South African BDSers Sing ‘Shoot the Jew’ at Event Featuring Israeli Saxophonist

[shira]

A concert at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa featuring Israeli saxophonist Daniel Zamir turned ugly Wednesday night when members of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) group began to sing, “dubula e juda” (“shoot the Jew”) as concert attendees were entering the music hall, according to Wits Vuvuzela, a paper affiliated with the university.

Wits Vuvuzela, reported that BDS protestors also chanted “there is no such thing as Israel” and “Israel apartheid.”

Despite the hateful rhetoric, Muhammed Desai, coordinator of BDS South Africa, rejected the notion that anti-Semitism played a role in the group’s protest, telling Wits Vuvuzela that “the whole idea [of] anti-Semitism is blown out of proportion.”

But despite the controversy, members of the Jewish community praised the university for its handling of the event. The president of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), Zev Krengel said Wits handled the event well: “The team was great. I could not fault Wits in anyway.”

http://www.tlvfaces.com/south-african-bdsers-sing-shoot-the-jew-at-event-featuring-israeli-saxophonist/

[Alamuti Lotus]

1. Strange story

I am legitimately curious--what is the history of the Jewish people in southern Africa? The only thing I can think of is that Israel was very close allies with the other apartheid regime, even to the extent of providing them with nuclear weapons and other closely integrated military support. Do you suppose that there is some residual resentment from this time period, or do you imagine this sort of event--that's even assuming it is remotely accurate, the site itself is definitely not a credible outlet, of which more anon--to be entirely baseless eruption of malevolent evil?

I looked at the rest of that site. Pretty bonkers stuff, borderline batshit crazy with paranoia and absolutely unveiled racist chauvinism. I particularly enjoyed the article by Dr. Mordechai Kedarm urging for the support of al-Nusrah and other Syrian militants because it's bad for Iran, whom "we must fight with its agents in every way possible". There's probably more, and worse--since I notice its tendency for reposting IDF propaganda submissions verbatim--, but I feel strong compulsion to find a way to wash my eyes out.

[shira]

2. (EDITED) Original source is Wits Vuvuzela, the University Paper.

http://witsvuvuzela.com/2013/08/29/with-gallery-audio-bds-protests-daniel-zamir-concert-at-wits/

[Alamuti Lotus]

3. TLV's source is Algemeiner, which is certainly not helping its credibility

However, by some roundabout route I am finding more about the event from that "Wits Vuvuzela" source. The event seems mired in much mutual acrimony and petty, annoying puffery, I probably won't read much further. My original question stands and I remain curious; address it if you wish, or not.

[shira]

4. To answer you, I choose (B). Baseless eruption..... n/t

[Alamuti Lotus]

5. You seriously make no connection between Israeli support of the apartheid government..

with present anti-Israeli sentiment? I make no comment on the exact nature of that sentiment--not being aware enough of it to sufficiently do so--, but I find it absolutely imbecilic and naive to see no line between these points.

[shira]

6. No. Just as I see no reason Jewish apes & pigs should be targeted in terror attacks.....

....because they might happen to be Zionists.

To turn this around on you so that you better understand my POV....

Many of the Jews' Arab neighbors in that region have acted pretty shitty towards them for centuries. Does that make Kahanist chants of "kill the Arabs" any less offensive? Is it imbecilic and naive not to be aware of the Jews' history of being oppressed in that region for centuries?

A little history lesson:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/Jews_in_Arab_lands_(gen).html

[oberliner]

7. Jews were persecuted in South Africa before modern-day Israel existed

if you are curious, there is a lot out there you can read on the subject.