Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CAPETOWN15
2009-01-22 16:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Cape Town
Cable title:  

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO SA ADDRESSES MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

Tags:  PGOV KDEM IS GZ SF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2712
PP RUEHDU RUEHJO
DE RUEHTN #0015/01 0221649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221649Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2935
INFO RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 6283
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0206
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0013
RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 2086
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 3225
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAPE TOWN 000015 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IS GZ SF
SUBJECT: ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO SA ADDRESSES MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

REFTEL: CAPE TOWN 0013

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAPE TOWN 000015

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IS GZ SF
SUBJECT: ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO SA ADDRESSES MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

REFTEL: CAPE TOWN 0013


1. (SBU) On January 16, Poloff attended the parliamentary Committee
on Foreign Affairs meeting where the recently-arrived Israeli
Ambassador to South Africa, Dov Segev Steinberg, appeared to discuss
the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian faction Hamas in
Gaza. In general, the proceedings were a quite hostile towards the
Ambassador with several MPs venting their disappointment with the
Israeli government for refusing to meet with a group of MPs from the
committee during their trip to the region in July 2008. Poloff spoke
to Ambassador Steinberg before the meeting, who said he was "happy
to see a friendly face" since he knew he would be receiving tough
criticism from the committee.

--------------
DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN
--------------

2. (U) The Committee Chair, Job Sitole (ANC),began the proceedings
by stating his disappointment with the Israeli leadership when a
group from the Foreign Affairs Committee visited Israel in 2008.
After the chair's opening remarks, Ambassador Steinberg replied by
saying he refused to be "bashed" by the committee like he had been
"bashed" by the SA Deputy Foreign Minister three weeks ago.
(Steinberg did not say which of the two Deputy Foreign Ministers he
met with, but it is likely it was Fatima Hajaig rather than Su Van
de Merve.) He continued by saying, "he wants to see a more balanced
attitude from South Africa." MP Mawalal Ramgobin (ANC) asked
Ambassador Steinberg to withdraw his remark that he was "bashed" by
the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ramgobin continued by
saying that Steinberg should not tell the committee what to do and
that the Ambassador should show respect towards the committee. Chair
Sitole and MP Steve Swart (ACDP) said that the Ambassador was
entitled to his opinion, but also noted that the committee would not
hold back in its questioning.


3. (U) Ambassador Steinberg spent most of his presentation showing
video clips and power point presentations depicting the current
situation in Gaza. He began the presentation by noting that on
December 19, Hamas broke the six month long truce by shelling
Southern Israel. Throughout the presentation, Steinberg stressed
that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) targets only Hamas and other
terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, but noted that Hamas targets

Israeli civilians. He also explained that Israelis try and limit
harm to Palestinian civilians during their attacks on Gaza by
dropping warning pamphlets from the air and calling Palestinian
civilians to warn them prior to strikes so that they can leave the
targeted area. However, instead of leaving the area often civilians
stand on the rooftop of the targeted building hoping to discourage
the IDF from attacking, said Steinberg.


4. (U) Ambassador Steinberg also noted that Hamas stockpiles weapons
and ammunition in civilian homes, hospitals, schools and mosques.
He also said that Hamas uses women and children as human shields,
contrary to international law, "so that Israel will be blamed for
bombing these civilian targets." Since the beginning of the current
conflict, Israel has sent 2300 trucks carrying humanitarian aid into
the Gaza strip, Steinberg said.


5. (U) Steinberg also discussed the role of other countries in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in particular Iran. He noted that
"Israel does not have anything against Iran, but Iran wants to
eliminate the state of Israel." He also said that Iran is very
Qeliminate the state of Israel." He also said that Iran is very
radical and tries to eliminate Israel through the military arm of
Hamas." In terms of other Arab countries, Steinberg said they were
divided among the radical elements such as Iran and Syria and
moderate countries like the Gulf countries and Egypt. Steinberg said
as soon as Hamas quits shelling southern Israel then the cease fire
will prevail and both parties can continue with negotiations for
establishing a peace agreement and establishing an independent
Palestinian state next to an independent Israeli state.


--------------
APARTHEID LEGACIES, FRIENDS FROM EXILE
--------------

6. (U) After the Ambassador's presentation, MP Madasa said there
needs to be a political solution and further stated, "since the
advent of the Bush administration, Bush categorized the world as us
or them -- those who are against the U.S. and those who are not --
and as a result there is more terrorism today." MP Ramgobin added,
there is no place for terrorism in either Israel or Palestine and
said, "apartheid was like a Sunday picnic compared to what is
currently happening in Gaza." Ramgobin asked Ambassador Steinberg
why Israel disregarded the January 9 UNSCR and continued by asking
"if it is possible for the international community to demand the
equivalent of a Nuremberg trial for the current Israeli leadership?"
Ambassador Steinberg said "Israel obeys UN resolutions when they
are fair and are trying to solve the problem, but do not obey when

CAPE TOWN 00000015 002 OF 002


the UN is not fair," to which MP Ramgobin responded, "just like
America and Iraq do." Steinberg also said he saw no relation between
the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Holocaust.


7. (U) Several MPs asked the Ambassador about the "proportionality"
of the attacks and about human rights violations with one MP opining
"the disproportionate response by Israel may signify a hidden agenda
-- the elimination of Gaza." Steinberg responded by saying that if
Israel shelled with the same amount of rockets as Hamas does, Gaza
would be "wiped out." He also noted that the only violations of
human rights was by the Palestinian side who used civilians as human
shields and vehemently opposed the assertion that Israel was using
white phosphorous in its attacks against Gaza.


8. (SBU) Comment. South Africa's interest in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be viewed against its own recent
anti-apartheid history where opponents to the South African regime
were consigned to exile during the height of Cold War polarization.
Zionism, in the thinking of the ruling African National Congress
party as well as other formerly anti-apartheid progressive groups,
is increasingly equated with apartheid and the Palestinian struggle
is likened to disadvantaged majority in South Africa's struggle
against apartheid. In addition, the ANC, during its exile years, had
strong ties with inter alia the PLO, Iran, Libya, and Syria. For
the ANC, these were their friends in need, and remain their friends
indeed. These ties have remained intact and strengthened over the
years. Although both the Jewish and Muslim populations have deep
roots in South Africa, more Muslims have occupied leadership
positions within the ANC since its inception and continue to do so
and support for Palestine is particularly strong among the Muslim
population. All these factors have resulted in South Africa
declaring its solidarity with and support for Palestine, and calling
upon Israel to relinquish Palestinian territory. Influential opinion
leaders in South Africa have joined other voices advocating in
international forums to equating Zionism with Racism. Should a
negotiated comprehensive settlement based on the two state solution
not be reached in the near future, it is predictable that the South
African government will take a harsher stance on Israel. End
comment.