Hypocrisy and selective morality characterise South Africa’s foreign policy

By Allan Wolman

Politicsweb is a subscriber-supported online publication publishing news, commentary, analysis and key documentation related to the politics of South Africa. It is pretty widely read for its political and current event opinions submitted by contributors. It is also proving a malicious platform for attacking Israel!

A toxic anti-Israel advocacy organization and media platform called the Media Revue Network (MRN), closely aligned to BDS, receives a disproportionate amount of coverage on Politicsweb. Hardly a week goes by that virulently anti-Israel articles by Iqbal Jassat of the MRN do not appear in Polticsweb, naturally for the sole purpose of demonising Israel. While I’ve submitted numerous over the years pieces relating to Israel without ever being published, Politicsweb has no problem publishing articles by the anti-Jewish MRN, whose organization’s website states amongst its services:

– To monitor, analyse and evaluate the double standards in the mass media

– To express alternate perspectives and policy positions on local and international issues

Their website, makes mention of Kashmir, Myanmar (Rohingyas) and of course the Middle East but strangely little mention of the desperate plight of millions of the Uyghur Muslims living in Southern Xinjiang under the most repressive and religious persecution witnessed in modern times.

The Muslim Uyghur population in China has faced severe and systemic persecution, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Reports from human rights organizations and international observers highlight the existence of mass detention camps, often referred to as “re-education camps,” where Uyghurs are allegedly subjected to indoctrination, forced renunciation of their Islamic faith, psychological and physical abuse, and worse.

In addition, the Chinese government has implemented policies aimed at erasing Uyghur culture and identity, which include:

– demolition of mosques and Islamic cultural sites

– bans on traditional religious practices

– restrictions on the use of the Uyghur language

Human rights lawyer and former UN employee turned whistle-blower, Emma Reilly, exposed the UN’s troubling practice of providing China with the names of Uyghur dissidents and human rights activists. Reilly reported these serious concerns to (South African) Navi Pillay, the then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who to her shame, failed to act on the complaints or investigate the potentially harmful practice. By ignoring these warnings, Pillay not only allowed the practice to continue but also contributed to the UN initiated witch hunt against Reilly. The UN has, not for the first time, undermined its credibility, revealing an unwillingness to challenge the obvious, and glaringly exposes its double standards and ‘moral authority’.

South Africa, which proudly boasts a foreign policy rooted in its post-apartheid identity of human rights, social justice, and multiculturalism, reveals a glaring hypocrisy in its selective approach to global injustices. While the ANC government vocally champions taking Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), it remains shamefully silent on China’s brutal genocide against the Uyghurs. This double standard is a stark betrayal of the principles South Africa claims to uphold, while choosing non-interference over condemning genocide and systemic oppression of China’s Muslim peoples. Such silence exposes South Africa’s foreign policy as more about political convenience and contrivance than genuine commitment to global justice and human rights.

SOUNDS OF SILENCE

In her former ministerial position as South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, publicly addressed numerous human rights issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (against Israel) and the Russia-Ukraine war (supportive of Russia). Yet, her conspicuous silence on the Uyghur crisis mirrors South Africa’s reluctance to confront China’s abuses, aligning instead with its non-interference policy. This selective activism underscores the ANC’s misguided world view.

Equally reprehensible is the absence of condemnation from voices like Iqbal Jassat and the MRN, whose mission is explicitly:

 “…to monitor, analyse, and evaluate double standards”.

Their silence in the face of China’s well-documented atrocities against Uyghurs is deafening and indefensible. But this organization’s world view is firmly in sync with the ANC government as it ignores the atrocities against the Uyghurs of Xinjiang.

If they can’t blame Jews, why blame!

This behaviour begs the question:

Is it truly about Palestine and the Palestinian people? 
Both the ANC government and the MRN have glaringly turned a blind eye to:

– the plight of the Uyghurs

– the relentless and systematic oppression of Afghan women condemning half of Afghanistan’s population to lives of extreme deprivation, humiliation, and cruelty and

– the unspeakable horrors recently exposed under Bashar al-Assad’s brutal reign in Syria.

This is selective morality by South Africa. Is it any wonder that the new US administration has seen right through South Africa’s pretence as some ‘moral authority’, its political shenanigans and hypocrisy, and is taking a stand with President Trump – only weeks in office – announcing that it will cut all funding to South Africa while it launches an investigation into the country’s policies, describing it as “massive human rights violations.”

For South Africa that maliciously maligned the Jewish state of false charges of genocide, the chickens are coming home to roost.

About the writer:

Allan Wolman in 1967 joined 1200 young South Africans to volunteer to work on agricultural settlements in Israel during the Six Day War. After spending a year in Israel, he returned to South Africa where he met and married Jocelyn Lipschitz and would run  one of the oldest travel agencies in Johannesburg – Rosebank Travel. He would also literally ‘run’ three times in the “Comrades”, one of the most grueling marathons in the world as well as participate in the “Argus” (Cape Town’s famed international annual cycling race) an impressive eight times. Allan and Jocelyn immigrated to Israel in 2019.

