In the Middle East, communities are expected to be endogamous, and that is the culture, unlike in the West. So no non-Muslim may touch a moslem woman; a druze may not marry a non-druze, etc. The article's author may wish to disagree, but he never objected to the phenomenon in any other situations. To call that "Zionist Racism" is racist and anti-Semitic, since some of the reaction came from very conservative quarters that do not consider themselves Zionist.
Yes, he said Jewish community, but he also said "one of the reasons", and "pleased to be in Israel", and he firmly believed in the Jews' right to a state.
The article is categorical and demagogic. Here is a statement by Manderla: “One of the reasons I am so pleased to be in Israel is as a tribute to the enormous contribution of the Jewish community of South Africa. I am so proud of them.”
In the Middle East, communities are expected to be endogamous, and that is the culture, unlike in the West. So no non-Muslim may touch a moslem woman; a druze may not marry a non-druze, etc. The article's author may wish to disagree, but he never objected to the phenomenon in any other situations. To call that "Zionist Racism" is racist and anti-Semitic, since some of the reaction came from very conservative quarters that do not consider themselves Zionist.
Yes, he said Jewish community, but he also said "one of the reasons", and "pleased to be in Israel", and he firmly believed in the Jews' right to a state.
The article is categorical and demagogic. Here is a statement by Manderla: “One of the reasons I am so pleased to be in Israel is as a tribute to the enormous contribution of the Jewish community of South Africa. I am so proud of them.”
For a more balanced description of the complex relationship between Israel and Mandela, please see
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Contributors/Mandela-and-Israel-334174