A protest in Cape Town featured anti-Israel activists with wanted posters targeting Jewish community members, calling for their arrest or deportation. Many of those named deny wrongdoing. The escalation of antisemitism in South Africa has been linked to recent events in Israel, raising concerns about increasing hostility and violence against Jews.
During a recent protest in Cape Town’s Sea Point Promenade, a group of anti-Israel activists displayed wanted posters featuring names and photographs of members from South Africa’s Jewish community, demanding their arrest or deportation. Many individuals named in the posters deny any wrongdoing, with some stating they have neither lived nor worked in Israel.
A Johannesburg educator expressed dismay upon seeing her image on one of the posters, stating, “The most important thing is that when I saw it, I felt proud to be Jewish, and I will always fight for Israel’s right to exist.”
Another Jewish individual criticized the implications of the posters, highlighting the disturbing message that he is “guilty” for being Jewish. He remarked on the unsettling nature of fellow South Africans calling for punishment against Jews in their community.
Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, there has been a significant rise in antisemitism in South Africa, according to Daniel Bloch, Executive Director of the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD). He noted aggressive protests that have included violent rhetoric and assaults on pro-Israel supporters.
Bloch reported that videos captured a group of protesters assaulting a pedestrian while verbally attacking him. Additionally, many protest posters featured incendiary slogans, indicating a shift toward aggression rather than peaceful protest.
Adrienne Jacobson, Chairperson of Cape SAJBD, described these protests as “targeted harassment,” stating they thinly disguise antisemitism and intimidation of Jews. The glorification of Hamas and calls for violence raise serious concerns, ever more pressing in light of recent violence against innocent individuals, including the Bibas children.
The protests in South Africa reflect a disturbing rise in antisemitism, marked by targeted harassment of Jewish individuals. The demand for the arrest or deportation of Jewish community members demonstrates a troubling trend of aggression and violence amid anti-Israel sentiments. Key activists are raising alarm over the hostile rhetoric and behavior exhibited during these events.
Original Source: www.jpost.com
