Israel - Acts of terrorism can never be justified! A Letter to the SAJBD: Condolences to Israel after the inhumane acts of terror committed against the country.

9 October 2023

To:

The Chairperson

The SA Jewish Board of Deputies

The Afrikanerbond and the SAJBD, in particular the Cape SAJBD, have always maintained good relations. We fondly remember your attendance of our centenary celebrations in 2018. I will again refer to this later on in this letter.

Today we are deeply saddened by the events in Israel over the weekend. As chairperson I am writing on behalf of our national Council to extend our deepest condolences to you and the entire nation of Israel in the wake of the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

We cannot begin to imagine the pain, fear, and grief that countless individuals and families in Israel have been enduring due to the terror inflicted by Hamas. The loss of innocent lives and the destruction of homes and infrastructure are truly heart-wrenching events that no one should ever have to live through.

In times of such profound sorrow and turmoil, it is crucial for us to stand in solidarity with one another, offering support and empathy to those affected by these tragic events. The people of Israel have shown immense resilience in the face of adversity, and their unwavering strength is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure and persevere.

We also wish to place on record our deepest disappointment with the South African government and the ruling party. President Cyril Ramaphosa, newly appointed to the office at the time, was the keynote speaker at our centenary celebration in Paarl. We had high expectations of a new beginning for this country, with new relations with our government, which had all but collapsed under the previous administration. Sadly, though, this was not the case, neither domestically nor in respect of foreign relations.

It is extremely disheartening that the SA government over the last few years has chosen to all but collapse its diplomatic links with Israel, publicly favouring Palestine and supporting its onslaught on Israel. South African leaders have in the past played a reconciling role in many parts of the world. In our opinion, this could also apply in seeking solutions to the Israeli/Palestinian issue. However, this possibility has effectively been shattered over the years through the bias towards Palestine – anew, now, in the face of the recent terror by Hamas. Acts of terrorism can never be justified. The South African government and the ruling party have lost the necessary moral high ground to become involved in the matter or even be a mediator because of its stance. Please know that not all South Africans support this.

The aim of this letter is to express our sincere condolences to Israel and its people. Israel must now be allowed to deal with this tragedy and the inhumane acts of terror committed against the country.

As the international community closely watches the situation in the region, we earnestly hope for a swift and lasting resolution that brings peace, stability, and security to Israel and its neighbours. It is our fervent wish that the cycle of violence will be broken, allowing the people of Israel to live in peace and prosperity.

Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and all the people of Israel during these difficult times.

Sincerely yours,

Dries Wiese

Chairperson: Afrikanerbond