From Maurice Ostroff
in response to the letter in the right hand column below
February 4, 2009
Dear Justice Chaskalson,
“What’s happening to the right to a fair hearing”
I refer to the document “Chaskalson and others speak out on inhumane destruction in Gaza”, posted on the SASHRIP web site on January 30.
As a former member of the Springbok Legion, an organization established by World War 2 veterans that became the first mass white movement to oppose apartheid in South Africa, I sincerely admire the courage you displayed in the Rivonia Trial and your involvement in so many other challenges against apartheid laws.
And while I am sure that your signature to the above document was motivated by the kind of humanitarian concerns that led you to oppose apartheid, I respectfully suggest that you would not have concluded that Israel is guilty of “inhumane and disproportionate collective punishment prohibited under international law” if the media had provided more balanced information.
Sadly, even highly respected members of mainstream media have been proven to display blatant bias and even distortions as in the Al Dura affair. Even Reuters and AP have pleaded guilty to egregious lapses as described on my web site at http://www.maurice-ostroff.org/?page_id=88 and http://www.maurice-ostroff.org/?page_id=15.
As happened in Jenin, many accusations against Israel have proved to be groundless and similar occurrences are now coming to light in the case of the Gaza operation. A recent report in the Canadian Globe and Mail confirmed that earlier damming reports, accusing Israel of firing shells into an UNWRA school, have been proven to be false. Contrary to reports, no one in the school grounds had been killed and UNRWA’s John Ging has admitted that Israel didn’t attack the school. You can read the full report at http://www.maurice-ostroff.org/?page_id=92
In view of the proven unreliability of the media, and in the absence of the results of an impartial investigation it is evident that Israel has been denied a “fair hearing”.
And as you stressed the importance of a “fair hearing” in your paper, “What’s happening to the right to a fair hearing” published in the Israel Law Review last year, I respectfully ask you, sir, to please reconsider your support for the unproved accusations by the 300 plus Jewish signatories, pending examination of the type of evidence you would require in a court of law.
It is also very difficult to understand why none of the more than 300 signatories, who profess to be knowledgeable and concerned about events in Gaza, considered it sufficiently important to protest the inhuman cold-blooded torture of the family of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. They have been tormented by being deliberately kept in the dark about his condition, and even his very existence, since June 2006.
As persons concerned about their fellow human beings, it would have been an act of human kindness were they to have appealed to Hamas to at least allow visits to Shalit by the Red Cross. (Article 70 of the Geneva Convention clearly states that Immediately upon capture, or not more than one week after arrival at a camp, every prisoner of war shall be enabled to write direct to his family and Article 71 stipulates that prisoners of war shall be allowed to send and receive letters and cards)
Sincerely
Maurice Ostroff
Zionist Federation and Chief Rabbi
South African Jewish Community on the Situation in Gaza,
January 7, 2009
The South African Jewish Community firmly supports the decision of the Government of Israel to launch a military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Bearing in mind the inevitable loss of life which occurs in every military conflict, we share with the citizens of Israel the heavy heart with which they have embarked upon this operation. Israel has done everything in its power to avoid the situation which it finds itself in, including the dismantling and evacuation of all Jewish Settlements in Gaza over 3 ½ years ago. Israel’s gesture of peace however, has been met by a barrage of thousands of missiles which have rained down upon the villages, towns and cities of southern Israel.
Hamas’ decision to fire, without provocation, approximately 80 rockets per day into Israel after the expiry of the recent cease fire forced the Government of Israel to take the necessary steps which ever civilised State is required to do in order to protect its own citizens from further terror and attacks. We hope that the Israeli Defence Force is able to carry out its mission with the minimum loss of life and casualties.
The Jewish Community of South Africa calls upon the South African Government as well as the ruling African National Congress Party (“ANC”) to act in a balanced and constructive manner towards the conflict in Gaza. We hope that the Government and the ANC use its special relationship with the Palestinian leadership to persuade them once and for all to enter into peaceful negotiations with Israel. These negotiations will hopefully lead to the fulfilment of what the South African Government and the ANC have repeatedly stated is the desired outcome for the region, namely the achievement of a two-State solution which allows Israelis and Palestinians to live peacefully side by side with one another.
