08 May 2007
A South African government minister has rejected criticism from the country’s Jewish community over Pretoria's offer to host the Palestinian Authority’s prime minister, who is a leading member of the Hamas movement. Intelligence minister Ronald Kasrils issued a statement defending his government's decision to invite Ismail Haniya, who has headed the Hamas-led government since the spring of 2006. "Those who myopically object to such invitations merely show that they have learnt nothing from South Africa's transition," Kasrils said, referring to the defunct apartheid regime.
South Africa's Jewish Board of Deputies has denounced the "racist ideology" of Hamas and described a Haniya visit as at odds with the country's post-apartheid spirit. Kasrils, who is Jewish, is known for his anti-Zionist views and has been a fierce critic of Israel. He said he backed Israeli-Palestinian coexistence despite the fact that Hamas has repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel.
