Story and pics by Steph Hodes

Despite calls by student groups for a boycott of a visiting Israeli student delegation called What Is Rael last week, the delegation received unexpectedly warm welcomes from Palestinian envoy Ambassador Ali Hamlleh and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu during their ten-day visit to SA.

The students, who were invited and hosted by the South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) in partnership with the World Union of Jewish Students, represented the broad spectrum of political views found in Israeli society. With the increase of anti-Israel propaganda on campuses across SA, SAUJS felt it was time for a fresh approach to traditional Israel advocacy. The objective of the project was for ordinary South African students to meet authentic Israelis and engage in honest and open dialogue about the conflict and life in Israel.

Catching wind of the project before the students arrived, pro-Palestinian groups immediately called on student societies to boycott the visit of what they labeled “apartheid agents coming to polish Israel’s image.”

They also claimed the students had been deployed by the Israeli government, and declared that “SA campuses must be apartheid Israel-free zones.”

Despite intimidation and threats by various student societies the Israeli students held panel discussions at Wits, UJ and UCT. They also visited TUKS and Stellenbosch Universities.

Attempts by pro-Palestinian groups to disrupt these visits were disappointing on a number of levels. Their insistence that ordinary students be prevented from dialogue with the Israelis displayed their immense discomfort with contradicting views on campus, revealing what appeared to be their own skewed narrative and a clear agenda by those purporting to represent Palestinians.

Using the Apartheid analogy to stir up emotions, they rejected dialogue on all fronts, stating that boycotts were instrumental in the defeat of the apartheid regime in South Africa”, and in turn, boycotting Israel would be the “kernel in overthrowing the oppression of Palestinians”.

In doing so, these groups trampled on freedom of thought and expression, fundamental values held dear by our universities.

Instead of recognizing the role South Africans could play in this conflict - that of sharing our own lessons of reconciliation and nation-building - the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) working group was shown up for acting ‘more Palestinian than the Palestinians,’ and presenting radical views that were later dismissed by Palestinian envoy Amb. Ali Hamlleh.

The Ambassador, who welcomed the students personally at a meeting at his office in Pretoria, assured them that the pro-Palestinian groups they had encountered on campus were not funded by the embassy. He told the students that these groups did not represent the views of the Palestinian Authority, which rejects the notion of boycotting Israel all together.

Ambassador Hamlleh endorsed the idea of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, and wished the group well on their visit to SA.

At the request of SAUJS, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu met with the students in Cape Town. Tutu, who has been a figurehead in the boycott of Israel campaign, affirmed his belief that Israel has a right to exist within secure borders. He did however convey his disapproval of some actions of the Jewish State, whose people he says have a long history of oppression and persecution, and should thus be more sensitive than anyone else to human rights.

He expressed his sincere desire for peace between Israeli and Palestinians and an end to the conflict. At the request of one of the Israeli students, Tutu said a prayer for the victims of a terrorism attack that had taken place in Israel just minutes before the meeting.

What was by far the most disappointing aspect of the trip, was the unwillingness of SA student representatives to stand up for the values of freedom of speech and democracy.

The only Student Representative Council (SRC) to denounce the dirty tactics of the student groups, who tried to prevent dialogue, was UCT. Its president, Amanda Ngwenya, attended the panel discussion at UCT and later expressed outrage and regret after well-known activist Zackie Achmat and Israeli anarchist Jonathan Pollack continuously disrupted the event in an aggressive and undignified manner.

The brave student took a stand against what she labeled “bully tactics.” Writing to the Mail & Guardian about the experience, Ngwenya said Achmat’s behaviour “was an affront to freedom of thought and expression.” She further wrote that “UCT students did not reap the benefit of being at a university — that of being able to process ideas and formulate disagreement or agreement. Instead they were bullied and prevented from individual inquiry.”

Despite the hostility faced on campuses and the constant attacks on their integrity, the Israeli students remained undeterred and completed their trip with determination and conviction.

Unaffiliated students on campus received the Israelis well, and showed eagerness to listen to their side of the story, resulting in new friendships being formed and an overall deeper understanding of the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

SAUJS is proud to have hosted this initiative and believes that peace will only be achieved through dialogue. We will continue to pursue and defend freedom of speech on our campuses and stand up to those who try to denounce the existence of our Jewish State through meaningful dialogue and engagement.

Steph Hodes is the national chair of the SA Union of Jewish Students.

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IS-RAEL members engaging with Desmond Tutu.jpg

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