Demonization, Delegitimization and Annihilation of Israel Clearly Define the Scope of the Meeting

B’nai B’rith President Seth J. Riklin and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:

We are deeply disturbed, but not surprised, that South Africa is set to host a conference from May 10-12, with a featured program that leaves no doubt that the purpose of the event is to demonize and delegitimize Israel as well as challenge Israel’s right to self-defense.

That South Africa—whose top leaders have been in recent contact with Hamas terrorists—is convening the conference is par for the course. South Africa is front-and-center when it comes to attacking Israel on the world stage.

With a subtitle of “Towards a Global Movement to Dismantle Israeli’s Settler-Colonialism and Apartheid” and panels such as, “Palestine and the Zionist project in the global context,” “75 years of Israeli occupation, colonialism, apartheid, and genocide,” “Strengthening and networking Boycotts [Divestment and Sanctions] campaigns,” “Developing handbook for a pro-Palestinian narrative and to counter pro-Israeli narrative,” and “Dimensions of the Palestinian struggle for national liberation and to dismantle occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid,” the hosts are not hiding the real agenda: to annihilate Israel.

A roster of known anti-Israel activists will be making presentations and attending sessions, including South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Naledi Pandor, who traffics in virulent anti-Israeli rhetoric; Reverend Frank Chikane, a member of the ANC ruling party; Declan Kearney, the chairman of Sinn Féin; Mustafa Barghouti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative; and Saleh Hijazi of the Palestinian BDS National Committee.

Such a conference will not facilitate peace in the region. Instead, it lends support to a terrorist ideology, and it will serve as a showcase for anti-Israel and anti-Jewish animus.