While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

Spiderlike, South Africa weaves alliances with rogue states and terror sponsors – where will it lead?

By Rolene Marks

There is something quite fascinating about spider webs. The intricate way that all the strands weave together and at the centre lurks a patient spider, luring its prey in before devouring it.

Watching South Africa’s machinations against Israel since 7 October, employing aggressive lawfare tactics against the Jewish state, one cannot help thinking about the tangled web of alliances the southern African country has built with rogue states and terror sponsors. The question that we should be asking is, does this campaign end with Israel – or is there a bigger strategy in place?

In the wake of the 7 October atrocities, the South African government made it evident whose side they were taking. Failing to condemn Hamas for the wholesale slaughter, mass rape, torture and mutilation of over 1200 and the kidnapping of over 250, there was the inference that Israel had brought it on themselves and solidarity expressed for the Palestinians.

Shortly after that, then Minister of International Relations, Naledi Pandor, departed for meetings in Tehran and spoke to then Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh on the phone. No readout of the conversation was forthcoming. In December of 2023, South Africa filed their case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide.

Questions arose about who was funding this. Likely candidates seemed to be Iran and Qatar. The two countries are believed to have funded the ANC in return for the case being funded by South African taxpayers from the coffers of the Ministry of Justice and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

In November, President Trump won a second term. The newly formed Trump administration has made their America first, pro-Israel stance firmly clear and if the President’s first term is any indication, Trump will not tolerate assaults on the USA – or its allies, however they manifest.

South Africa’s bizarre choice of Ebrahim Rasool as ambassador to the USA may speak of a disturbing new strategy. To disrupt from within. Rasool, who has served previously in this role, should be a cause of major concern for the Trump administration. Rasool has publicly aligned himself with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both designated as terrorist organisations by many Western nations. He is also an enthusiastic proponent of taking Israel to both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC).

South Africa’s Hamas-simping ANC created controversy last year when they proposed to rename an iconic Johannesburg road, Sandton Drive, after Palestinian terrorist, Leila Khaled. The US consulate is situated on this landmark road. Leila Khaled gained notoriety for the 1969 hijacking of TWA flight 840 and the 1970 attempt to hijack El Al flight 219. She was arrested but later released during a hostage exchange. In 2019, Rasool spoke at a fundraising dinner also attended by senior Hamas official Basem Naim and in 2024, Rasool met with Ibrahim El-Zayat, a figure associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, and facilitated meetings for him with business leaders and politicians to seek funding for the “Palestinian cause.”

It is not just in South Africa where the strange bedfellows of anti-Western dissent gather.

In sunny California, playground of the rich and woke, Thandile Sunduza serves as the South African Consul to California as well as Vice-President of the Los Angeles Consular Corps, the second largest consular corps in the world, thus an internationally prominent and politicized platform. The ambitious Thandile was recently photographed with members of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). It is reasonable to assume that JVP is neither Jewish – or a voice for peace! JVP is a shill for the destruction of the Jewish state.

In a recent report on JVP published by NGO, Stand With Us, it was found that JVP:

* Partners with Samidoun, an organization sanctioned by the U.S. and Canada for funding terrorism. JVP has also campaigned in support of PFLP terrorists, hosted PFLP members at events, and partnered with groups that openly support PFLP and other terrorist organizations.

*  Promotes antisemitic rhetoric and campaigns, including conspiracy theories like “Deadly Exchange”, which falsely blames Israel and Jewish groups for police brutality in the U.S.

  * Supports extremism, amplifying voices and organizations that incite violence and reject Israel’s right to exist.

*    Has questionable funding sources and foreign connections with Lebanon and Iran, meriting further investigation.

* Weaponizes Jewish identity, attempting to shield extremists from criticism for hateful rhetoric and actions. Too often, this prevents the vast majority of the Jewish community from being taken seriously when speaking out about antisemitism.

JVP recently honoured Sunduza for South Africa’s legal campaign against Israel at the ICJ.

Sunduza has invited known terrorism supporters into her Consulate, allying herself, and effectively endorsing some of the most antisemitic voices in USA. Is the South African Consulate in Los Angeles a de-facto agency for Hamas? Should the US State Department allow Sunduza and Rasool to remain on US territory?

At the end of January, South Africa ramped up its lawfare against Israel, joining The Hague Group.

The Hague Group, comprised of nine countries alleging the Jewish state is illegally occupying Palestinian territory, committing war crimes in Gaza and not abiding by the rulings made by the international courts.

While keeping its plans vague, the collective promised to take “measures to end Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and remove obstacles to the realisation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine.”

The group is formed of representatives from a laundry list of failed states that includes South Africa, Belize, Cuba, Namibia, Bolivia, Honduras, Senegal, Colombia and Malaysia.

On 2 February, President Trump announced that he would cut off all future funding for South Africa until it investigated how “certain classes of people” were being treated “very badly.” “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, without providing any evidence. “The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” The President also alluded to human rights violations committed in South Africa, a country accusing the US of “aiding and abetting Israeli genocide against the Palestinians.”

