated aim of getting rid of racism - liar, liar, your pants are on fire... by Shocked on January 29 2009, 21:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

fatima hajaigh to paraphrase the German poet, Heinrich Heine: Those who start by burning cartoons end by burning people.. by rayzel on February 02 2009, 12:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

hypocrisy the bulk of jews in ZA did not fight apartheid but collaborate with the system. those who fought it, like slovo and kasrils, were redlined by the jewish community and their boards. and, israel was the most important backup of the apartheid system, . .more especially military. now, they discover the NP was pro-nazi. in all these decades of collaboration, this was no problem for them. . .less by Ramon on February 13 2009, 12:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

no safir with views like this, ndaba would not have ended in an apartheid government. the people in the apartheid governments had the BEST relations with the jewish boards in the country and the state of israel. and, the fact that you tell a (probably black) south . .more african "what a pity for you apartheid has ended..." is no coincidence. oh and if israel (the state and its society) is so decisively against it's settlers, why don't they simply remove these illegal settlements with their military power instead of destroying palestinian territories. . .less by ramon on February 13 2009, 13:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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