The leadership of the South African Jewish Community understands that many citizens of South Africa have strong ties to participants in the Gaza conflict and we urge the communities in question to join the Jewish Community in ensuring that the conflict in the Middle East is not imported into South Africa and is not allowed to disrupt the excellent relationships which exist between all of the communities and peoples of South Africa.
Response by members of the South African Jewish community to a statement by the Jewish Board of Deputies, Zionist Federation and Chief Rabbi concerning Israel’s attack on Gaza
January 11, 2009
South African Jews condemn the Israeli attack on Gaza
January 29, 2009
Posted on the web site of South Africans Supporting Human Rights in Israel and Palestine (SASHRIP) http://www.sashrip.org/
South African Jews have issued a statement condemning the Israeli attack on Gaza. The statement is in response to a statement supporting the attack that was issued by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, South African Zionist Federation and Chief Rabbi, claiming to speak on behalf of the South African Jewish community.
If you are a member of the South African Jewish community and you wish to endorse this statement, please send an email by clicking here.
The Jewish Board of Deputies, Zionist Federation and Chief Rabbi have issued a statement titled “South African Jewish Community on the Situation in Gaza.” It claims that the “South African Jewish Community firmly supports the decision of the Government of Israel to launch a military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.”
We are members of the South African Jewish Community. While we recognise the existence of communal structures, we are distressed that they purport to speak for us and the many Jews who are uncomfortable with the destruction in Gaza, claiming one collective view for the entire community. Given the divergence of opinion within the community, their approach is irresponsible and we are forced to respond.
We are dismayed by the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli military in Gaza. So far over 750 Palestinians and 13 Israelis have been killed. Many of the Palestinian casualties are civilians — unarmed and uninvolved in any operations against Israel. We deplore all the lives lost whether in Sderot or Gaza. We are acutely aware that while parts of Southern Israel have lived under the constant threat of Hamas rockets, the residents of Gaza are experiencing significantly greater terror and destruction.
We strongly oppose the rockets Hamas has been firing into Israel before and during this bombardment. These have deliberately targeted civilians and we call on communities and groups vocal in their support for the Palestinians to condemn these, as we do.
As members of the Jewish community we recognise that Israel’s response is an inhumane and disproportionate collective punishment prohibited under international law. We also condemn the long siege Israel has inflicted on the people of Gaza and call for this to be immediately lifted to allow food, medical supplies, fuel, electricity and foreign aid to reach credible agencies in Gaza.
We call for an immediate ceasefire by both sides and lifting of the siege of Gaza. We also recognise that Gaza’s fate, in the minds of Palestinians and in reality, cannot be severed from the West Bank and that ending the occupation in the West Bank is a critical part of resolving tensions in the region.
Reaching a negotiated settlement between Israelis and Palestinians is an extremely difficult challenge as it is and the attack on Gaza moves us further away from this goal. We also call on the Jewish Board of Deputies not to exacerbate local tensions with statements that demonstrate a lack of compassion for Palestinian lives.