Looking from the outside, many may think the spider is setting the web to devour Israel but that is just the start. Is the spider using its proxies in the form of non-state actors and its allies to trap the bigger prey?

Countries like Iran, Russia and China seek to establish an alternative world order that disrupts from within. South Africa considers itself the moral conscience of the world for its role in taking Israel to the ICJ and has previously warned this endeavor will not stop with the Jewish state but will include Israel’s allies as well. South Africa is seeking to form a new anti-West world order. The question is:

 Will the US and other countries recognize that the spider has begun to weave its web in their territories?

Spiders are patient but they are also fallible. It is time to dismantle the webs.

While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

Renaming a street after a terrorist is taking South Africa down the wrong road.

By Nkanyezi Ndlovu

South Africa has long aimed to play a mediatory role in the Middle East peace process, a diplomatic stance underscored by its historical position of hosting both the Israeli and Palestinian embassies. Recently, however, we have witnessed a concerning increase in anti-Israel initiatives within the country, which appears to compromise South Africa’s once-neutral stance. A notable example is the City of Johannesburg’s recent plan to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive, ostensibly to honor her purported role in the so-called Palestinian resistance.

While altering street names is a common practice, it is crucial to pause and critically assess who Leila Khaled is. Khaled rose to prominence not as a figure of legitimate resistance, but rather for her notorious role in the 1969 hijacking of TWA Flight 840, as well as her involvement in one of the four simultaneous hijackings in Dawson’s Field the following year, both part of the violent and deadly Black September campaign in Jordan. According to Pluto Press, Khaled is viewed by some as a symbol of Palestinian militancy; however, this perspective conveniently glosses over her involvement in severe acts of terrorism.

In pro-Palestinian circles, Khaled may be glorified as a fierce icon of resistance, but the stark reality is that she has become infamous for orchestrating hijackings of civilian aircraft under the banner of pursuing freedom. Her involvement in the hijackings have tragically resulted in the death of numerous civilians, a cowardly act that undeniably qualifies as terrorism. Terrorism, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is “the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims.” Given this definition, it is irrefutable that Leila Khaled is a terrorist. Thus, for South Africa to honor such an individual signifies a deeply troubling misunderstanding of diplomatic protocols and humanitarian principles.

Historically, fighting for freedom has indeed been viewed as a noble cause, with many nations, including Palestine, having valiantly struggled for independence. However, when that fight involves the cruel victimization of innocent civilians, it ceases to be a cause for celebration and becomes an abhorrent act of terrorism. Such atrocities, steeped in violence and hatred, should never be honored or celebrated in the modern world.

Cyril Ramaphosa has often described his government as advocates of diplomatic and peaceful negotiations and mediation. However, by moving forward with plans to honour Khaled, Johannesburg risks undermining South Africa’s capacity to play a constructive role in promoting genuine peace and understanding. This reckless decision would portray South Africa as a supporter of Hamas and other extremist Palestinian factions engaged in terrorism. Furthermore, the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel, spearheaded by the South African government, suggests a troubling shift away from South Africa’s traditional foreign policy towards an overtly pro-Palestinian agenda, lacking a comprehensive and balanced grasp of the broader conflict. Honoring Khaled is thus a glaring step backward in the delicate peace mediation process.

In the shadow of such misguided choices, South Africa currently faces pressing domestic challenges, including water problems, femicide, crime and soaring unemployment. In this critical context, prioritizing the renaming of streets risks sending a dangerously misguided message to the public, implying that such symbolic gestures concerning terrorism take precedence over more pressing national concerns. South Africa must navigate its future carefully, ensuring that it upholds values of peace, mutual respect, and humane treatment for all, rather than glorifying the violent actions of a notorious terrorist.

About the writer:

Nkanyezi Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean Human rights activist engaged in the issues of human rights, migration, community development and climate change.

While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

While taps run dry, public money flows freely, wasted on politically motivated legal battles against Israel.

By Kenneth Mokgatlhe wa Kgwadi

The South African Parliament recently approved a Special Appropriation Bill that allocates R95 million to fund the country’s legal battle against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This case, which seeks to hold Israel accountable for its actions towards Palestinians, is not only an ideological pursuit for some members of South Africa’s ruling party; but also an expensive and controversial distraction from the country’s pressing domestic crises. The ANC’s pursuit of this legal warfare under the banner of solidarity with Palestine is both an unwise diplomatic move and a misuse of resources that could be better directed towards solving South Africa’s own socio-economic problems.

This move comes at a time when South Africa is grappling with severe domestic challenges. The government’s mismanagement of resources, coupled with political opportunism, is threatening the country’s long-term stability. South Africa, once heralded as the “Rainbow Nation” after the end of apartheid, now faces staggering inequality, widespread poverty, and the erosion of its democratic institutions. Yet, the ANC leadership seems more focused on using its foreign policy to advance ideological agendas rather than addressing the urgent needs of the South African people.

