Zulu Prince & Christian Zionists among 400 honouring Israel in Durban

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) president, Prince Mangosuthu Buthlelezi told a pro-Israel event on Wednesday that he is ashamed and embarrassed of how South Africa has sidelined Israel in favour of Palestine.

Speaking to nearly 400 guests at an evening called a ‘Night to Honour Israel’ at the Durban Jewish Club, Buthlelezi said the South African Government maintains an understated position with regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict despite the country’s diplomatic ties with Israel.

“Even religious leaders, like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have expressed partisan views when it comes to our foreign policy. I, on the other hand, have been openly criticised for being openly supportive of Israel,” said Buthlelezi.

Guests at the event were a mixture of Christian Zionists and Jews. The evening was hosted by the young adult Jewish Zionist movement known as TaMaR and the worldwide Reform Zionist political party for the Jewish Diaspora known as Arzenu.

In introducing Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Professor Antony Arkin, chairman of Arzenu South Africa, explained that Arzenu is the largest single party in the World Zionist Organisation (the parliament of the Jewish people) where it is affiliated to Israel’s Labour Party.

Both the Jews and the Zulu people have long, proud histories and have endured much suffering. Buthlelezi, who has been diplomatically involved with the State of Israel since 1985, said no one can dispute both Israel and Palestine have committed violations during the continuing conflict.

“It is not for me to decide who is right and who is wrong; that is not my role. I know that there is pain, violence and tragedy on both sides... [but] ...suffering is never something we can turn a blind eye to, ... we [must] ensure that neither side sustains loss of dignity or basic humanity. It is about stemming the flow of blood and seeking a different path forward that embraces compromise as well as the importance of accommodating different views. It is about creating peace,” said Buthlelezi.

TAMAR Torchbearers for Israel - from left - Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Oren Zveda and Jenna Reinbach, Director of TaMaR Durban

Buthelezi recounted his experiences with dominant South African Jewish personalities. He said in 1953, he began his legal articles with Rowley Israel Arenstein, a civil rights lawyer who was later charged with treason. He also spoke of former Progressive Federal Party (now the DA) stalwart and Apartheid detractor Helen Suzman.

“[During Apartheid] the Israeli Government provided agricultural aid, leadership, training and assistance to women-led cooperatives in KwaZulu,” said Buthelezi who is a personal friend of former Israeli PM Shimon Peres [current President of Israel].

TaMar Durban director, Jenna Reinbach, acknowledged the place of non-Jewish supporters of the State of Israel within the Jewish community. “In 2001, Durban hosted the world conference against racism, which ended up in an anti Semitic mob. Jews found themselves alone except for the handful of Christian Zionists who stood by us,” she told the gathering.

“From the painful lessons of the past, it became clear that our Christian Zionist friends and non-Jewish supporters of Israel can be counted on and that their support must be valued and appreciated,” said Reinbach.

“Tonight we are joining hands in friendship to start a common journey together - of discovery, understanding and a common interest,” said TaMar Durban’s director.

Other speakers on the evening included Rabbi Hillel Avidan from Durban Progressive Jewish Congregation and Shimon Shamila, Director of the Israel Centre in Johannesburg.

Due to overwhelming support and encouragement from audience members and members of the greater Jewish and Christian Zionist community, TaMar/Arzenu will be hosting more such evenings to honour Israel in the future.

This article was first published in www.myshtetl.co.za on 30 October 2011. Click here for the original article.