Signed:
Nathan Geffen
Doron Isaacs
Leah Abramsohn
David Adler
Jill Adler
Josie Adler
Taffy Adler
Melanie Alperstein
Neil Alperstein
Miriam Altman
Robyn Aronstam
Jane Arthur
Jess Auerbach
Margaret Auerbach
Laurel Baldwin-Ragaven
Mandy Barnett
Steve Barnett
Vanessa Barolsky
Deborah Baron
Peter Barron
Sheila Basel
Sam Beckbessinger
Keren Ben-Zeev
Jonathan Berger
Bonnie Berkowitz
Kathy Berman
Lael Bethlehem
Roz Berzen
Jodi Bieber
Janice Bleazard
Graeme Bloch
Leila Bloch
Mandy Bloch
Alexei du Bois
Bradley Bordiss
Joel Bregman
Mervyn Bregman
Vardi Bregman
Pam Britt
Murielle Broccardo
Alan Browde
Daniel Browde
Suzie Browde
Emma Browde
David Bruce
Steven Budlender
Barbara Buntman
Tony Carr
Tali Cassidy
Jared Chaitowitz
Daniel Chalef
Talya Chalef
Lorraine Chaskalson
Ivor Chipkin
Max G. Cohen
Sara B. Cohen
Tracy Cohen
Viv Cohen
Audrey Coleman
Max Coleman
Neil Coleman
David Cooper
Di Cooper
Linda Cooper
Sonya Cotton
Claudette Davis
Joshua Davis
Liat Davis
Mike Dickman
Rosemary Dirmeik
Gordon Driver
Rodney Ehrlich
Erika Elk
Gabi Elte
Daniel Eppel
Lauren Fabian
Lindsay Falkov
Bernie Fanaroff
Merle Favis
Judy Favish
Fran Favero
Andrew Feinstein
Lesley Feinstein
David Fig
Alan Fine
David Fine
Diane Fine
Joe Fine
Nicholas Fine
Arden Finn
Meghan Finn
Micaela Finn
Roslyn Fish
Timothy Fish Hodgson
Sharon Fonn
Arlette Franks
Linzi Fredman
Melvyn Freeman
Louise Frenkel
Adrian Friedman
Michel Friedman
Tessa Frootko Gordon
Claudia Gastrow
Shelagh Gastrow
Vanya Gastrow
Ingrid Gavshon
Stephen Gelb
Leon Geffen
Mark Gevisser
Denis Goldberg
Ian Goldman
Sue Goldstein
Keith Gottschalk
Nadine Gordimer
Harris Gordon
Jeremy Gordon
Lara Granville
Margaret Green
Nick Groll
Simon Groll
Sally Gross
Heidi Grunebaum
Shirley Gunn
Gabriela Habib
Hillary Hamburger
Tony Hamburger
Anton Harber
Jesse Harber
Zara Harber
Joey Hasson
Alan Hirsch
Ros Hirschowitz
Liz Hodes
Rebecca Hodes
Anthony Hodgson
Jonathan Hoffenberg
Allan Horwitz
Suzanne Hotz
Gilad Isaacs
Maureen Isaacson
Shifra Jacobson
Nicole Jaff
Gaili de Jager
Teri-Anne Jedeikin
Susan Jowell
Steve Kahanovitz
Lesley Kahn
Michael Kahn
Daniel Kaliski
Sean Kaliski
Michael Kawitzky
Elle Katzeff
Skye Katzeff
Daniel Kaplan
David Kaplan
Norman Kaplan
Richard Kaplan
Liebe Kellen
Lee Klawansky
Judy Klipin
Matthew Krouse
Tessa de Kock
Lara Koseff
Denis Kuny
Neil Kuny
Stephen Laufer
Mirna Lawrence
Brenda Leibowitz
Cornelius Lehr
Erica Leon
David Lewis
David Robert Lewis
Simmy Lewis
Simone Lewis
Melissa Levin
Richard Levin
Dinky Levitt-Cumpsty
Emma Levy
Leon Levy
Lorna Levy
Moira Levy
Leon Linz
Alan Lipman
Beata Lipman
Jane Lipman
Dena Lomofsky
Lynne Lomofsky
Sharon Lomofsky
Leslie London
Janet Love
Bev Lurie
Daniel Mackintosh
Nigel Maister
Neva Makgetla
Estelle Malamed
Max Marx
Heather McKenzie
Eric Miller
Stephanie Miller
Mike Morris
Ruth Munitz
Paul Musker
Sam Musker
Saul Musker
Sonja Narunsky-Laden
Lauren Niedel
Herby Opland
Adina Oram
Mark Orkin
Nadia Oshry
Nina Ostrovsky
Robyn Patz
Sonia Perkes
Clive Pintusewitz
Sarah Polonsky
Colin Purkey
Jeremy Raizon
Steven Robins
Rebecca Kahn
Philip Krause
Robert Krause
Glenda Kruss
Abe Parse
Keiran Peacock
Tess Peacock
Jaqui Perkes
Lesley Perkes