The Special Appropriation Bill was passed largely due to the support of the Government of National Unity (GNU), an uneasy coalition of various political parties, including the African National Congress (ANC). The ANC, which has long harbored animosity towards Israel, sees the case before the ICJ as an opportunity to further its political agenda – one that resonates with its allies in the Islamic Republic of Iran and other countries hostile to Israel. But the irony is inescapable: as the South African government spends millions of rands fighting Israel, the nation is facing an internal crisis that demands urgent attention.

The government’s alignment with Iran and its proxies, such as Hamas, is also problematic. Iran’s leadership has long supported violent extremism and called for the destruction of Israel. It is well-documented that Hamas, which is backed by Iran, has repeatedly rejected any peace initiative that could bring about a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Instead, Hamas has resorted to violence, perpetuating the cycle of suffering on both sides of the conflict. While Israel has taken significant steps to engage with Arab nations in the pursuit of peace, Hamas remains obstinately opposed to any peace agreement that might end the violence.

This ideological alignment between South Africa’s government and Iran, combined with the recent political rise of Donald Trump in the U.S., has serious implications for South Africa’s foreign relations. The Trump administration, expected to take a more aggressive stance toward the Middle East, is unlikely to tolerate South Africa’s support for Hamas and other terrorist organizations. By continuing down this path, South Africa risks alienating key trade partners and jeopardizing its relations with Western democracies that are vital to its economic future.

While the South African government spends millions on its legal battle against Israel, the country faces a multitude of urgent domestic issues. South Africa is currently one of the most unequal countries in the world, with 10 percent of the population controlling more than 80 percent of the country’s wealth. In contrast, the remaining 90 percent of the population struggles to make ends meet, living in dire poverty. The government’s social welfare programs, while well-intentioned, are inadequate to address the needs of the majority.

Unemployment remains at record levels, and the country’s education and healthcare systems are underfunded and dysfunctional. The education system, once one of the most respected in Africa, is now riddled with challenges, from overcrowded classrooms to outdated curricula. The healthcare system, similarly, is overwhelmed and under-resourced, leaving millions of South Africans without access to adequate care. In some areas, basic services such as running water and electricity are unreliable, and crime rates continue to skyrocket, further eroding the quality of life for South Africans.

Instead of diverting R95 million to a foreign legal battle, the government should focus on implementing policies that address these pressing challenges. South Africa’s foreign policy should prioritize economic and diplomatic engagement with Western countries and other key global players to secure investments and promote sustainable growth. The country cannot afford to alienate its trading partners, especially when it is facing such dire internal challenges.

South Africa’s economic growth has stagnated in recent years, with millions of people unemployed and living in poverty. The country’s energy crisis, caused by ongoing power shortages and mismanagement of the state-owned energy company Eskom, is only exacerbating the situation. Load shedding, or scheduled power cuts, is a regular occurrence, crippling businesses and further damaging the economy.

The country’s infrastructure is crumbling, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for ordinary South Africans to access basic services. For example, Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, has faced severe water shortages in recent years, with taps running dry in many areas. Rural communities, too, suffer from a lack of access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation. Meanwhile, the government continues to waste resources on foreign disputes that do nothing to address these critical domestic issues.

Rather than engaging in legal battles over the Middle East conflict, South Africa should focus on building stronger trade relations with Western countries and other emerging economies. The country needs to invest in its own infrastructure, improve access to healthcare and education, and create jobs for its growing population. It is also critical that South Africa seeks to address its crime problem, which has reached levels that capture international attention. The government must focus on strengthening its law enforcement agencies and ensuring that justice is served for the victims of violent crime.

While South Africa’s government continues to pursue legal action against Israel, it is important to recognize the futility of such efforts. The Middle East conflict is a deeply political issue, and no amount of legal wrangling at the ICJ will resolve the complex historical, cultural, and political factors that fuel the conflict. The legal process will not stop Hamas or other terrorist organizations from continuing their attacks on Israel, nor will it bring peace to the region.

The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in political negotiations, not legal proceedings. The United Nations and other international bodies have repeatedly called for dialogue between Israel and Palestine, but Hamas and other radical groups have rejected these efforts. Peace will only come when both parties – Israel and Palestine – are willing to negotiate in good faith and work towards a lasting resolution. In the meantime, South Africa’s role should be one of promoting dialogue, offering humanitarian assistance, and encouraging peaceful solutions, rather than pursuing a legal case that does little to advance the cause of peace.

The South African government’s decision to allocate R95 million for a wasteful and misguided legal battle against Israel could be better spent addressing local unemployment, poverty, crime, and the country’s crumbling infrastructure. The government’s obsession with Israel and its alignment with Iran’s hostile stance against the Jewish state only serve to alienate key trade partners and undermine South Africa’s long-term interests.

South Africa must shift its focus from ideological foreign policy battles to pragmatic diplomacy that benefits its own citizens. The country needs friends, not foes, and it is essential that the government prioritize economic development, social welfare, and national security over foreign disputes. By doing so, South Africa can begin to build a more prosperous future for its people—one that is based on sustainable growth, peace, and cooperation.

