Facts about Israel needed

THE LEADER of the opposition is a major player in the politics of our country, and if South Africa is to stand up and be counted globally, our opposition party needs to be at least as informed as our government.

Mmusi Maimane’s fact-finding visit to Israel was therefore important and commendable.

I cannot agree with Sataar Parker of the Gatesville Mosque Board Trust when he asserts, with reference to the Israel-Palestine peace process, that “the facts have been crystal clear to all freedom-loving people over the world”.

On the contrary, this is probably the most complicated conflict in all history. It seems I only ever hear three points of view on this matter: the vehemently pro-Israel, the passionately pro-Palestine, and – by far the largest group – the totally bewildered but wish they’d all just shake hands and get along.

Which just goes to show that most of us struggle to grasp the immense complexity of the issues involved.

Furthermore, unlike apartheid, the Israel-Palestine situation is muddied by religion.

And while the vast majority of us truly hope for a peaceful and fair solution, whatever it might be, there are those among the followers of all three Abrahamic religions who relish the belief that Israel will be the setting for the end of days, when their personal version of God will bring terrible and violent judgment upon their enemies.

These religious extremists – Jewish, Christian and Muslim – are not as few as most of us would like to think; and their agenda is to promote aggression between the faiths with the hope of accelerating their morbid apocalyptic showdown.

For these reasons, it is imperative that the leader of the opposition engage in fact-finding, provided of course that the purpose of his mission is indeed a sincere investigation into the nature of the peace process. GARETH AUSTIN Pinelands