Jews were there long before Palestinians

DR AHMED Jazbhay, in his comment in Daily News’ sister paper, The Star, seems to be rather economical with the truth.

He keeps claiming that the appointment of Israel as an observer in the AU was a unilateral decision.

The truth is that Israel was appointed by most African countries, despite the South African objections, but to the great advantage of all the African countries, including South Africa. He talks a great deal about colonisation.

If Jazbhay knew his history, he would know that this land of Israel was inhabited by the first Jew, Abraham, 2 500 years ago.

Since then, the Jews have occupied this land, even after being exiled and expelled by conquerors like the Romans, Babylonians and Turks and British, always to return and settle there once again.

They have been ruled by the Jewish kings, Saul, David Solomon and a host of other Jewish kings long before anyone heard of the Palestinians.

The people who call themselves Palestinians were always ruled by Jordan who expelled most of them for the trouble they caused. Even before the State of Israel was declared, the Arabs tried to eliminate these Jews, afflicting numerous pogroms on them. There was no colonisation since the Jews were living there long before the Palestinians arrived.

It is time for Dr Jazbay to accept that the Jews and Israel are there to stay, and try to make peace with it.

MAURICE SACKSTEIN | Birnam Park