About the writer:

Kenneth Mokgatlhe wa Kgwadi is an independent writer, political analyst and researcher. He is doing his MA in African Studies at the Israeli-based Ben Gurion University of the Negev.

While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

Goebbels would be proud of the ICC

By Neville Berman

Under what is known as the Oslo Accords, Israel left Gaza in 2005 and handed the entire territory over to the newly created Palestinian Authority led by Yasser Arafat. Two years later Hamas overthrew the Palestinian Authority and forcefully took control of Gaza.  Since then, Hamas has fired over 27,000 rockets at southern Israel. On October 7, 2023 Hamas attacked Israel and killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages. They proudly filmed themselves committing rapes, murdering families, beheading and burning babies and other atrocities. Every one of these actions are without any doubt crimes against humanity. To this day the United Nations has refused to pass a single resolution condemning Hamas for the crimes it has committed. 

Instead of commending the State of Israel for defending itself after the atrocities committed by Hamas, the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to issue international arrest warrants for Bibi Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, the Prime Minister and former Defense Minister of Israel. Amongst many accusations, they are being charged with committing crimes against humanity, including the crime of starvation against the Palestinians in Gaza. The warrants are a grotesque inversion of what international law and justice should be.

Immediately after the arrest warrants were issued, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of Foreign Affairs of the European Union, announced that all 120 countries that are members of the ICC are obligated to arrest those charged, if they enter any member county. As there are 193 countries that are members of the United Nations, the remaining 73 countries that are not members of the ICC have no such obligation. The United States of America is one of those 73 countries. Emmanuel Macron, the French President, has already announced that France will not arrest the Israeli leaders if they visit France. France is a member of the ICC, and this really shows that the antisemitic pronouncements by the ICC and Josep Borrell are beyond the pale. To make matters even more ridiculous the ICC has attempted to show its evenhandedness by issuing a farcical arrest warrant for one Hamas leader who is no longer alive.  

According to its own website the ICC has a budget for 2024 of over 187 million Euros. It employs approximately 900 people who are supposed to gather evidence and investigate serious crimes against humanity. Since its inception in 2002, the ICC has issued 59 arrest warrants, 21 people have actually been detained, and 11 convictions have been issued. What this means is that just over a third of those charged actually end up standing trial, and nearly half of those are found not guilty, and that on average the ICC has actually achieved one conviction every two years.  These facts are quite amazing when one considers that in the 22 years of the existence of the ICC, millions of people have been killed in wars, and millions more have become refugees. Clearly the ICC is a political farce.

Israel has been singled out by the ICC for defending itself in a war initiated by sworn enemies that have demonstrated their absolute determination to eradicate the State of Israel. Every government has the obligation to defend its country. The singling out of Israel by the ICC is a decision that will, to borrow a phrase by President Roosevelt, “live in infamy.”  It is most unlikely that Bibi Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant will ever stand in the dock of the ICC in the Hague. The question that now arises is why is the ICC issuing arrest warrants against the leaders of Israel?

The answer is clear. The ICC is deliberately promoting the demonization of Jews and Israel. This demonization is not something new. The church has been demonizing Jews for over 2,000 years. The United Nations and the liberal press have been demonizing Israel ever since its inception in 1948.  Major Arab oil exporting countries are using their wealth to promote Islam all across the world and to undermine Israel and the West. Qatar has financed the establishment of Middle Eastern Study departments at many major American universities.

They have used the American constitutional right to free speech to spread hatred against Jews and Israel. They have turned American campuses into battlegrounds for Jewish students. The TV Channel Al Jazeera, broadcasting from Qatar, has hundreds of millions of viewers that are subjected to a constant demonization of Israel. Social media is aimed largely at gullible young people. They are easily influenced by the constant one-sided view of the war in Gaza. The International Court of Justice recently heard a case in which South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide. The whole purpose of the trial was to get the word “genocide” associated with Israel. They succeeded. The latest actions by the ICC are further steps in trying to demonize Jews and Israel. It has nothing to do with justice.

The result of all of the above is a tsunami of protests across the world calling to stop Israeli genocide and the replacement of Israel by a Palestinian State from the river to the sea.  Goebbels would be proud of the worldwide actions that are now taking place. Many of the people protesting are not evil. They are simply ignorant.  What a shame that they have no idea about what they are protesting about.

President Biden has announced that the decision of the ICC is outrageous. Come January 20^th Trump will become the American President. Karim Ahmad Kahn, the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, will then need to face the consequences of his actions.   

About the writer:

Accountant Neville Berman had an illustrious sporting career in South Africa, being twice awarded the South African State Presidents Award for Sport and was a three times winner of the South African Maccabi Sportsman of the Year Award.  In 1978 he immigrated to the USA  to coach the United States men’s field hockey team, whereafter, in 1981 he immigrated to Israel where he practiced as an accountant and then for 20 years was the Admin Manager at the American International School in Even Yehuda, Israel.  He is married with two children and one granddaughter.

