The Russell Tribunal on Palestine - Part II

The Organizers and Volunteers
The South African organizers came mostly from the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC), Cosatu and some group allied to Desmond Tutu. The volunteers seemed to be young members of the Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) movement in Cosatu or various student left wing groups allied to BDS or PSC. Quite a few people asked me what organisation I hailed from. After the first uncomfortable meeting in which I interrupted some derogatory anti-Jewish comments, my stock reply to these questions was "I am the Zionist spy." It raised the odd surprised laugh. Of-course, they were concerned about protests, hecklers and the like. Security was tight and some old struggle fantasies about whites and the police were projected onto Jews. At one meeting, someone suggested the Jewish Defence League might turn up with their guns. It was laughable. "In your dreams", I thought, because of-course, that improbable event would recognise the Tribunal as a threat to Israel.
Attendance
The organisers were also worried about attendance. 600 people had been invited including the State President.

How does a Diaspora Jew Get to Feel OK?

With great difficulty I would say. Although many of us may lead comfortable lives, the life of a Diaspora Jew is mostly uncomfortable. Being part of any minority group requires constant questioning as you try to keep thinking, educate your children, preserve your culture and not fall into victim or oppressor roles. Furthermore, how one expresses one's identity is forever changing depending on where one lives and the changing contexts of a particular country. For instance, I would wear a Star of David in England because it states that I am proud to be a Jew and I will not be rendered invisible as a Jew. If I wore a Star of David in South Africa, it would mean to most Muslims and possibly others, that I am a Zionist and that I support the actions of the state of Israel.

Harvey Jackins

Jewish Oppression
As I say in my article about the Russell Tribunal, I used to be an anti-Zionist. That was until I met Harvey Jackins, the leader of Re-evaluation Counselling (RC), who understood the nature of Jewish oppression and who, together with Jews belonging to the RC Communities developed a draft policy on Jewish Liberation. He had observed during his radical youth, that Jews tended to take up two positions: 1) we joined left-wing organisations and fought for everyone else's liberation except our own or 2) we tended towards ghettoisation within our own communities. The key distress we carry is one of isolation and we do not expect to have allies.

Enduring Impressions of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine - Part I

It is a while since the third session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine was held in Cape Town at the District Six Museum. I needed time to reflect on the impact it had on me. I volunteered to help on the weekend of the 5th and 6th November 2011 with some trepidation. I was pretty sure there would not be many Jews there other than the diehard anti-Zionist variety like Ronnie Kasrils (a former South African Government Minister and one of the jurists) or Max Ozinsky (an ANC stalwart and invited guest). However, there were some Israelis on the witness list, and in any case, once I'd Googled it, it seemed more interesting to go than not to. I'd been asked by a former colleague, so I wondered if the organisers thought they needed trauma counsellors. To be there in my professional role felt easier than being there as a Jew.

I need to explain myself - years ago, in my more radical youth, I used to be a staunch anti-Zionist. but I had changed my position over the years. (see post above). Now, after 44 years of Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, I thought it might be an idea to reassess the situation.