Israel’s attack on Desai is a badge of honour

AMID the collapse of Israel's reputation globally, based on the failure of Israel’s lobbyists to hide the truth, the Israeli lobby desperately continues its endless attempts to confuse the public.

As seven different South African political parties have come out condemning the human rights violations committed by Israel, as over 300 South African hardware stores cancel over R200 million of contracts with pro-Israeli companies, as our president speaks openly about Israel’s apartheid, as our government considers a total closure of diplomatic relations with Israel and as the Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng desperately attempts to win an appeal against a ruling by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) that he must apologise for bringing his office into disrepute – the Zionist Federation decided to lodge a complaint against retired Judge Siraj Desai.

It is interesting that the complainant notarised his documents in Israel and sent them to the JSC from Israel, showing the obvious interference and involvement by Israel in this attack on Judge Desai.

The intention of this complaint is to try to defame or tarnish his reputation and to distract the public from the controversy Mogoeng Mogoeng is being held to account for. The distraction would probably aim to perpetuate the “two sides” or its “complicated” tactic used to confuse the public.

There are many ironies in this complaint, first that it took the Zionist Federation 5 years to decide that there was a controversy and that the JSC should hold judge Desai to account. This in itself makes the “controversy” argument invalid, but the fact that his utterances and actions are consistent with our country’s foreign policy position, international law, human rights watch’s recent reports and even our president’s statements make it impossible to be called controversial.

The “allegations” that Judge Desai has been instrumental in supporting human rights and solidarity efforts are compliments and have made him a celebrated hero across the country. The attempts to defame him have backfired so badly that the public and numerous human rights organisations are issuing press statements congratulating him for his incredible efforts.

The Zionist Federation have also brought attention to the fact saying “Apartheid Israel” is neither anti-semitic nor controversial, but honest and truthful. While saying “I stand with Israel” is controversial because it means you support human rights violations, you don’t support our government’s position and that you stand in support of an apartheid oppressive system.

The correct and moral response of the South Africa people to those who have courted controversy by declaring “I stand with Israel” has been to make sure anyone “standing with Israel” loses business, gets reprimanded, has to apologise or even gets dismissed for bringing their work places into disrepute.

Judge Desai has nothing to apologise for. He has been accused of being on the correct side of history, on the side of the oppressed and this Israeli complaint is truly a badge of honour which he should wear proudly.