While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

If the executive arm of antisemitism was once in Germany, its judicial arm is today in the Netherlands

By David E. Kaplan

“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never harm me,” hardly holds true for Jews and the Jewish state.  Never mind the truth, just package in words the most damaging accusations again the Jewish state and hope the tide of animosity  will ultimately rise submerging those infuriating Jews who just stubbornly refuse to disappear. What’s more, Jews have the nerve to actually fight to defend themselves. How infuriating that they are damn good at it. It’s embarrassing that so small in size a people and that so tiny a state will just not vanish into “a footnote of history,” as historian Arnold J. Toynbee so predicted for the Jewish people or hoped.

So, if the proverbial “stick and stones” don’t work, frame false charges, and attack with virulent verbiage. The most lethal verbal ordnance today are words like “genocide”, “Apartheid” and “colonialist”, all misused to stigmatize Israel and by association, Jews everywhere. Such accusatory methodology was successfully executed throughout the Middle Ages right up to Nazi Germany, so it was now time to remodel and charge Jews not personally but their national state – facing attack from 7 fronts, none of which it initiated.

If Germany led this nefarious way in the 20^th century, it passes this 21^st century the baton to the Netherlands, where stands located the UN’s ICJ and ICC, which enthusiastically have their marching orders. What happens to Jews in the streets of Amsterdam receives its cue from what happens in the county’s judicial centre – The Hague.

While Israel faces down the charge of “genocide”, the only major genocide in the Middle East in recent times occurred on October 7, 2023 and it was perpetrated against the Jewish state. In a case of perverted inversion, the victims are characterized as the perpetrators, while the perpetrators are presented as the victims.  

Douglas Murray expressed it spot on when he writes that the accusations against Israel are:

 “…an absolute inversion of the truth. Hamas invaded Israel, so Israel attacked Hamas. Hezbollah has spent the past year sending thousands of rockets into Israel, so Israel has responded by destroying Hezbollah. The Houthis in Yemen – now so beloved of demonstrators in the UK – sent missiles and drones hundreds of miles to attack Israel, so Israel bombed the Houthis’s arms stores in Yemen.”

In summation, Murray writes:

“Israel’s enemies have spent the past year trying to destroy it, as they have so many times before. But it is they who have gone to the dust, with the regime in Tehran the only thing that is, for the time being, still standing… Sometimes you need war to make peace. Sometime there is a price to pay for trying to finish the work of Adolf Hitler.”

Hear that, the protestors in cities across Europe and the Americas whose grandparents may have fought the Nazis are protesting in support to finishing “the work of Adolf Hitler.”

There are occasional welcome surprises. Countering the false accusation of “genocide” came recently from the unexpected source of Poland! The country’s new ambassador to Israel, Maciej Hunia, had it right when during his confirmation hearing in the Polish parliament to the question if he believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, answered:

 “… military actions causing unintended civilian casualties cannot be characterized as genocide.”

He followed up by emphatically affirming his statement with “We saw this in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Every now and again, the truth is revealed. But when it is supportive of Jews and Israel, it has to be squeezed out like the very last bit of toothpaste in the tube.

Writing in the prestigious British journal The Spectator on October 4, Douglas Murray began his article: “Why Israel was right to ignore international advice” by characterizing the picture of recent events in the Middle East as purveyed to the UK public:

“If you follow most of the British media, you may well think that the past year involves the following events: Israel attacked Hamas, Israel invaded Lebanon, Israel bombed Yemen. Oh, and someone left a bomb in a room in Tehran that killed the peaceful Palestinian leader Ismail Haniyeh.”

Global acceptance of the “absolute inversion of the truth” as it pertains to the Jewish state was so evident on the 25 November when  Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei declared in response to the ICC’s actions that “…an arrest warrant for Netanyahu is insufficient; an execution order must be issued.” Where is the worlds abhorrence or international media interest when those who commit acts of violence and threaten the extinction of other countries remain secure and avoid scrutiny, while leaders of a democratic state fighting terrorism and leading his country in an existential war on seven fronts, faces trials and an appeal for “execution”? Meanwhile, the world courts and global media glosses over:

• That Iran may be the most dangerous country in the world today
• that it seeks to spread its radical Islamic ideology across the Middle East – and beyond
• that it is also one of the principal sponsors of world terrorism, with its tentacles spreading from the Middle East to Europe, Africa and South America and
• that most worrisome of all is its illegal pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability and its repeated threats to annihilate Israel.

Where are the mobilized wordsmiths from the media and the world courts on the case against Iran or even Russia for that matter? As Syria descends again into civil war, Russia joins in the fray with its jets striking the rebel-held city of Idlib where around four million people live in makeshift tents and dwellings. Residents said one attack on the second day of raids hit a crowded residential area, including hospitals, killing civilians. Where is international concern or media interest? Are there any accusations of genocide or frenzied protestors taking to the streets? No, that is reserved when only Israel can be blamed. That is the nature of antisemitism – always finding a way to blame the Jews and that is what is happening again in Syria as  Russia blames Israel and the US for the war in Syria. Russia bombs civilians and hospital and blames Israel.

