South Africa accuses Israel of genocide, ignores its own anti-Semitism
South Africa wraps itself in a mantle of self-righteousness, summoning Israel to the International Criminal Court on a charge of genocide. South Africa confirms Hamas’ war crimes of Oct. 7, then happily skips over them to Israel’s response, as if self-defense were genocide.
Meanwhile, South Africa also skips over its own dismal track record on the very crime Hamas is guilty of: anti-Semitism.
The accuser, South Africa, would be consistent if it turned its prosecutorial gesture against itself. But then again, hypocrisy has never phased South Africa. For decades it defended apartheid; then, after an historic shift in government that ended the dastardly system, the new government failed to build a safe society.
This is the accuser that Israel faces in the international court.
The accuser is also anti-Semitic. A JTA report confirms this:
David Teeger, a rising star on South Africa’s cricket scene, has been removed as the country’s Under-19 team captain on the eve of the world championship competition, which South Africa is hosting.
Teeger wasn’t removed because he was incompetent or because of unsportsmanlike conduct. He was removed because he is Jewish.
Cricket South Africa cited threats to Teeger, but instead of condemning the threats, and instead of talking all steps to protect Teeger on and off the field, Cricket South Africa bent to the bigotry and removed him from his captaincy.
Why the threats against Teeger? Because of Israel’s military response to the war that Hamas launched on Oct. 7. Instead of standing up to these threats, South Africa heads off to the International Criminal Court. Physician, heal thyself!
Cricket South Africa issued this courageous statement:
“We have been advised that protests related to the war in Gaza can be anticipated at the venues for the tournament. We have also been advised that they are likely to focus on . . . David Teeger. CSA has decided that David should be relieved of the captaincy for the tournament.”
We are reminded of the behavior of college administrators when Jewish students are no longer safe on campus. Some administrators respond kangaroo-like, if they respond at all. Hear no evil, see no evil.
However, in the US, there is a Department of Education that is authorized to investigate charges of danger to Jewish students on campus, and to require major changes, if the charges are verified.
In the US, at least, the Secretary of Education doesn’t duck the issue by telling Jews to duck out and lay low. Sec. Miguel Cardona says:
“I had a student when I visited Towson University, a Jewish student, who told me that he believes that it’s become normalized in our country to kind of brush aside anti-Semitism more so than any other form of hate and discrimination.
“That to me was repulsive. As a father that really got to me, that there’s a student that thinks that anti-Semitism is normalized and treated differently. And that was even before the [Oct. 7] attacks.”
Cricket South Africa tells David Teeger to diminish his Jewishness. In contrast, Sec. Cardona says:
“You need a culture and a climate on campus that is willing to engage in problem-solving when conflicts arise. This is an opportunity for colleges to stand up forcefully in protecting the safety of students on campus.
“I don’t want any Jewish students to feel like they have to hide symbols of their faith because of what’s happening on campus. I don’t want any student to feel that they have to hide their identity to be successful on campus.
How much in South Africa has really changed? Judging from Cricket South Africa’s demotion of David Teeger, there is no problem-solving. Rather, the victim is blamed. Once the victims were black. Now the victims are Jews or supporters of Israel.
In the case of Teeger, his demotion is not the first time he has been blamed. When allegations of hate speech against him arose for supporting Israeli soldiers following Oct. 7, did Cricket South Africa take action against those who verbally attacked Teeger? No, it suspended Teeger! It blamed the victim and shut down pro-Israel speech.
That’s South Africa today.
That’s the country that’s running of to the International Criminal Court to blame Israel. Blame the Jewish victim. It’s a South African habit.
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