Israel & Progressive politics in South africa: Lessons from moses hess

BY GLEN HENECK

 
communal matters
[trends & prospects]

exploring the concerns of the south african Jewish community

​In this article Glen Heneck reflects on how an ideological impasse over Israel is preventing progressive South African Jews from finding a home in the broad left today.  

---

Black & white? Anti-apartheid activism & the Z-word

UNTIL the 1990s progressivism came relatively easy. South Africa was still under dark white rule and getting that undone was a straightforward and compelling ideal. As Jewish activists we did not have to spend much time worrying (or arguing) about what we were for, because we were perfectly clear as to what we were against. 

Would that things were so simple today. 

"This is not to say that, at the time, the Palestinian struggle was a non-issue on the left ... it had long been a popular cause; it just could not match the battle against Apartheid in terms of either optics or popularity".

Read More