Go figure!

Is the ancient disease of antisemitism – today at pandemic level -incurable? Are Jews stuck for eternity with what Salman Rushdie expressed in his 1981 novel Midnight’s Children:

“What can’t be cured must be endured.”

In the meantime, what they fail on the battlefield, they will try, “Killing us Softly” with words!

While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

Instead of moral crusader, South Africa is revealed to be the contract gunslinger for Iran and Qatar with Israel as the target.

A new report by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) reveals allegations of financial and political involvement by Iran and Qatar in South Africa’s December 2023 case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing Israel of ‘genocide’ in Gaza.

Lay of the Land invites readers to read first the commentary by way of introduction followed by the report. In the words of ISGAP Executive Director, Dr. Charles Asher Small, the report “underscores how South Africa’s leadership, under the ANC, is aligning with some of the world’s most dangerous actors, based on a culture of corruption,” and  marks an abandonment “of the of the ANC core values” associated under the leadership of Nelson Mandela by deepening ties with international designated terrorist organizations and their state sponsors.

David E. Kaplan
Editor Lay of the Land

The South African ANC Government’s Dangerous Alliances with Iran, Qatar, and Hamas:
 Report Reveals How South African ANC ICJ Bid Against Israel is Part of a Broader Strategy to Advance the Interests of Terror-Linked States, Undermining Global Security and Democratic Governments.

The South African ANC Government’s Dangerous Alliances with Iran, Qatar, and Hamas:  Report Reveals How South African ANC ICJ Bid Against Israel is Part of a Broader Strategy to Advance the Interests of Terror-Linked States, Undermining Global Security and Democratic Governments NEW YORK – November 15, 2024 – The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) released a landmark report revealing the extent of the ruling political party in South Africa African National Congress (ANC)’s deepening ties with international designated terrorist organizations and their state sponsors, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and Qatar. Entitled, South Africa, Hamas, Iran, and Qatar: The Hijacking of the ANC and the International Court of Justice, the report sheds light on how the alliance of terror and radical Islam are using South Africa and the people’s valiant historical legacy of struggle, as a critical node in global terrorist financing networks. Crucially, the report connects South Africa’s political and financial alignment with Iran and Qatar – both leading supporters of global terrorism – with its campaign to bring a legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ANC’s decision to pursue this legal battle appears to be part of a broader geopolitical strategy orchestrated by these terror-linked states to undermine Israel under the guise of international law. The report illustrates that this legal action is intended to mask South Africa’s domestic challenges while allowing Iran and Qatar to push their anti-Israel agenda using South Africa’s historical image of social justice as a convenient front. The ISGAP report provides well-documented, evidence of the ANC’s support for Hamas, marked by formal agreements and frequent high-level engagements between ANC leaders and Hamas officials. In a disturbing trend, South African organizations purportedly engaging in humanitarian work have actually channeled financial and logistical support to Hamas and also Hezbollah, solidifying these dangerous ties. Dr. Charles Asher Small, Executive Director of ISGAP, said: “This report underscores how South Africa’s leadership, under the ANC, is aligning with some of the world’s most dangerous actors, based on a culture of corruption. This marks an abandonment of the of the ANC core values under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu who were committed to establishing a democratic South Africa for all South Africans. The ANC’s alliances with Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and Qatar not only destabilize the region but also position South Africa as a key player in the global web of anti-democratic terror financing. The decision to bring a case against Israel before the ICJ must be seen in this broader context, where international terrorism and political manipulation converge, in which these Jihadist entities attempt to delegitimize Israel in order to destroy it and to undermine democracy and related institutions. It is incumbent on the international community to take a strong stance against the ANC’s troubling partnerships with terror-linked states and organizations and expose the moral and political rot that endangers South Africans and all people committed to democratic principles“. The report raises concerns about the timing and financing of South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ. It highlights how, in early 2024, shortly after the South African government announced its case against Israel, the ANC mysteriously managed to stabilize its finances with an influx of money, despite being on the verge of bankruptcy. This sudden financial turnaround came without explanation, raising suspicions of foreign financial influence, potentially linked to Iran and Qatar, as this occurred after high-level meetings with Hamas, Iranian and Qatari leaders with ANC ministers , both of which have vested interests in challenging Israel on the global stage. Beyond that, the report raises critical flaws in South Africa’s case at the ICJ. This notably includes the lack of any mention of Hamas’ crimes, such as their use of the civilian population in Gaza as human shields to maximize collateral damage, or that the Hamas Charter and leaders consistently call for the dismantling of Israel and the murder of Jews around the world. The report also exposes the nature of the South African legal team at the ICJ, which is composed of individuals and organizations with a record of vehement anti-Israel bias, and direct links to terror organizations. The report also brings attention to South Africa’s strategic partnership with Iran and Qatar, both of which have been implicated in supporting terrorism. South African government plays a critical role in facilitating Iran’s entry into the BRICS group of nations, thereby granting the country enhanced political legitimacy and access to an influential economic bloc. Similarly, Qatar’s influence in South Africa has grown significantly, particularly through substantial investments in the energy sector and close collaboration on international political issues, including the Palestinian cause. Significantly, the report also discusses Russian financial influence in South African politics. It details how the United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK), partly owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, has become a major ANC donor. Despite U.S. sanctions against Vekselberg for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he retains substantial ownership in UMK, allowing him to continue financing the ANC. This raises serious questions about potential Russian leverage over South Africa’s foreign policy, especially regarding its increasingly anti- Israel stance. The report also demonstrates how South Africa has become a strategic hub for terrorist financing, with sophisticated networks funnelling money to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Using systems such as hawala, these groups benefit from South African infrastructure, often with the tacit approval of local authorities. Furthermore, the report delves into a classified South African intelligence document from 1998 that highlighted the already growing presence of radical Islamist organizations within the country, including Hamas and Hezbollah. These groups, it said, use South Africa as a base for fundraising, media operations, and even military training. This disturbing trend has only intensified, with the ANC’s leadership continuing to deepen its ties with these actors. The report urges the international community to reassess South Africa’s role in global security and calls for a stronger stance against the ANC’s troubling partnerships with terror-linked states and organizations. ISGAP emphasizes that South Africa’s aggressive legal campaign against Israel appears to be part of a broader strategy to deflect attention from the ANC’s domestic crises, including widespread corruption and economic failure.   The full report can be accessed here. For media inquiries contact Raoul Wootliff at raoul@number10strategies.com

