Mandela and the Middle East - South African Jewish Board of ...

MANDELA AND ISRAEL
MANDELA AND THE
MIDDLE EAST
IT IS A LITTLE-KNOWN FACT THAT ONE OF
THE INSPIRATIONS FOR THE ANC WAS THE
JEWISH LIBERATION STRUGGLE. AND SO THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MADIBA AND
ISRAEL BEGUN.
BY STEVEN GRUZD
THE INSPIRATIONS for the African
National Congress (ANC) and its
‘Armed Struggle’ against apartheid
in the early 1960s was the Jewish
liberation struggle against the British
Mandatory Authorities in Palestine.
Nelson Mandela was particularly struck
by Menachem Begin’s The Revolt,
chronicling the fight to establish the
State of Israel against both British and
local Arab opposition.
Later, whilst in hiding at Liliesleaf
Farm, he became closely acquainted
with Arthur Goldreich, one of some
800 Jewish South Africans who had
fought as a volunteer in the Israeli War
of Independence. Amongst the subjects
the two men discussed were Goldreich’s
experiences in the Palmach – Mandela
later wrote that Goldreich’s knowledge
of guerrilla tactics had helped fill many
gaps in his own understanding of the
subject.
This notwithstanding, during the exile
years the ANC established close ties
with the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
When Mandela was released at
the beginning of 1990, it was thus to be
expected that he would demonstrate his
support for the Palestinian cause.
Nevertheless, it came as a shock to
South African Jews to see photographs
of Mandela warmly embracing PLO
leader Yassir Arafat at Namibia’s independence
celebrations in March 1990,
and Mandela’s initially dismissive response
to their unhappiness heightened
their uneasiness.
How would a democratic South Africa
relate to Israel, given the historical ties
of the African National Congress with
the PLO, and the strong Zionism of
South African Jewry?
AN INVITATION OF
PEACE
Through his friend, advocate Isie
Maisels, Mandela initiated the first
formal meeting with SA’s Jewish communal
leadership in June 1990. He
was clearly chastened by the backlash
36

MANDELA AND ISRAEL
against his brushing off of Jewish concerns,
and wished to allay the community’s
uneasiness.
The discussion touched on three recurring
themes: Mandela’s respect and
admiration for the Jewish community
and his hope that Jews would use their
skills to contribute positively to South
Africa; a recognition of the right of
Israel and Palestine to exist peacefully
within secure borders; and a refusal
to abandon leaders who supported the
anti-apartheid struggle.
“Nelson Mandela
was particularly struck by
Begin’s The Revolt,
chronicling the fight to
establish the State of Israel
against both British and local
Arab opposition.”
The 1993 Oslo Accords thawed the ANC’s
relations with Israel. Incoming Israeli
Ambassador Alon Liel recalls an early
morning phone-call: “‘Israel is the only
country that has not invited me yet for an
official visit,’ was [Mandela’s] welcoming
sentence. I apologised and promised this
would be corrected very soon.
Mandela was thrilled to hear that Israel
had repealed the law banning talks with
PLO representatives.
‘Rabin is doing the right thing,’ he said,
From now on we will judge Israel on its
future deeds. We do not forget your past
assistance to the apartheid regime, but
we look ahead and want to see our Palestinian
friends fulfilling their dreams
too.’”
POLITICAL
UNDERSTANDING
The following year, Mandela asked Liel
to write an urgent cable to Rabin, saying
that he rather than himself and President
FW de Klerk deserved that year’s
Nobel Peace Prize.
Immediately after his presidential inauguration
in May 1994, Mandela hosted
the first meeting between President
Ezer Weitzman and Yasser Arafat, at the
Union Buildings. Liel wrote, “Mandela
told them: ‘Take the nearby office and
use the opportunity to settle your differences
– good luck!!’
“Israel is the only
country that has not invited me
yet for an official visit,’
was [Mandela’s] welcoming
sentence.”
The two leaders sat for three hours, but
as you all know, we still need a Mandela
to complete the mission.” At the memorial
service for Yitzchak Rabin at Johannesburg’s
Oxford Synagogue in 1995,
Mandela praised Rabin’s courage in his
quest for peace, and hoped his tragic
murder would not derail negotiations.
Mandela’s long-awaited visit to Israel
occurred after he’d left office, in October
1999. He was accompanied by Russell
Gaddin and Marlene Bethlehem, respectively
Chairman and President of the
SAJBD. Amongst those met with were
President Ezer Weitzman, selected senior
Cabinet ministers and Chief Rabbi
Lau. He also, at his specific request,
visited Rabin’s grave. Continued on pg 38
37

MANDELA AND ISRAEL
Gaddin describes how Mandela’s presence
was greeted by a large crowd
gathered in the lobby of Jerusalem’s
King David Hotel: “Mandela exclaimed,
‘My rabbi, my rabbi! How
good to see you!’ when he saw Chief
Rabbi Harris … People were pushing
and shoving to see the icon who had
arrived in their midst.
A large number of rabbis who happened
to be in the hotel, bedecked in their
black coats, hats and streimels, lost all
decorum. Everyone wanted to touch,
be near and shake hands with the great
man.” Gaddin recalls similarly enthusiastic
scenes when Mandela visited Yad
Vashem and the Via Dolora in Jerusalem’s
Old City.
SPEAKING
SETTLEMENTS
Mandela often hosted Jewish leaders
for informal Sunday discussions at this
home, and inevitably the Middle East
was discussed.
According to businessman Solly Krok,
“Time and again [Mandela] would tell
me: ‘Let me mediate in the Middle East.
There is no reason why I should not be
friends with your enemies.’ He felt he
had the solution – land for guaranteed
peace. But, of course, the solution never
has been and never will be that simple.”
Mandela never regarded Israel as “an
illegitimate colonial entity” as many of
local Muslim leaders had hoped.
“For Mandela, there
was no reason why
Israelis and Palestinians could
not emulate South Africa’s
peaceful negotiated
settlement.”
Nevertheless, his sympathies for the Palestinians
were reflected through a lens
equating their plight to the anti-apartheid
struggle, even when presented with
contrary arguments, such as the contrast
between the inclusive, humanitarian
vision espoused in the Freedom Charter
and the destruction of Israel sought in
the Palestine National Covenant and
Hamas Charter.
For Mandela, there was no reason why
Israelis and Palestinians could not emulate
South Africa’s peaceful negotiated
settlement. He was disappointed that
this could not happen, despite his wellmeaning
efforts. □
This article is based on extracts from
Jewish Memories of Mandela, written
by David Saks and co-published
by the South African Jewish Board of
Deputies and the Umoja Foundation.
It explores the myriad relations that
Mandela forged with Jewish individuals
and organisations from the 1940s.
This magnificent linen-bound book
contains over 200 photographs, many
never published before. E-mail beagle@
beyachad.co.za to order at R400 (recommended
retail price R450).
Steven Gruzd is the Senior Researcher
and Diplomatic Liaison at the SAJBD.
38