South African Newspaper Raps Israel for U.N. Vote Against Apartheid

Die Transvaaler, leading pro-Government daily newspaper, sharply criticized Israel today for its vote in the United Nations General Assembly, supporting sanctions against South Africa for pursuing the racist, apartheid policy.

A political column in the daily emphasized the benefits Israel has received from South Africa, including facilitation of heavy financial support from South African Jewry and permission to South African Jews to serve in Israel’s defense forces. “For this, South Africa now has received obloquy instead of gratitude,” the article added.

Die Transvaaler examined the implications of the UN sanctions resolution, and asserted that, if Israel conformed to the draft it supported, it would have to give up its legation here, withdraw El Al Airline flights, and terminate a profitable trade with South Africa. The article added: “These are things Israel doubtless considered before showing itself at the United Nations not less hostile to South Africa than Nasser’s Egypt.”

The article also posed the question as to whether Israel had considered the position of South African Jewry, which had given much support to Israel. The newspaper added: South African Jews “must now decide where they stand–with South Africa or Israel. It is not South Africa which forces Jews to make that choice–it is Israel.”