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT

While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

False comparisons of Hamas’ late killer-leader with moral icons Mandela and King risks tarnishing their reputations and legacies.

By Kenneth Moeng Mokgatlhe

It was deeply concerning to see many people on social media liken Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, to figures such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. This comparison is not only misguided, but fundamentally wrong. Unlike Mandela and King, who organized their societies through peace, tolerance, and non-violence, Sinwar has used hatred and violence to create chaos, not just against Israelis but even against Arabs in Gaza.

Mandela and King never resorted to violence or hatred, even when faced with intense adversity. Their influence and leadership were rooted in peaceful resistance to end the systemic injustices that marginalized Black people in South Africa and the United States. Despite some calling for violence in the 1990s, neither Mandela nor the ANC ever attacked white civilians as part of their liberation struggle. Instead, they sought justice through international bodies like the United Nations, emphasizing diplomacy over bloodshed. If Sinwar and his allies were genuinely committed to the Palestinian cause, they would have embraced non-violent mechanisms to seek reforms, just as Mandela and King did.

Sinwar’s legacy, however, is far from heroic. Known as the “Butcher of Khan Younis”, he brutally murdered Palestinian-Arabs whom he accused of collaborating with Israel. His violent reputation instilled more fear among the people he claimed to lead than among his enemies. Late last year, he initiated a bloody war against Israel, knowing full well that it would be the people of Gaza who would bear the brunt of the suffering. Meanwhile, Sinwar and the Hamas leadership would hide safely in tunnels built at the expense of the people of Gaza.

Israel believes that Sinwar, alongside Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif, orchestrated the horrific October 7 attacks, where over 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 250 abducted. Today, approximately 101 hostages are believed to be held in Gaza’s tunnels, prompting Israeli forces to wage a war aimed at securing their release.

It’s important to recognize that this war is between Israel and Hamas, not against the Palestinian people. While Palestinians are tragically suffering the consequences, Israel’s primary objective remains the release of hostages and the protection of its land from future threats.

Sinwar likely underestimated Israel’s response, believing that international scrutiny would prevent retaliation. However, no sovereign nation could witness the slaughter and abduction of its citizens without taking decisive action. Like any other country, Israel has the right to defend itself.

Hamas and Hezbollah perhaps thought they could stretch the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to their limits, but the IDF has remained focused on neutralizing the masterminds of the October 7 attacks while prioritizing the rescue of hostages. Their actions send a clear message:

Future attacks will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable

Contrary to what some believe, Sinwar was no hero. A true hero is admired for their courage, noble character, and positive achievements. Sinwar’s legacy is stained by the blood of his own people in Khan Younis and the Israelis he despised. A real hero would never drag his people into a war they were unprepared for, knowing full well the devastation it would bring.

What Palestinians truly need is a leader who can rise above the cycle of hatred and teach their children to cherish life, rather than being brainwashed into believing that martyrdom is a noble end. The real path forward for the Palestinian people lies in rejecting the poisonous ideology that promotes hatred toward Jews and instead embracing a vision of peace and coexistence.

Unfortunately, there are powerful figures behind groups like Hamas and Hezbollah who profit from the ongoing conflict and have no interest in seeing the Israel-Palestine issue resolved. Every step toward progress is undermined by those who prioritize their selfish financial gains over the well-being of millions. Until these vested interests are dismantled, the suffering will continue.

About the writer:

Kenneth Moeng Mokgatlhe is a political writer and researcher based at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.

While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).