Avi Perpinyal
Laura Phillips
Romaney Pinnock
Jennifer Pogrund
Deborah Posel
Ilan Price
Max Price
Jessica Price
Nik Rabinowitz
Colleen Radus
Ariella Raucher
Shawn Reitstein
Maxine Reitzes
Anton Richman
Maureen Robinson
Hazel Rochman
Hymie Rochman
Peter S. Rosmarin
Tevia Rosmarin
Neville Rubin
Jeff Rudin
Jared Sacks
Kim Sacks
David Sanders
Pamela dos Santos
Simon Sarembock
Jennie Sassoon
Charlotte Schaer
Kira Schlesinger
Minky Schlesinger
Romi Schneider
Maya Schkolne
Mara Jo Scop
Paul Scop
Peta Scop
Lauren Segal
Justin Sennett
David Shandler
Julia Shapiro
Leonard Shapiro
Yvonne Shapiro
Rosemary Shapiro-Liu
Samuel Shapiro
Michael Shemer
Jessica Sherman
Rena Sherman
Sandy Shoolman
Gavin Silber
Melinda Silverman
Nathan Sklair
Lynnsey Skliros
Mervyn Sloman
Penny Smith
Carol Steinberg
Jonny Steinberg
Brett Steingo
Gavin Steingo
Joel Steingo
Sally Steingo
Eitan Stern
John Stodel
Terri Strauss
Caroline Suzman
Alison Swartz
Leslie Swartz
Rebecca Swartz
Lyn Taitz
Carly Tanur
Dee Tarboton
Ilona Tip
Jessica Thorne
Colette Thorne
Jill Thorne
Zoe Tookey
Ariel Townsend
Lesley Townsend
Rebecca Townsend
Shereen Usdin
Chantal Valentine
Sheila Vanderplank
Howard Varney
Tara Weinberg
Jade Wasserman
Sean Wasserman
Jon Weinberg
Matthew Wolf
Robyn Woods Shapiro
Naashon Zalk
Nimrod Zalk
Zapiro
Kelly Zimbler
January 30th, 2009 | posted by SASHRIP
debate that has taken place between members of the South African Jewish community on the use of military force by Israel in Gaza, and the articles and correspondence in the South African media about this issue.
As South African Jews we wish to identify ourselves with the sentiments expressed in the statement by over 300 South African Jews entitled “Response by members of the South African Jewish community to a statement by the Jewish Board of Deputies, Zionist Federation and Chief Rabbi concerning Israel’s attack on Gaza”, condemning the excessive force that has been used by Israel.
Whilst we unreservedly condemn the firing of rockets at Israeli towns by Hamas, we consider Israel’s response which has caused widespread death, destruction and suffering in Gaza to be inhumane and disproportionate. 1300 Palestinian residents of Gaza and 13 Israelis have already lost their lives, in a conflict that is likely to inflame feelings in the region, and holds out little prospect for peace.
It is critically important that these recent events do not imperil relations between sectors of South African society, and vital that people of all faiths and none engage with the issues at stake rationally, in good conscience and with due regard to international law including international human rights law.
We fervently hope that the recent cease fire will hold, that obstacles to a lasting peace in the region will be removed, and that negotiations now take place with the necessary political will of all the parties concerned to secure a just and lasting peace.
Justice Arthur Chaskalson
Jules Browde S.C.
Dr Selma Browde
Geoff Budlender S.C.
David Goldblatt
Nadine Gordimer
William Kentridge
Justice Carole Lewis
Gilbert Marcus S.C.
Professor Gill Marcus
Rick Menell
Sir Antony Sher
Gillian Slovo
Dr AnnMarie Wolpe
