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| Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro |
I say this knowing full well about his antipathy for the State of Israel. Something I obviously very strongly disagreed with him about. But I also understand where he was coming from. He incorrectly saw an Apartheid type state in Israel. He saw an oppressed people in the Palestinains who live under Israeli occupation. In his mind that mirrored what happened in his own country during its Apartheid years – before he and then President F.W. de Klerk joined forces to end Apartheid and form a unity government. Where all its citizens would be treated equally and given the power to vote.
The most remarkable thing about Mandela was in his ability
to forgive his tormentors. And by example to convince his people to forgive the
government for Apartheid. He was not always that forgiving. In fact he was
pretty violent during his African National Congress (ANC) days. The ANC turned
violent after a particularly harsh crackdown on a peaceful protest. People were
killed. It was ANC violence that landed him in prison under a life sentence. He
was released from prison 27 years later after an international boycott of South
Africa – demanding the end of Apartheid and his release.
Mandela emerged from prison a changed man. His time in prison
was spent reflecting on the problems of his country and how to best handle
them. He knew that any real change would best come by dealing directly with the
Apartehid government and any change would have to include an attitude of
forgiveness and reconciliation. De Klerk too was a courageous man. He presided over the end of Apartheid and the
formation of a unity government which granted voting rights to all South
African citizens. Mandela ran for Presdient and won – becoming the first black president
of South Africa. This is a remarkable achievement if one considers the extremely harsh treatment
of its black citizens under Apartheid.
Lest anyone wonder how terrible Apartheid was, suffice it to
say that conditions in the West Bank of Israel (Judea and Sumaria) are like Disneyland
by comparison. I recall hearing descriptions of the kind of torture that blacks
endured under Apartheid. I’m told that the reaction of black South Africans who
experienced real Apartheid when they hear people comparing it to Israel’s
treatment of Palestinians - is laughter!
But that doesn’t stop the Jimmy Carters of the world from making
those comparisons. Shame on them all! While it is true that Palestinians live
under difficult conditions because of the security measures Israel must take
for its own survival… to say that this equals Apartheid is an insult to every
black South African who lived under it! I do not believe for a minute that Nelson
Mandela believed that the conditions on the West Bank are the same as they were
in Apartheid South Africa.
This is the way I see Mandela. It took a man of very high character and
moral conviction to accomplish that kind of peaceful transition. To the best of
my knowledge there were no reprisals taken by blacks against their former oppressors.
I believe that can be directly attributed to the example set by Mandela. He set
the tone for the new South Africa. He served one term and then retired from
politics. But his influence is still felt.
Nelson Mandela was an inspiring figure. Those who say he was
an anti Semite because of his negative attitude towards Israel truly do not
understand this man. His relationship with the Jewish community of South Africa
was very warm. His views about Palestinians were obviously colored by his experiences
with Apartheid. He saw an oppressed people and an oppressor government. He thus sided with the oppressed. He
considered Yassir Arafat a comrade in arms – struggling for his Palestinian people
that way he - Mandela - struggled for his.
But he always supported Israel’s existence. He probably believed
that there would be the same kind of reconciliation there as in South Africa. I
had once hoped that too.
Much as I wish that were true, Mandela was very wrong about
that. The history of the Arab Israeli conflict has taught the Jewish State some
very important lessons. They have learned that the theology of the Islam sees
Israel as completely illegitimate. They have learned the hard way that Islamic fundamentalists
advocate the destruction of Israel at all costs – including the cost of innocent
lives among of their own people if necessary. They have learned that Islamic Fundamentalism
is an overpowering force among Arabs.
They have learned that making peace with moderate Arabs (who
in theory believe that Israel does not have a right to exist but are willing to
make practical concessions to their existence for peace) are poor peace
partners. Because Fundamentalism always seems to win over moderation and will
overtake any peaceful government that would result under a peace treaty. Same as
Gaza. So as things stand now making peace with moderates is not a realistic option
in my view.
Nelson Mandela somehow did not see any of that. He thus felt
that peace should be pursued without regard for the negative consequences. Not because
he didn’t care about them. But because he didn’t believe they would happen. Unfortunately
experience has taught Israel that he was very wrong.
But despite his errors of judgment about Israel, his
greatness remains. The fact is that he had views that were problematic not only
for Israel, but for the United States. For example he supported the Iranian Revolution and laid a wreath at the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeni! He also admired Fidel
Castro. The United States is surely not all that thrilled about that.
But none of that factored into the admiration that virtually
all leaders of the free world had. Including 3 of the four former
living Presidents of the United States and the current one whoall traveled to
South Africa to attend his funeral. Which brings me to Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu. He decided not to attend. He cited the high cost of security during an austerity budget. I would not be surprised if Mandela’s negative views
about Israel contributed to his reason for staying away. But he was wrong. He
should have attended – even if he disagreed with him.
Nelson Mandela was a good man. The good he did for his people
and his country… and the contributions he has made to the world by his example
is rare among leaders. Israel should have been there to acknowledge that.
