World Jewish Congress leader calls for balanced approach to Middle East conflict
Johannesburg
30 August 2009
Ronald S. Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress, held talks with South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma. Lauder was in Johannesburg to participate in the 45th National Conference of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD). He asked Zuma to continue the fight against all forms of racism, intolerance and anti-Semitism in South Africa and in the region, and to pursue a balanced, fair and constructive policy with respect to the conflict in the Middle East. Lauder was accompanied to the meeting with Zuma by WJC Secretary-General Michael Schneider and SAJBD Chairman Zev Krengel. "There are no simple solutions to this complex problem. The people in South Africa should know that Israel is not an apartheid state, and they should speak out whenever such unfair and biased statements are made," the WJC president said.
"Black people in South Africa and Jews have one thing in common: we have both suffered from persecution, discrimination and marginalization in society, and we have both fought peacefully, but resolutely, to overcome bigotry and intolerance. We are friends and allies. Here and elsewhere, learning the lessons of history is important: hatred of people and groups based on religion, ethnicity or gender must never be tolerated," Lauder declared.
The meeting with the South African president was held on the sidelines of the SAJBD conference, which Lauder addressed and at which he was presented with an award by the community. He told delegates: "The future of the Jewish world tomorrow depends on the actions that are taken today. In this, South Africa can play a leading role on this continent. It can forge policies that are fair and balanced towards both Israel and the Palestinian people."
The World Jewish Congress is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 92 countries around the world. The WJC serves as the diplomatic arm of the Jewish people to governments and international organizations. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the umbrella organization of the country‟s 71,000-strong Jewish community, is the affiliate of the WJC in South Africa.
