Press Release – Defending the Middle Ground
Defending the Middle Ground
During the first two weeks of May, the Jewish Democratic Initiative hosted several leading activists from Israeli civil society. These are leaders who have fearlessly broken the silence about systematic injustices committed by Israel within its borders, in the Occupied Palestinian territories, and within Gaza.
The speakers included Mickey Gitzin of the New Israel Fund in Israel, Sharon Abraham Weiss, from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Hagai El-Ad of B’Tselem, Avner Gvaryahu, from Breaking the Silence and Mossi Raz, previous Meretz member of Knesset. Some of these organisations are recipients of prestigious international awards for their work.
A journalist writing in Israel Hayom and Israel National News reported on one of the JDI events held in Cape Town on 5th May. His article focused on deliberately tarnishing the reputations of both JDI and the Israeli speakers and was devoid of any of the substantive content addressed at the event.
The article quoted inaccurate and misleading remarks from the Chairperson of the South African Zionist Federation, Mr Ben Swartz. Mr Swartz had never attended a JDI event nor engaged with JDI leadership until making these comments. It is thus hard to understand the basis of his false accusation that JDI is “working to encourage boycotts against Israel.”
Raymond Schkolne, a member of the Executive Committee of JDI, states: “We will not accept falsehoods spread about us. We are a communally-rooted group of committed Jews engaged with Israel and deeply concerned with developments there. If Mr Swartz wishes to oppose the principles of JDI (rooted in the Declaration of Independence of Israel), he should engage with us on that basis, not on erroneous misunderstandings.
Mr Swartz heads an organisation that should encourage wide-ranging views on Israel, yet it appears that he seeks to alienate legitimate alternate opinions from within the SAZF. We invite Mr Swartz and all Jewish communal organisations to engage JDI rather than disparage it."
The founding vision of Israel is of a just and democratic state. JDI advocates for this vision and the human rights of all: including Israelis, Palestinians and South Africans. Suggesting we are selective misrepresents our position. We have engaged with these excellent speakers to learn and understand the issues facing Jewry and Israel. By presenting these organisations, and their vital work, JDI provides leadership to our community.
Those who support Israel should stand with us, not against us.
We invite you to join our movement and our events.
Contact us at Jdimovement@gmail.com.