While many at the racism conference in Durban appear to be gunning for Israel, members of a small community in South Africa have come out in support of their beleaguered brethren.
Known as Black Jews, the Balemba community in the Northern Province see Israel as neither oppressive or racist. Nor do they believe Zionism is another form of racism. As a sub group of the Venda people in the Zoutpansberg in the far Northern Province, the Balemba claim to have originated from Israel's House of King David in biblical times. Israel has been under siege, with world leaders accusing it of war crimes, ethnic cleansing and genocide against Palestinians.
The president of the Balemba Cultural Association, Professor Seremane (a corrupted pronunciation of Solomon) Mathivha told The Citizen yesterday the Balemba supported Israel spiritually because "they are our people." Mr Mathivha said fighting in the Middle East was uncalled for and unnecessary, because both the Jews and Palestinians had one common grandfather — Abraham. He believes the warring factions are incited to violence by"outside forces who have selfish interest.
"It is not true that Israel is a oppressive, racist state.When you are ignorant, you get easily conned," Mr Mathivha said.
There was no way one could equate Zionism to racism. Zionism is "a clarion call to every Jew wherever he was to return to Mount Zion, the hill on which Jerusalem is situated and where King David is buried," Mr Mathivha said.