A group of American Black leaders who returned Wednesday morning from a 10-day mission to Israel called on Israel to spearhead the fight against South Africa’s apartheid policy. They said that it would be a significant step for Israel to take. In a press conference at the headquarters of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, the 20 members of the delegation, which was headed by the Rev. Charles Stith, Atlanta City Council President, and Martin Luther King III, son of the late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., said that they applaud the decision by the Israeli government to phase out its military contracts with South Africa.
A statement on behalf of the delegation, which was read at the press conference by Stith, said: “In our meetings with Israeli leaders we recommended that Israel seek to establish some high level contacts with Black South African leaders. We believe it is in Israel’s strong self-interest to undertake such official outreach to the leaders of Black South Africa. We also believe such contacts would do much to demonstrate to South African Blacks and American Blacks that Israel is committed to opposing apartheid and is making serious efforts to seek its termination.”
Departing from the written statement, Stith said that the delegation was “greatly impressed” by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres’ candor in explaining to the group the steps Israel has undertaken to abolish its ties with South Africa.
OBJECTIVE OF THE VISIT
During their visit to Israel, which was sponsored by the ADL, the Black leaders, prominent in politics, law, business, broadcasting and religious life, met with Ethiopian Jews, Soviet Jews, Palestinian Arabs, Israeli leaders and Israelis from all walks of life. They also met with members of the Black Hebrews in Israel.
“Our objective in travelling to Israel was to enhance and encourage the improvement of relations between Blacks and Jews in all communities around America,” the Black leaders stated. They said that as a result of their mission, they resolved to pursue joint efforts with the Jewish community on behalf of Soviet and Ethiopian Jews.
“We resolved that immediate joint efforts need to be undertaken through direct contacts with the Ethiopian government regarding the emigration of Ethiopian Jews,” who still remain in that country, the statement said.
“Regarding the situation of Black Hebrews in Israel,” the statement continued, “we strongly encourage timely efforts on the part of the U.S. and Israel to address the compelling humanitarian needs surrounding the Black Hebrews.”
Concluding, the Black leaders said: “We resolve to work together, to do all we can to ensure that Black-Jewish relations in America cannot be determined or thought to be determined by the words or actions of few. Instead they will be determined by the actions of all of us in our local communities where the lives of our communities are truly touched.”
The Black leaders were joined in their mission by four Jewish community leaders headed by Leonard Zakim, director of the ADL’s New England Regional Office. According to ADL officials, the just-concluded mission has been the third visit by American Black leaders to Israel in recent years.
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