South Africa in the Mind of Israel

The scene was familiar. Inside, a South African dance troupe was performing; outside, two dozen noisy protestors were picketing. Some of the demonstrators wore mock Ku Klux Klan outfits; others waved placards bearing anti-apartheid slogans. It could have been New York, or London, or Paris, except for one thing: across the street, an even larger contingent of counter-demonstrators had gathered to wave placards praising South Africa as a loyal ally. The place was Jerusalem, and the relative sizes of the rival demonstrations were evidence of a trend unheard of in Europe or America: a rising tide of grassroots sympathy for South Africa.

“There is a principle among Israelis that one does not abandon a friend in his hour of need,” says Pinchas Gil, one of the leaders of the pro-South Africa rally. “South Africa has been Israel’s friend, and this is her hour of need.”

RM

About the Author

Rafael Medoff

MH

About the Author

Mordechai Haller

Featured Tags

The scene was familiar. Inside, a South African dance troupe was performing; outside, two dozen noisy protestors were picketing. Some of the demonstrators wore mock Ku Klux Klan outfits; others waved placards bearing anti-apartheid slogans. It could have been New York, or London, or Paris, except for one thing: across the street, an even larger contingent of counter-demonstrators had gathered to wave placards praising South Africa as a loyal ally. The place was Jerusalem, and the relative sizes of the rival demonstrations were evidence of a trend unheard of in Europe or America: a rising tide of grassroots sympathy for South Africa.

“There is a principle among Israelis that one does not abandon a friend in his hour of need,” says Pinchas Gil, one of the leaders of the pro-South Africa rally. “South Africa has been Israel’s friend, and this is her hour of need.”