A leading pro-Government Afrikaans daily has urged closer relations between South Africa and Israel and declared that “Israel’s survival in the Middle East is a fundamental part of our own security.” The editorial in “Die Vader land” hailed the forthcoming visit of Israel’s former Premier David Ben-Gurion who will open the 1969 Israel United Appeal Emergency and Solidarity campaign here this month. “If our fellow Jewish citizens would listen to what our important visitor has come to ask–help for the building of Israel–then their contribution is also a contribution to South Africa’s security,” the paper said.
“Die Vader land” observed that “small as it is, Israel controls to an important degree the passage of Russian Communism to the east of our continent of Africa and to our strategic oceans.” The editorial said that as a result of Israel’s control over the Suez Canal, South Africa has gained “a large material as well as strategic advantage.” The reference was to the great number of ships which by-pass the shut-down Suez Canal and call at South African ports en route to and from the Indian Ocean. “Die Vader land” referred to “past differences” between South Africa and Israel which arose mainly from Israel’s opposition at the United Nations to the policy of apartheid. But the editorial said South Africa understood the situation and traced parallels in the difficult international situations confronting both Israel and South Africa.
The Jewish community here was preparing a gala welcome for Mr. Ben-Gurion who will be accompanied by Gen. Chaim Herzog, one of Israel’s top military commentators and a former chief of military intelligence.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
